Nitrates won't drop from 40-50 ppm

[DeadEnd]

Good morning everyone!

I am running into an issue that is starting to drive me nuts... I have been trying to unsuccessfully lower the nitrates on my 150 gallon system (they are currently sitting at 40-50 ppm) which has been cycling for 11 weeks. I have done 3x35% water changes and the nitrates did not lower at all!

I thought it was an issue with the test kit that I was using (API) and bought the Red Sea test kit to validate the results... It just confirmed the API result... I also tested my saltwater mix and the nitrates shown at 0.

At this point I don't know what to do. Does anyone has a suggestion that can help me overcome this issue?

Thanks

 

[olonmv]

Probably not what you wanna hear but. Reduce feeding or stop if no livestock and more water changes.

Edit: more info will be needed such as livestock and such to get a better opinion.

 

[DeadEnd]

Probably not what you wanna hear but. Reduce feeding or stop if no livestock and more water changes.

Edit: more info will be needed such as livestock and such to get a better opinion.

Hey! Thanks for the quick response!

There is no life stock in the tank and I stopped ghost feeding it a week ago.

 

[Gtinnel]

Do you have any other nutrient export methods or do you just rely on water changes? My favorite way to reduce nutrients is with a refugium.

 

[Waters]

Have you checked for nitrates in your water change water?

 

[DeadEnd]

Do you have any other nutrient export methods or do you just rely on water changes? My favorite way to reduce nutrients is with a refugium.

Not yet. I am planning to use chaeto but I was waiting until I had some livestock in the tank before putting it in.

The tank only has a filter roll and a protein skimmer.

 

[olonmv]

Hey! Thanks for the quick response!

There is no life stock in the tank and I stopped ghost feeding it a week ago.

No problem, I’m assuming your ammonia is being processed quickly so. Do a large wc 50% or greater or more consecutive 30% weekly water changes. You may have a buildup of uneaten food also so maybe a vacuuming is in order as well.

 

[DeadEnd]

Have you checked for nitrates in your water change water?

Yes, they are at 0.

 

[olonmv]

Do you have any other nutrient export methods or do you just rely on water changes? My favorite way to reduce nutrients is with a refugium.

I’ve been beating this drum like a mad man but only because I love how low maintenance it is and how effective it works. I use a denitrifier for my nutrient export. It’s like magic thus far. I haven’t change my water since beginning of sept when they were at 36ppm and they currently sit at the 5ppm mark with consistency.

 

[Waters]

Yes, they are at 0.

I think your best option right now is to continue large, frequent water changes. You can also try dosing MB7, which I have had luck with in the past reducing nitrates. Once you get them under control, you might have to make some changes to your routine maintenance and feedings.

 

[Gtinnel]

Not yet. I am planning to use chaeto but I was waiting until I had some livestock in the tank before putting it in.

The tank only has a filter roll and a protein skimmer.

If you have the nutrient levels to support it I would go ahead and add the chaeto. If you already have an empty refugium then it is about the cheapest form of nutrient export, and gives the added benefit of a pH boost.

 

[Gtinnel]

I’ve been beating this drum like a mad man but only because I love how low maintenance it is and how effective it works. I use a denitrifier for my nutrient export. It’s like magic thus far. I haven’t change my water since beginning of sept when they were at 36ppm and they currently sit at the 5ppm mark with consistency.

I looked at making the diy Donovan’s nitrate destroyer once, but unfortunately due to poor planning I don’t have any space under my stand. I did have a empty refugium at the time so I went that route and I really like the added benefits of chaeto besides nutrient export.
What are you using for your denitrifier?

 

[DeadEnd]

No problem, I’m assuming your ammonia is being processed quickly so. Do a large wc 50% or greater or more consecutive 30% weekly water changes. You may have a buildup of uneaten food also so maybe a vacuuming is in order as well.

I vacuumed the DT but not the sump. Maybe this time I will clean the sump just in case there is any buildup in there.

I’ve been beating this drum like a mad man but only because I love how low maintenance it is and how effective it works. I use a denitrifier for my nutrient export. It’s like magic thus far. I haven’t change my water since beginning of sept when they were at 36ppm and they currently sit at the 5ppm mark with consistency.

If you don't mind me asking. Which one do you use?

I think your best option right now is to continue large, frequent water changes. You can also try dosing MB7, which I have had luck with in the past reducing nitrates. Once you get them under control, you might have to make some changes to your routine maintenance and feedings.

