Nitrates wont go below 20-40ppm?

[Deadlocked]

I have a newly cycled tank. Before i put my first fish in i did a 50%+ water change. And then i got my first fish, but it doesn't seem like my nitrates are going down. I know i should probably just be patient, but i am looking to get corals in the future and im getting anxious about it. Besides a very light coating of diatoms there is no algae growth in my tank.Am i thinking too much into it? Thanks in advance.

 

[Lionfish hunter]

A 50% water change will lower nitrates by 50%. Make a refugium with a relatively cheap strong grow light from Amazon and you will never see nitrates again.

 

[mdb_talon]

What are you doing to reduce nitrates? Type of filtration, refugium, etc? Nitrates do not go down well on their own without something specifically to remove them(refugium,carbon dowing,etc) or prevent them(skimmer, socks,etc)

 

[Deadlocked]

What are you doing to reduce nitrates? Type of filtration, refugium, etc? Nitrates do not go down well on their own without something specifically to remove them(refugium,carbon dowing,etc) or prevent them(skimmer, socks,etc)

I just have the filter floss..i have a biocube so I'm not sure i can get a decent skimmer without removing the hood which i don't want to do. I removed the black sponge that was next to the return pump. Should i not have done that?

 

[Deadlocked]

A 50% water change will lower nitrates by 50%. Make a refugium with a relatively cheap strong grow light from Amazon and you will never see nitrates again.

I'll look into it, thanks

 

[Garf]

Sounds like your nitrate test is FUBAR

 

[Staghorn]

Try switching that floss out like every 2-3 days. That will go a long way to keeping the nutrients down.

 

[mdb_talon]

I just have the filter floss..i have a biocube so I'm not sure i can get a decent skimmer without removing the hood which i don't want to do. I removed the black sponge that was next to the return pump. Should i not have done that?

Mechanical filtration is good if cleaned regularly. As far as a skimmer it is certainly not required, but some form of export other than LR is especially in a newer tank. That can be cheato, full fledged refugium, etc.

 

[Lionfish hunter]

You could try carbon dosing if you get a dosing pump and have a way to get the tubing into the biocube through the back somehow. Start slow. Your options are limited in a biocube for nitrate reduction. Water changes might be your only real option.

 

[Lionfish hunter]

I just have the filter floss..i have a biocube so I'm not sure i can get a decent skimmer without removing the hood which i don't want to do. I removed the black sponge that was next to the return pump. Should i not have done that?

I'll look into it, thanks

The less you feed your fish, the less nitrates. If you can afford to feed less.

 

[Garf]

The less you feed your fish, the less nitrates. If you can afford to feed less.

Sounds like a concentration camp in **** Germany, yuk.

 

[Dolphins18]

Hello.
If you have room look at getting an inexpensive media reactor body. Phosban 150 or 550 depending on your tank size is very affordable.
There are two types of nitrifying bacteria in aquariums, one is aerobic which thrives on high flow surface area, aerobic bacteria is great at breaking ammonia down to nitrites and nitrites down to nitrates. The other nitrifying bacteria is called anaerobic, and it to thrives on surface area but in extremely low flow environments. (less than 45 gph)
Anaerobic bacteria works to break down the nitrates into nitrogen, essentially lowering nitrates, and causing a much more permanent fix than constant water changes.
There is a product made by seachem called denitrate, and if used correctly it can work wonders.
What I do is fill media reactors with the natural porous denitrate material and attach an extremely low flow pump (less than 45GPH). I shoot for around 20 gph flow thru the chamber. Most of these can hang on the back of sumps or even tanks. This will not work at all without the most important part and that is VERY low flow.
This hobby shouldn't be spent doing water changes every weekend to keep nitrates down. It is actually stressful on livestock in a sense, and this is a very natural approach.
I hate carbon dosing, some may find success but not me. Some of the biggest struggles I've ever had with a reef tank was after I tried carbon dosing.

