Nitrates

[mikedelgado]

Are you using ro/di water? Check your source water and freshly mixed saltwater to make sure you arent dumping nitrates back in to the tank. My ro/di tests positive for nitrate at 1 tds.

 

[jcom]

I have never needed an Algae scrubber, and had 0 nitrates within 1 month of adding the 6 inch sand bed. I quit testing after a while because it was always 0. Now I just need a natural way to keep my phosphates in check without buying Rowaphos.

That's where the algae turf scrubber comes in. The type of red and green turf algae that grows on the scrubber screen consumes phosphates.

 

[bobzreef]

You never did answer about sand, I don't believe. Did you keep the old sand? Get new sand? Is all of the hardware the same as before?

You didn't say what your nitrate reading is - or what test kit you are using??

Water changes: If you are reading 30ppm nitrates, and you change out 50% of your entire systm water volume at once - with ZERO nitrate fresh saltwater; your nitrates should drop to 15ppm. At least temporarily.

If you have a 40-breeder and 20-gallon sump (no frag tank, no refugium); figure your sump is about half-full, so that is a 50-gallon system. A 12-gallon water change (be sure your new water has ZERO nitrates) is a 25% water change. Your nitrates, measured right after the water change (give it an hour to mix) should have dropped 25%. The next time you did it, it should drop 25% of whatever your nitrates are just before the water change.

Some tanks will be very hard to get to 'VLN' (very low nitrates) condition. I have a very successful reef tank (TOTM even) that has never had less than about 20ppm nitrates. But if I ever let it get above 40... corals start going to heck.

Good luck!
bob

 

[pick91]

I kept the old sand did not let it dry out during transport all the same hardware friend tested my water so not sure what kit he used what kit do you recommend also didn't give me a reading just said they were very high
i'm so new at this about to give in but hard to when water looks crystal clear coral and mushrooms and coral are growning like wild fire and it is SO RELAXING TO SIT AND WATCH!!!!!!!

 

[LegoZ81]

by moving the sand you oxygenated the sandbed and killed most of the anaerobic bacteria that converts nitrAte to nitrogen gas.

 

[pick91]

did not take the sand out of the tank and it was wet during the move if this is my problem how can i correct it

thank so much for all the help

 

[lamarine23]

Skimmer and circulation....what do you have for this?

 

[marclwheeler]

more details bout the set up and all?

 

[pick91]

Ok nitrates are getting better added some activated carbon thank you all for all the help gonna purchase some more chato later on this week and what ever anyone else can reccommend that i get

Love My Tank
Donna

 

[pick91]

Oh one more thought what test kits do you all recommend i have a seachem test kit now

 

[FishyFarr]

seachem test kit for what ammonia? nitrate? salinity?
I assume you mean nitrate I don't think that would matter much but I ask the LFS near me what they use and use that as well.
At least that is what worked for me. I go to a very respected LFS though.

 

[subielover]

I like salifert test kits. I did just buy some new Elos kits but Saliferts are a little cheaper.

 

[pick91]

well a test kit that would test for everything ph,ammonia,nitrites,nitrates, etc. well my local LFS has been away his wife is ill that is why haven't asked him not available when i get over to see him

 

[beaslbob]

One thing to remember with nitrate kits is that most measure total nitrates but some are calibarted to measure only the nitrogen part of the nitrates. Which means they read about 1/4 because the conversion factor is like 4 (plus a little bit) nitrogen-nitrates to total nitrates.

So be sure to read the instructions.

hopefully you tank will read unmeasureble with either kit.

my .02

 

[Sle3py408]

Do less feeding.

 

[Fragged_it]

Once you determine where the nitrates are coming from and you have eliminated the source, try a sulphur denitrator. I've been running one for over a year and it is the best piece of equipment I have second to my skimmer.