cant controll nitrate

[matty0h_52]

im haveing problems controlling my nitrate level without replaceing gallons of watter a week. i use only RO and distilled watter. allso i have no fish in the tank right now. just corals. i cant seem to keep it down. the reason why im concerned is the lovely magenta colored slim on my nice white sand what can i do to stop the nitrate level riseing?

 

[bigarn]

What's the nitrate reading?

 

[nanoreef]

How big is the tank how old is it ?

 

[matty0h_52]

the tank is 4.5 months old and this is never been a problem befor. in nitrate is well if youre looking at the all in one test strip its not white but its not light pink (the next color on the chart) i would guess 1.

 

[matty0h_52]

its a 70g with a 10g overflow sump

 

[bigarn]

I really don't understand what your test result is, but anything 20 or less is fine.

 

[matty0h_52]

then why would all the madenta bacteria be forming if it was fine? cyonide bacteria (totally wrong spelling

 

[funkyman]

Having your lights on too long with too low a flow will contribute to cyno also.

 

[ags]

lights, excess nutrients, low flow....there are several factors for your cynobacteria. The RO/DI water you are buying might not be devoid of nutrients as well.
How long do you have your lights on?
How many PHs do you have?
What are you dosing your tank with and how often?
What are you feeding your tank?

 

[tthemadd1]

Test for Phosphates. Use R/O water...

 

[matty0h_52]

the only thing i put in the tank is oyster eggs for my polyps. i only leave all my lights on for 6 hours now that i only have corals. The only thing i feed in the tank is my donut coral on my coral banded shrimp. i might try moveing the flow a little lower. but its right near my shrooms and i know they dont like too much flow. hmmmm any other advice would be great.
oh yeah i tested my RO watter and my distilled and the nitrate level doesent even show up on my test.

 

[crzyfshygy]

Test the R/o water for Phosphate

 

[ninjamini]

I got some cleaner clams, the littleneck variety from the grocery store. They seam to suck up the nitrates. Also I havent seen them since they went in. Hey I wonder how long they live?

 

[matty0h_52]

i tested for phosphates today and nuthing....just high nitrates. any other thoughts

 

[fishamajig]

I was having the same problem, then I used a diffrent test kit (more accurate) and i found the test strips were way off. they always seem more sensative than the actuial result. double check with another test kit.

 

[crzyfshygy]

Originally Posted by fishamajig
I was having the same problem, then I used a diffrent test kit (more accurate) and i found the test strips were way off. they always seem more sensative than the actuial result. double check with another test kit.
Great idea...I was testing for amonia and going crazy for about a week...then someone suggested a new test and VUALA. Zero on the new test kit. I think that would do the trick. I do not use test strips anymore. They are not reliable. Fastest is good. I have been using that for a while now and am very confident.