Nitrates!!

Burray · Nov 4, 2021

I have been battling high Nitrates for several months at 40, it's lowered to 20 but not for long. I have a Fluval flex 32 gal equals approx 29 gal of tank space, 2 clowns, a coral beauty, a golden head Goby and a BiColor Blenny. I have been doing 5 gal water changes weekly, I've used DeNitrate twice, Prime daily for days and nothing. I have several corals, Xenia, Ricordea, Frog Spawn, Toad Stool, Star Polyps and a couple of Feather Dusters. I would like to get 2 more fish, a Green Mandarin, a Watchman Goby and a green Bubble Tip Anemone. I feed twice daily, Flakes or Pellets in the morning and half a frozen chunk in the evenings. Should I only feed once daily? Is it ok to get the Anemone I want? What about the fish I'd like to have? Help!!

PatW · Nov 4, 2021

I would cut back on feeding. A great big water change (like 8 OR 16 gallons will knock it back. But you seem to see it return which means it is being added with no export and that has to be from feeding. Fish are poikilotherms (with very few exceptions). That is they do not try to maintain a constant body temperature by their metabolism. Because of this lack of internal temperature control, they need only about one tenth as much energy as a mammal their size. Fish and inverts really do not need to eat that much. Birds, on the other hand, are eating and pooping machines because they are little furnaces.

reefz · Nov 4, 2021

Man I cannot stress this enough, get a bio pellet reactor! It change my life no joke. My nitrates used to be at 50-60ppm, now they hover around 10. It does take a few weeks for the bacteria to colonize but it’s well worth it. I have a huge tank with many fish, and feed 2-3 large meals a day, and the biopellets take care of it. I got this one:

Protein Skimmers

Shop Protein Skimmers and reactors on bulkreefsupply.com. Read reviews and compare protein skimmers and reactors.

www.bulkreefsupply.com

outhouse · Nov 4, 2021

Don't add anything until you learn how to manage nitrates, your failing. Large water changes are in order and larger water changes required if that's how you are dealing with nitrates.

PeterC99 · Nov 4, 2021

What about Refugium with chaeto? I’ve overstocked my 90g aquarium with fish & corals and Have low PO4 & NO3 because of the chaeto.

Burray · Nov 4, 2021

PeterC99 said:
What about Refugium with chaeto? I’ve overstocked my 90g aquarium with fish & corals and Have low PO4 & NO3 because of the chaeto.

I purchased some Chaeto and put it a net bag directly in the tank since I don't have a refugium but little by little I'm guessing my fish ate it.

Burray · Nov 4, 2021

reefz said:
Man I cannot stress this enough, get a bio pellet reactor! It change my life no joke. My nitrates used to be at 50-60ppm, now they hover around 10. It does take a few weeks for the bacteria to colonize but it’s well worth it. I have a huge tank with many fish, and feed 2-3 large meals a day, and the biopellets take care of it. I got this one:

Protein Skimmers

Shop Protein Skimmers and reactors on bulkreefsupply.com. Read reviews and compare protein skimmers and reactors.

www.bulkreefsupply.com

Thanks I will check it out.

Burray · Nov 4, 2021

PatW said:
I would cut back on feeding. A great big water change (like 8 OR 16 gallons will knock it back. But you seem to see it return which means it is being added with no export and that has to be from feeding. Fish are poikilotherms (with very few exceptions). That is they do not try to maintain a constant body temperature by their metabolism. Because of this lack of internal temperature control, they need only about one tenth as much energy as a mammal their size. Fish and inverts really do not need to eat that much. Birds, on the other hand, are eating and pooping machines because they are little furnaces.

So you think it's ok to feed once daily?

PeterC99 · Nov 4, 2021

Burray said:
I purchased some Chaeto and put it a net bag directly in the tank since I don't have a refugium but little by little I'm guessing my fish ate it.

That’s not going to work. You want to light your chaeto opposite to the aquarium lighting schedule.

Burray · Nov 4, 2021

PeterC99 said:
That’s not going to work. You want to light your chaeto opposite to the aquarium lighting schedule.

I saw something online and assumed it would help. Thanks for the advice.

Burray · Nov 4, 2021

Burray said:
Thanks I will check it out.

