Ok so I had a bad summer and water changes were not my first priority. Now that winter has come I wanted to get some new critter for the tank. Went to the LFS and had my water tested while was looking. They asked me if this was a brand new take. I said no I have had it up and runny for about 2 years now. Make a long story short my Nitrates were off the chart. They sold me a bottle of the Instant Ocean natural nitrate reducer. The bottle was to treat 500 gals. I have a 150 gals so the bottle lasted me about 4 days. They wanted me to treat it every day. I went back a week later and it was still super high, better but still at the top end of the scale. He sold me to more bottle of the same stuff. Went thru those 2 and went back and had the water tested again. It might have been a little bit lower but not by much. The LFS said that the nitrates were most likely "locked up" in the water and it was time to do a water change. He told me to do a 10% water change and the nitrates would most likely fall to about 40 to 60 with in 8 to 10 hours of the water change. I checked the water after the water change the next which around 12 hours or so later and it did not seems to have changed like he said it would. I did not panic and let it sit for a couple of days and checked it last night and still no change. I am not sure what to do. Any advise should be great. Also I have a dog face puffer, snow flake eel, a fix face, a clown fish, and a valentine puffer in the tank. Please help me.
Super high Nitrates. HELP ME PLEASE
- Thread starter nubbs
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I would proceed with smaller routine water changes for the next couple weeks if able. You want to avoid big changes even if that change is directed towards a lower nitrate goal.
With your current live stock you'll probably have to make long term changes to keep the nitrates in check. You might want to consider an Algae Turf Scrubber. Your live stock is fine it's just that to keep them feed and healthy you're introducing a lot of nutrients to the system.
Do you have a skimmer on the tank? If not you might one so look into that as well.
As I mentioned already make the changes slowly not all at once. Do some water changes, get an ATS or make one.
Instead of adding a product that is said to reduce nitrates, think dilute and remove the nutrients. With this tank unless it has corals I would not resort to carbon dosing, and you can not consider it unless you have a skimmer to begin with.
You'll get the number down, just be slow and steady and make water changes part of your routine maintenance.
With your current live stock you'll probably have to make long term changes to keep the nitrates in check. You might want to consider an Algae Turf Scrubber. Your live stock is fine it's just that to keep them feed and healthy you're introducing a lot of nutrients to the system.
Do you have a skimmer on the tank? If not you might one so look into that as well.
As I mentioned already make the changes slowly not all at once. Do some water changes, get an ATS or make one.
Instead of adding a product that is said to reduce nitrates, think dilute and remove the nutrients. With this tank unless it has corals I would not resort to carbon dosing, and you can not consider it unless you have a skimmer to begin with.
You'll get the number down, just be slow and steady and make water changes part of your routine maintenance.
Breakthecycle2
2500 Club Member
What skimmer? How much do you feed? How deep is your sandbed?
abinder
Active Member
What brand and model skimmer do you have?
Have you tried adjusting your skimmer so you get a 'wetter' skim?
When you change the water do you 'vac' the gravel? (that is if you have gravel)
From what I've read, small water changes won't have much of an affect on the nitrate levels. Most people state that you need to do a 50% water change to have much affect on the nitrate level.
Have you tried adjusting your skimmer so you get a 'wetter' skim?
When you change the water do you 'vac' the gravel? (that is if you have gravel)
From what I've read, small water changes won't have much of an affect on the nitrate levels. Most people state that you need to do a 50% water change to have much affect on the nitrate level.
fagundespavinp3
Active Member
Filter sock? Size of Skimmer(brand)? GFO? How is this tank set up? any Macro algae? whats your Phos?
It is a reef octopus(not sure what size I can check when I get home.) I feed every one silver side on a clip which I take out when they are done and I small pcs of nori for the fox face. Sand bed is around May 2-3 inches
No filter sick no gfo no macro algae. I will have to check my Phos. What does the Phos have to do with nitrate. Not being rude just not sure what the connection is? I will check the size of the skimmer when I get home
Breakthecycle2
2500 Club Member
If you can, do a 15% daily for a week. If you really, really want to dose. Use Red Sea's NoPx. Its basically carbon dosing. I've been doing it daily for three months. I do not have one spec of algae, except in my fuge. Not sure how good or bad that it is, but that's my case.
Is doing a water change that often ok for the fish. Everything seems happy but I know that it can't be good for them. If I use the Red Sea stuff is it something that I would do weekly for ever or a set amount of time
Breakthecycle2
2500 Club Member
Small water changes daily are OK. Unfortunately, once you start dosing, you have to continue it. You dose daily. With your size tank and amount of nitrates, you're probably looking at a lot initially. I have a 250 gallon system. I dose 12 (ish) ml's daily.
I think I will get the nitrates down by doing water changes. Once I get them down I will be ok. How many water changes do think it will take if I do 15% a day. What if I do a few changes and I don't see a change. I know that these are a bunch of what if questions but the more I can learn the better. Thank you for the help
fagundespavinp3
Active Member
I think I missed it some where how big is this tank
Breakthecycle2
2500 Club Member
Most of enjoy helping, so questions are a good thing. You should see a steady drop, however if you don't, you have some kind of nutrient issue. Reduced feedings, a bigger skimmer and maybe running filter socks that are changed weekly, should help. I'll be honest, I highly recommend the NoPX.
Breakthecycle2
2500 Club Member
BTW, how high are the nitrates?
kendavjac
Active Member
just remember that doing a water change is just diluting the nitrates. What I mean is that if you do a 10% water change you can only expect about a 10% reduction in nitrates. If you are at the top of the scale on the test kit (assume it API) you are only going from around 160 to 144. You wont see this change. It will take a series of water changes before you see noticeable results.
