Nitrates

B-ridge · Jul 11, 2016

i have followed directions and asked a ton of questions on here. I'm not understanding why after 8 weeks I still have nitrates. Started using the pro bio s and np pro over a month ago. Started with half dosage which did nothing. I'm up to full dosage which is 11 drops and it's not doing anything. What gives or am I doing something wrong?

Caseyoidae · Jul 11, 2016

Are you doing water changes? Has the tank cycled? What's in the tank?

B-ridge · Jul 11, 2016

No I haven't done water change. Ammonia and nitrite were cycled. Nitrate was at 20 when I was suggested to start using my pro bio s and np pro. Only inhabitants in tank are 4 fish. A blotchy. Goby. Clownfish. Whitetail bristletooth.

twilliard · Jul 11, 2016

B-ridge said:
No I haven't done water change. Ammonia and nitrite were cycled. Nitrate was at 20 when I was suggested to start using my pro bio s and np pro. Only inhabitants in tank are 4 fish. A blotchy. Goby. Clownfish. Whitetail bristletooth.

Understanding the bacterial properties of reducing no3 is key.
You are not seeing this process as it will take time to build this population of bacteria for no3 reduction.
In such a new system water changes is the best method of exporting.
Once your ecosystem evolves it may be able to handle the end process resulting in no3

Caseyoidae · Jul 11, 2016

I would start by doing a 20% water change. There are no good shortcuts when it comes to this.

B-ridge · Jul 11, 2016

So I should continue dosing bio s as well as the pro bio s and np pro?

Diesel · Jul 11, 2016

What you call high No3's??
Give us a test result.

B-ridge · Jul 11, 2016

40ppm is what I call high
Especially when the instructions say it gets levels to undetectable

Anirban · Jul 11, 2016

For a new system you need do water changes to reduce NO3 but with increasing time your bacterial population will increase and eventually they will be able to do it without water change. As far Bio S concern AF suggest to dose it for two weeks and then when you loose a fish or you increase your bioload. So you can just dose Pro BioS now and stop dosing bio s.

twilliard · Jul 11, 2016

There is no magic in a bottle. Ultimately it comes down to us and understanding biological process.

Anirban · Jul 11, 2016

+1 @twilliard

All bottles are same just different labels. We are the magicians not the bottles.

G8trBait16 · Jul 12, 2016

B-Ridge, if you are doing the Aquaforest system, just by using NP Pro and Pro Bio S isn't going to do much if you aren't doing any water changes to export out the nutrients to sufficient levels. There is no magic Bottle, but you are also supposed to do a water change once a week. Even before I switch to AF products I was still doing a water change once a week. As every is saying a water change is the best way of bringing the nutrients down in a tank. Hope it helps, if you need anymore info, we are always willing to help.