Can you tell me how this bio

reefz said:
Man I cannot stress this enough, get a bio pellet reactor! It change my life no joke. My nitrates used to be at 50-60ppm, now they hover around 10. It does take a few weeks for the bacteria to colonize but it’s well worth it. I have a huge tank with many fish, and feed 2-3 large meals a day, and the biopellets take care of it. I got this one:

Protein Skimmers

Shop Protein Skimmers and reactors on bulkreefsupply.com. Read reviews and compare protein skimmers and reactors.

www.bulkreefsupply.com

Can you tell me how the bio pellet reactor works? I don't have a refugium so maybe I could place a small one in where the protein skimmer is.

reefz · Nov 4, 2021

Essentially bio pellets grow a certain type of bacteria that consumes nitrates. I’d watch some brs vids on biopellets for more info. If you do end up buying one, make sure the water that comes out of the reactor goes into the skimmer. Otherwise, it’s useless.

Manny D. Mandarin · Nov 4, 2021

Burray said:
I have been battling high Nitrates for several months at 40, it's lowered to 20 but not for long. I have a Fluval flex 32 gal equals approx 29 gal of tank space, 2 clowns, a coral beauty, a golden head Goby and a BiColor Blenny. I have been doing 5 gal water changes weekly, I've used DeNitrate twice, Prime daily for days and nothing. I have several corals, Xenia, Ricordea, Frog Spawn, Toad Stool, Star Polyps and a couple of Feather Dusters. I would like to get 2 more fish, a Green Mandarin, a Watchman Goby and a green Bubble Tip Anemone. I feed twice daily, Flakes or Pellets in the morning and half a frozen chunk in the evenings. Should I only feed once daily? Is it ok to get the Anemone I want? What about the fish I'd like to have? Help!!

I would also look into ProBio to help with your nutrients and to fee the coral. @Kenneth Wingerter

Burray · Nov 4, 2021

reefz said:
Essentially bio pellets grow a certain type of bacteria that consumes nitrates. I’d watch some brs vids on biopellets for more info. If you do end up buying one, make sure the water that comes out of the reactor goes into the skimmer. Otherwise, it’s useless.

Thanks, I found an Innovative Marine minipro series for Nano all in one tanks. I will check out the brs videos for sure before I purchase anything. Thanks again.

Pistondog · Nov 4, 2021

Some have luck with these. Like a refugium for a nano.

Welcome to Santa Monica Filtration - www.Santa-Monica.cc

www.santa-monica.cc

jetskiwilly · Nov 4, 2021

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umoraes · Nov 4, 2021

Burray said:
I have been battling high Nitrates for several months at 40, it's lowered to 20 but not for long. I have a Fluval flex 32 gal equals approx 29 gal of tank space, 2 clowns, a coral beauty, a golden head Goby and a BiColor Blenny. I have been doing 5 gal water changes weekly, I've used DeNitrate twice, Prime daily for days and nothing. I have several corals, Xenia, Ricordea, Frog Spawn, Toad Stool, Star Polyps and a couple of Feather Dusters. I would like to get 2 more fish, a Green Mandarin, a Watchman Goby and a green Bubble Tip Anemone. I feed twice daily, Flakes or Pellets in the morning and half a frozen chunk in the evenings. Should I only feed once daily? Is it ok to get the Anemone I want? What about the fish I'd like to have? Help!!

Hi... I hope I can help you on this.... My battle against nitrate started on fish only tank.. the ONLY working method for me is Sulphur reactor.

Bio pellets, vinagrer, bacteria, watter changes - havent worked for me.

My nitrates were at 60/70 ppm and I got at 16.8 this week !!!!! I'm so.happy to achive this aftet 3 weeks With no watter changes.

I can guide you on how to do this as I'm helping many folks down here in Brazil... Just send me a PM and I can.help.you.

PS: sorry for my poor english

EugeneVan · Nov 4, 2021

PeterC99 said:
What about Refugium with chaeto? I’ve overstocked my 90g aquarium with fish & corals and Have low PO4 & NO3 because of the chaeto.

Same here. My Chaeto did an excellent job sucking up the PO4 and NO3. I even have to daily dosing to keep up with the demands

jetskiwilly · Nov 4, 2021

Similar tank size....similar corals, +bta's.....2 clowns, red band shrimp, emerald crab.
I feed every 2-3 days. 1/3 frozen cube myis, 5ml of Reasea AB+, pinky size of benefit reef food, 6 pellets, 1/4 pinky flake. Last 2 are sometimes. I am fighting low nitrates.