Nitrates will not go down!!

[mpjmeyer]

Ok I've tried many things and can't figure this out. Tank has been up and running for over a year and my nitrates are still through the roof.

A little about the tank:

65 gallon display
10 gallon fuge with chaeto
Sump
50 lbs. Fiji live dry rock from BRS
live sand
Lifereef skimmer
Biopellet reactor
2 Radion XR15 Gen 4 pro lights
Gyre xf250

Also still don't have coralline algae so my lfs gave me a conch snail yesterday to help seed the tank. I've been using Red Sea KH gro last week to help as well.

Tank parameters:

Magnesium: 1350 ppm
Calcium: 450 ppm
Alkalinity: 2.8 Meq/L
pH: 8.2
Nitrates: over 50

I have a foam filter in the sump (no room to switch to filter socks). When I first started, I was unaware I had to rinse the filter out often and after a couple months, I finally did and the water was very nasty. I now ring it out once a week when I do a 15-20 gallon water change and it has a lighter shade of yellow every time.

I have a biopellet reactor to help but feel the pellets don't tumble like they should. The reactor is fed by a Mag Drive 9.5 pump which also feeds the dt and fuge. Last night, I rinsed off the pellets which they now tumble much better but build up around on opening creating a dam inside the reactor so i'm curious if I need a pump just for the biopellets...like at least 300 gph?

Also started dosing Remediation last night to help with nitrates but I feel that wont work either. As of now, I'm open to all suggestions for the tank. Do I need a seperate pump for the reactor? Rinse foam filter every day? Larger water changes?

Oh I also purchased Vibrant which should be here next week.

2 clown fish
1 yellow tang
3 bubbletips (1 just split)
2 conch
Snails
3 small blue fish
1 blue linkia
Couple frags

Instant ocean Reef Crystals salt but switching to Fritz within next 2 weeks

 

[goober]

I think your bio load is fairly high for a 65g. This is not a problem if you are using some "advanced techniques" to deal with nitrate export (like carbon dosing). However before you start throwing products at your tank to deal with your nitrate issue I would suggest a lot of research on these topics. You can't just go to the LFS, purchase a bunch of chemicals, reactors, media and expect results just by following the directions on the bottles.

An easier solution would be to reduce your bio load, get your parameters stable then maybe explore some "advanced techniques" and add more load on a later date.

 

[Ento-Reefer]

What type of lighting do you have over your refugium, and how large is it? If you could get your fuge producing better and harvest it every couple of weeks it could help bring those nitrates down. I would probably invest in a better light if yours is under powered.

 

[tankstudy]

Run a phosphate test. If your phosphates are depleted, your biopellets will be ineffective.

 

[mpjmeyer]

What type of lighting do you have over your refugium, and how large is it? If you could get your fuge producing better and harvest it every couple of weeks it could help bring those nitrates down. I would probably invest in a better light if yours is under powered.

I read a thread somewhere here on r2r about fuge lighting and I picked up the exact bulb from HD that most people suggested for growing chaeto which I have no problem doing.

Run a phosphate test. If your phosphates are depleted, your biopellets will be ineffective.

According to my Apex Fusion app, my ph is currently at 8.32

 

[pandagobyguy]

According to my Apex Fusion app, my ph is currently at 8.32

Phosphates not ph

 

[mpjmeyer]

Phosphates not ph

I'll test phosphates later this evening.

 

[jsker]

I went with a seeded bio media. Some use spirox, seacheme matrix, zoevit, and life bio fil. I have seen other have great result with all the medias. I did use pellets and like you stated the pellets were not tumbling right and I had a crash for the hydrogen sulfide release. Myself I started with the zoevit and the zeovit really dropped the nitrates to where the nitrates needed to be. I switch to Life bio fil when the Life bio fil cam on the market with a couple of chip of zeomix since I run a Aquaforest tank with my nitrates under control for over a year now.

I also run GFO to control my phosphates

 

[mpjmeyer]

I cleaned out my reactor a couple nights ago and pellets seem to be tumbling now. It was the first time I cleaned it so I suppose that should be part of my weekly maintenance plan when with water changes.