Ahh I did not know MB7 was used for that! That someone good to know!

If you have the nutrient levels to support it I would go ahead and add the chaeto. If you already have an empty refugium then it is about the cheapest form of nutrient export, and gives the added benefit of a pH boost.

I was about to buy some yesterday but algaebarn is oos. But I will get it asap!

 

[olonmv]

I looked at making the diy Donovan’s nitrate destroyer once, but unfortunately due to poor planning I don’t have any space under my stand. I did have a empty refugium at the time so I went that route and I really like the added benefits of chaeto besides nutrient export.
What are you using for your denitrifier?

Your total tank volume multiplied by .024 gets you the DND volume size needed for your tank.

pumping water through DND at 10% flow rate of your total tank volume, is just as much an option as gravity feeding it. I literally drip water from my DND into the display. Read how difficult it would be for a tank my size. I disagree. I dose .1ml of cheap vodka daily to maintain 5ish Ppm.
No complaints thus far. And I only used one kind of media to boot.

edit: my Denitrifier, it’s hung vertically arrow up under my display.

 

[Gtinnel]

Your total tank volume multiplied by .024 gets you the DND volume size needed for your tank.

pumping water through DND at 10% flow rate of your total tank volume, is just as much an option as gravity feeding it. I literally drip water from my DND into the display. Read how difficult it would be for a tank my size. I disagree. I dose .1ml of cheap vodka daily to maintain 5ish Ppm.
No complaints thus far. And I only used one kind of media to boot.

edit: my Denitrifier, it’s hung vertically arrow up under my display.

Ok so I was doing the math to figure out if this was a reasonable option for me, after all more nutrient export means I can feed heavier. For my tank if my math is right I would need almost 6 feet of 4” pipe.

 

[olonmv]

Ok so I was doing the math to figure out if this was a reasonable option for me, after all more nutrient export means I can feed heavier. For my tank if my math is right I would need almost 6 feet of 4” pipe.

I went to an online pvc volume calculator. You can play with different sizes that meet your DND volume IE 6” pvc at 3’ might be the same volume. It’s all about DND sizing and flow (daily turnover which is 10% of your tank volume) through said DND is what I gather and what worked for me. If I were to do it differently I woulda added seachem matrix in addition to the ceramic media I used. The process would have been faster is the benefit.

 

[olonmv]

Ok so I was doing the math to figure out if this was a reasonable option for me, after all more nutrient export means I can feed heavier. For my tank if my math is right I would need almost 6 feet of 4” pipe.

If your tank is still the roughly 110 gallon combined sump/display tank. I’m getting 4” pvc at 4’ long.

Pipe Volume Calculator

Find the volume of water or fluid that a pipe or plumbing system can hold and estimate the weight of the water contained.

www.inchcalculator.com

 

[Gtinnel]

If your tank is still the roughly 110 gallon combined sump/display tank. I’m getting 4” pvc at 4’ long.

Pipe Volume Calculator

Find the volume of water or fluid that a pipe or plumbing system can hold and estimate the weight of the water contained.

www.inchcalculator.com

With sump and refugium I would guess it to be around the 130g range. Which seems to put it closer to 5’ for 4” pvc. Still bigger than what I would likely have space for.

 

[olonmv]

With sump and refugium I would guess it to be around the 130g range. Which seems to put it closer to 5’ for 4” pvc. Still bigger than what I would likely have space for.

6”pvc at 22” long has the same volume. The world is your oyster as long as water flows from one side to the other. Mine is plumbed in with a cheap petco pump in-line and some valves to adjust flow.

 

[Garf]

Good morning everyone!

I am running into an issue that is starting to drive me nuts... I have been trying to unsuccessfully lower the nitrates on my 150 gallon system (they are currently sitting at 40-50 ppm) which has been cycling for 11 weeks. I have done 3x35% water changes and the nitrates did not lower at all!

I thought it was an issue with the test kit that I was using (API) and bought the Red Sea test kit to validate the results... It just confirmed the API result... I also tested my saltwater mix and the nitrates shown at 0.

At this point I don't know what to do. Does anyone has a suggestion that can help me overcome this issue?

Thanks

You must have done a lot of ghost feeding to get to 40 ppm nitrate, lol. Or you’ve got nitrITE in the water that’s screwing with the nitrATE test. Did you add a bacteria source, or live rock or was it dry rock and ghost feeding only? Pic would be good.