No3 for nems

[Susan Edwards]

I surrently have a rainbow bubble tip in an acclimation box in my 220 g tank. It is holding for my 45g tank with 1 clown. This tank was neglected and just home to 1 clown whom I had to remove from the other pair (it lost its mate and I sold a tank and put it in with the others. No go!!). So I've finally decided to just make what was my observation tank for new fish into a "real" tank and traded for a beautiful RBTA. My no3 is coming down in that tank. Doing like 5 to 10% a day water changes, nopox, nyos zero/bio and MB 7 and clean.

When can I put this nem in the tank. How low does the no3 need to be. It was over 75 (well over) per hanna and finally hit 66 and today 60. I'd like to get this nem into its forever home. So far it seems okay in my big display but it is pretty big for the acclimation box. It seems happy enough with the addition of a powerhead directed at the box.

Current no3 is between 10-18.

 

[Tamberav]

I kept BTA's in 50's nitrate without a care. I don't think higher nutrients effect them too much. Ofc they slowly got acclimated to that number, not sure about tossing one in.

 

[Spare time]

Eh its fine

 

[Jekyl]

How old is the 45? What are the other parameters? While nems can be fine at higher nitrate that doesn't mean a system that is less than stable will be a good home.

 

[reefiniteasy]

I have 2 nems and my nitrates range from 5 to 60 during the time I’ve had them. They don’t care in my experience.

 

[Susan Edwards]

How old is the 45? What are the other parameters? While nems can be fine at higher nitrate that doesn't mean a system that is less than stable will be a good home.

Lol's. I should have included more info. And I've been around a while and know better haha.

Tank has been set up at least since 2020. It was up, then taken down to be moved. Originally it was a qt/observation tank that really did not get used as such. I had an issue with 3 clowns in my 125 (tank gone now) and had to put the clown in the 45. It's had a few fish, a couple of clowns that either died or jumped (not original).

So at least 2 years old.
Ca 485 last tested a week ago
MG 1270 working on getting that up to 13-1400
Alk 7.1 working to get up into the 8's.
PO4 .14 on the 11th
No3 60 today

dosing 10 ml nopox
1-2 ml nyos zero and bio
20 ml mb7 daily--mostly. Or a larger dose of clean

blasting the sand bed and stirring every couple days as I think that is where the no3 is. I use the diy snow after to help clear the water

added a bit more rock this week--a more pleasing landscape. Sometime over the summer (or so) I had added more sand and more rock to what had been there.

It's getting stable again. I am changing 5 - 10% a day right now. I do it slowly. 2-3 gal in/out and a couple hours later another 1-2 gal in and out. 45% this last week. 25% earlier in sept.

excuse the dirty glass...

 

[Jekyl]

Given my own experience, I would get things where they should be first.

 

[Susan Edwards]

Given my own experience, I would get things where they should be first.

Thanks. I'll do a full run of tests tomorrow, including PO4 to be sure I've not bottomed out. If I can get no3 down to 30, then perhaps that will do, with me continuing to work on the tank. Everything else should be about the same.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

It's getting stable again. I am changing 5 - 10% a day right now. I do it slowly. 2-3 gal in/out and a couple hours later another 1-2 gal in and out. 45% this last week. 25% earlier in sept

This method really reduces the effectiveness of your water changes.

 

[Susan Edwards]

This method really reduces the effectiveness of your water changes.

I think it would just take longer than doing 1 big change. A 20% in a day or over 2 or 3 days is the same. Essentially I've done almost a 50% wc this week Part of my reasoning is also to keep everything stable without big changes all at once, even though there isn't but 1 fish and 1 bit of gsp in there. Also, I just don't want to run the hose from garage all the way to the dining room as the salt water is in the garage. <g>.

Also, I can stir up the sand bed to release the yuck every other day or so instead of doing it once a week.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

A 20% in a day or over 2 or 3 days is the same

This is the part that doesn't add up, so to speak.
But I understand your reasoning below.

Also, I just don't want to run the hose from garage all the way to the dining room as the salt water is in the garage. <g>.

Also, I can stir up the sand bed to release the yuck every other day or so instead of doing it once a week.

 

[Susan Edwards]

This is the part that doesn't add up, so to speak.
But I understand your reasoning below.

I figure/assume a water percentage change doesn't matter if it is all at once or spread out. It's going to add up the same. Unless there is an emergency that needs fast changes.

In my 220 I don't do regular water changes. In a year I've done 1 20% for medication removal. Since them, with chemi clean and reef flux, I just set my DOS awc to do 5 gal a day, or every other day or even 2 days until I get the required percent done. My alk/ca/mg all stay much more stable. This tank will need water changes but I'll prob. do them all like this unless there is an emergency. With 1 fish and 1 coral, there is no rush (except to get my nem in lol's)

 

[Jekyl]

Doing 20% in 1 change vs 20% in 4 changes is not the same thing. If nitrates are 100 for example and you change 20%... then your nitrate will be 80. If 100 and you do 5% 4 times, then you get 81.5. Best to do a 30% change when trying to get numbers under control, twice a week until reaching desired effect.

 

[Susan Edwards]

Doing 20% in 1 change vs 20% in 4 changes is not the same thing. If nitrates are 100 for example and you change 20%... then your nitrate will be 80. If 100 and you do 5% 4 times, then you get 81.5. Best to do a 30% change when trying to get numbers under control, twice a week until reaching desired effect.