 

[jsker]

I cleaned out my reactor a couple nights ago and pellets seem to be tumbling now. It was the first time I cleaned it so I suppose that should be part of my weekly maintenance plan when with water changes.

I like the media after my crash I change out 10% every 8 weeks. I have the media in my sump tray

 

[LesPaulPlayer]

I cleaned out my reactor a couple nights ago and pellets seem to be tumbling now. It was the first time I cleaned it so I suppose that should be part of my weekly maintenance plan when with water changes.

As stated above, you need to test your phosphate. Carbon dosing will deplete nutrients at a rate of 1ppm PO4 to 16 ppm NO3. Both need to be present for the pellets to work. How long has the reactor been set up?

 

[Chris Villalobos]

Maybe I missed it but did you get a second opinion test on your nitrates done? When I get some extremely high or low reading I always try a different test. I've had Red Sea, and Salifert test kits go bad on me before.

 

[mpjmeyer]

As stated above, you need to test your phosphate. Carbon dosing will deplete nutrients at a rate of 1ppm PO4 to 16 ppm NO3. Both need to be present for the pellets to work. How long has the reactor been set up?

Reactor has been up and running for about 5 months. I took a water sample into my LFS and they suggested it to me, even took more than 50% off. I've been going there even before my tank was up and running to gather as much information as I could and to get them familiar with my set up.

Maybe I missed it but did you get a second opinion test on your nitrates done? When I get some extremely high or low reading I always try a different test. I've had Red Sea, and Salifert test kits go bad on me before.

Yes I took a water sample to my LFS a week ago and they also tested my nitrates to me high

 

[Chris Villalobos]

I used bio-pellets before and the reactor can get clogged with bacteria buildup. If your pellets aren't tumbling well it's time to clean your reactor. Since you have such high nitrates I would do water changes to get that down. For a stocking example: I run a 35 gallon tank with 1 small tang, 3 chromis, 1 clown, 1 firefish, and an anemone. Feeding 1/4 cube frozen, 1 scoop reef chile, a pinch of pellets, and a 1.5" square of nori a day. One 1/2" cube of shrimp for the anemone once a week. With only 2" sand bed and live rock and my nitrates stay at 2 ppm. I have to control my PO4 with GFO though. So I don't think your fish stocking is too high.

I'm also interested to see your PO4 test.

 

[Nikita1981]

First test your p04. If this is the limiting factor the pellets will not work. Also, when you rinse the pellets the whole process starts over again. Clean the reactor if necessary, don't rinse the pellets. Put the reactor on a separate pump so you can better control the flow without influencing everything else. But first check po4. I don't think your bioload is high. Good luck

 

[TreyC2010]

I also agree that the fuge could help if you have the correct lighting. A proper fuge kept my tank running great, with good maintenance. What type of light do you have? And size of the fuge.

 

[pandagobyguy]

Im having a similar issue as op. I ran phosgaurd earlier in my tank and have had it removed for several weeks. What is the best method for raising po4 without raising nitrate?

 

[mpjmeyer]

I also agree that the fuge could help if you have the correct lighting. A proper fuge kept my tank running great, with good maintenance. What type of light do you have? And size of the fuge.

Fuge is 10 gallons with some live rock, chaeto and copepods. I purchased the bulb from HD, can't remember the exact bulb but I know it was highly recommend by other members here. I have success with my fuge as my chaeto grows nicely and copepods seem healthy. I sometimes look into the fuge when the light is on and if I look real close, I can see them crawling on the chaeto. Only maintenance I do to the fuge is turn the chaeto every now and then and squirt Phyto Feast in there once a week

 

[TreyC2010]

Do you remove chaeto often?

 

[Myk Verified Sponsor]

No harm in rinsing your sponge under the tap and doing so daily will keep the dissolved organics down. Remove them as a solid before they have a chance to break down into Nitrate.

Are you dosing any trace elements at all?

Any pockets of detritus build up or "dead spots" where water isn't flowing well in the display or areas of low flow in your sump? Make sure that your cheato and refugium have good movement as well.