 

[Lionfish hunter]

Sounds like a concentration camp in **** Germany, yuk.

Most people overfeed.

 

[Deadlocked]

Hello.
If you have room look at getting an inexpensive media reactor body. Phosban 150 or 550 depending on your tank size is very affordable.
There are two types of nitrifying bacteria in aquariums, one is aerobic which thrives on high flow surface area, aerobic bacteria is great at breaking ammonia down to nitrites and nitrites down to nitrates. The other nitrifying bacteria is called anaerobic, and it to thrives on surface area but in extremely low flow environments. (less than 45 gph)
Anaerobic bacteria works to break down the nitrates into nitrogen, essentially lowering nitrates, and causing a much more permanent fix than constant water changes.
There is a product made by seachem called denitrate, and if used correctly it can work wonders.
What I do is fill media reactors with the natural porous denitrate material and attach an extremely low flow pump (less than 45GPH). I shoot for around 20 gph flow thru the chamber. Most of these can hang on the back of sumps or even tanks. This will not work at all without the most important part and that is VERY low flow.
This hobby shouldn't be spent doing water changes every weekend to keep nitrates down. It is actually stressful on livestock in a sense, and this is a very natural approach.
I hate carbon dosing, some may find success but not me. Some of the biggest struggles I've ever had with a reef tank was after I tried carbon dosing.

I learn new stuff about this hobby every day. I have a biocube though im not sure that will all fit in my tank

 

[Deadlocked]

The less you feed your fish, the less nitrates. If you can afford to feed less.

I mean i feed my fish mysis shrimp about once a day. And the fish eats most of it. So i feel like the feeding isn't the issue

 

[Luciferene]

With that levels of Nitrate in newer system (which means it won't process much Nitrate whether it be by denitrifying bacteria or corals/macros etc) you'll have to distinguish between:
1. Lowering current levels of Nitrate
2. Slowing or reducing introduction of more Nitrate from being produced.

Examples of 1 is water change and 2 is changing filter socks more often/reducing feeding etc.

Things like refugium, coral mass, reactors, dosing denitrifying will do both. But if these methods get you from 50 to 0 Nitrate in a few months, that may mean you may have trouble keeping Nitrate up, so take it slowly.

 

[Luciferene]

I mean i feed my fish mysis shrimp about once a day. And the fish eats most of it. So i feel like the feeding isn't the issue

Fish waste will produce nearly as much Nitrate as same amount of food rotting. Otherwise they'd be growing in same mass as food you feed by day.

It'll depend on their digestive capabilities but good portion of it will be excreted as waste which some of it will be converted to Nitrate.

With that said, lowering feeding won't have substantial effect in newer tank that doesn't have much means of exporting Nitrate.

 

[Deadlocked]

With that levels of Nitrate in newer system (which means it won't process much Nitrate whether it be by denitrifying bacteria or corals/macros etc) you'll have to distinguish between:
1. Lowering current levels of Nitrate
2. Slowing or reducing introduction of more Nitrate from being produced.

Examples of 1 is water change and 2 is changing filter socks more often/reducing feeding etc.

Things like refugium, coral mass, reactors, dosing denitrifying will do both. But if these methods get you from 50 to 0 Nitrate in a few months, that may mean you may have trouble keeping Nitrate up, so take it slowly.

Im looking into getting the intank fuge basket because it seems to be the most viable option for a biocube. If you want to keep nitrate levels as low as possible what do you mean I'll have trouble keeping nitrate up?

 

[Deadlocked]

Fish waste will produce nearly as much Nitrate as same amount of food rotting. Otherwise they'd be growing in same mass as food you feed by day.

It'll depend on their digestive capabilities but good portion of it will be excreted as waste.

With that said, if they're eating

I only have one fish though. That's why i don't think its the fish

 

[Luciferene]

I only have one fish though. That's why i don't think its the fish

Post edited, I wasn't suggesting lowering feeding. Misclicked post before completing the thought haha