Ok making sense now as i didnt take into account of addi g new water in multiple batches. Did 1 10% all at once today and will see where im at when i test tonight.

 

[Jekyl]

Ok making sense now as i didnt take into account of addi g new water in multiple batches. Did 1 10% all at once today and will see where im at when i test tonight.

10% lower than you were

 

[Susan Edwards]

10% lower than you were

Getting closer lols.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Getting closer lols.

Just curious, what is your objection to doing a larger water change to bring nitrates down do you can add the nem? (You could even do an extra large WC and use water from the tank the nem is in now... acclimating the water in the smaller tank at the same time)

 

[Susan Edwards]

Just curious, what is your objection to doing a larger water change to bring nitrates down do you can add the nem? (You could even do an extra large WC and use water from the tank the nem is in now... acclimating the water in the smaller tank at the same time)

All the water is in the garage. Kitchen/dining room at other end of house. Not even sure my phython would go from the saltwater brute to the tank. I'll have to see just so I know. I used to do big one with my 125g. It is just a hassel to bring in a brute, drain, pump in new, switch hoses around to pump out the old from can and have to run back and forth to shut off pump in the garage and not flood the tank lol's. My water station use to be in the kitchen which made the whole process easier. And with a smaller tank, it just seemed easier to fill a 5 g bucket a gal at a time and carry in a gal to replace.. Yes, it would have been done faster if I had done big changes, but I had figured it was all the same so I learned something here so thank you for that. Today I just turned off pumps, took out 5 gal and then add 5 gal in. If I need bigger, I'll fill 2 buckets next time.

With my 220 when ever I have to turn off the returns and mess with things, it messes up the overflow and valve and my atk and can take days, even a week or more to get things it back to where it should be. For that tank I designed it to do awc. I can do 3 gal a day or whatever I want with the apex DOS. I also have a manifold so in an emergency, I can do a large change. I do have a 60g container so I can make up lots of saltwater. But for the awc I use a 20g brute--easier to control the salinity. But I found when I did the daily changes, it affected my alk/ca etc. and also often threw off my atk (too much water in or out)

I've found that perhaps in a big system, those daily, weekly or bi-weekly water changes aren't as needed as with a smaller system. Stability is more important with my corals and that means no alk swings. It seems many reefers with big tanks are doing away with regular water changes so I'm going by my tanks needs. For the most part my nutrients have been low or perfect so no water change needed. This last time of using reef flux (bryopsis not killed from last time), I just set up some 5 g awc and used lots of carbon. Tank is very happy and very stable without that 20% big water change and maybe any of that reef flux left will help keep bryopsis from returning! I've seen some articles on doing small and regular doses of it. Not what I want to do!

 

[Susan Edwards]

Just curious, what is your objection to doing a larger water change to bring nitrates down do you can add the nem? (You could even do an extra large WC and use water from the tank the nem is in now... acclimating the water in the smaller tank at the same time)

All the water is in the garage. Kitchen/dining room at other end of house. Not even sure my phython would go from the saltwater brute to the tank. I'll have to see just so I know. I used to do big one with my 125g. It is just a hassel to bring in a brute, drain, pump in new, switch hoses around to pump out the old from can etc. Now I have to run back and forth to shut off pump in the garage and not flood the tank lol's. My water station use to be in the kitchen which made the whole process easier. And with a smaller tank, it just seemed easier to fill a 5 g bucket a gal at a time and carry in a gal to replace.. Yes, it would have been done faster if I had done big changes, but I had figured it was all the same so I learned something here so thank you for that. Today I just turned off pumps, took out 5 gal and then add 5 gal in. If I need bigger, I'll fill 2 buckets next time and do all at once!

With my 220 when ever I have to turn off the returns and mess with things, it messes up the overflow and valve and my atk and can take days, even a week or more to get things it back to where it should be. For that tank I designed it to do awc. I can do 3 gal a day or whatever I want with the apex DOS. I also have a manifold so in an emergency, I can do a large change. I do have a 60g container so I can make up lots of saltwater. But for the awc I use a 20g brute--easier to control the salinity. But I found when I did the daily changes, it affected my alk/ca etc. and also often threw off my atk (too much water in or out). And the reason for a wc is for nutrient removal and replenishment of elements which I dose for (big 3, and RS trace colors).

I've found that perhaps in a big system, those daily, weekly or bi-weekly water changes aren't as needed as with a smaller system. Stability is more important with my corals and that means no alk swings. It seems many reefers with big tanks here are doing away with regular water changes so I'm going by that tanks needs. For the most part my nutrients have been low or perfect so no water change needed. This last time of using reef flux (bryopsis not killed from previous time), I just set up some 5 g awc and used lots of carbon. Tank is very happy and very stable without that 20% big water change and maybe any of that reef flux left will help keep bryopsis from returning! I've seen some articles on doing small and regular doses of it. Not what I want to do!

 

[Susan Edwards]

okay, some good news here. no3 down to 22. 1st test hanna, came back at 23. In disbelief, I retested: 22. So will test tomorrow, and monday and maybe put that nem in his new home. Current tank its in has no3 at 10.