Nitrates?

[rjcranor]

Lately I have been getting a nitrate level of around 10 today it's closer to 20! I've never had this issue before I use a fluval filter but have had one for 7 years. I switched to sand bed a couple of years ago! Any ideas why it's doing this would be appreciated. The rest of my parameters are where they should be. I have a mixed reef with 2 percula clowns, green chromis, watchman goby. I have a Crocea clam, frog spawn, plate coral and a favia, and zoanthids, mushrooms plus cuc.

 

[fragmatic]

I seriously doubt they are really that high. Take some water to a LFS and let them test it.

 

[rjcranor]

I might do that, I plan on going to one Thursday! I was showing 10 then Friday I did a water change now it's closer to 20 everything looks ok!

 

[mike007]

Are you using a skimmer. What type of filter is the fluval? You do not want to use anything that has pads,floss or any other filter media that can hold nutrients. Most nitrate problems are from overfeeding. Be sure you lightly vacumn your sand bed everytime you do your water changes.

 

[jtomasi]

Anything die and haven't noticed. I heard once a guy had a sea apple die in his 200g and didn't notice - wiped all of his sps out

 

[FishLipz]

Have you checked your water you do changes with? I lost track of my filter change schedule and was actually adding nitrates to my tank when I did my changes one time.

 

[bline6476]

Anything foul in you sump or overflow?

 

[rjcranor]

I have a fluval 305 and have a reef octopus bh 1000 skimmer. I use ro water

 

[mike007]

If you are using a canister filter on a reef tank get rid of it. You only need good live rock and a good skimmer.

 

[Zack]

If you are using a canister filter on a reef tank get rid of it. You only need good live rock and a good skimmer.

Yep, trash the canister filter.
I've heard they can be nitrate factories

 

[rjcranor]

I've always thought you had to have a filter of some kind. I have a 50 gallon breeder with a bunch of live rock. The back half of my tank and about half way up is different types of live rock. I have a reef octopus bh 1000 skimmer and 2 sicce voyager power heads for circulation. I had started witha fluval 304 then it died and went to a 405 then when I had problems with it went back to a 306 fluval besides the foam sponges I use phosban, bio pellets, and a carbon. I would be leary of removing it!

 

[rjcranor]

I just remembered, I had a carnation tree coral that was and had died in my tank. I had removed what I could from the rock. Could this be what has caused my nitrate issue?