Help i'm new

newgirl1

newgirl1

New Member
Hi everyone, i jsut had a few questions about my tank, I have jsut started a 90 gallon tank it has sand and a few pieces of live rock. WE are in the process of letting the tank cycle, it has been almost a month and we we test the tank almost everyday the ammonia and nitrites are at 0 but we cannot get the nitrates to go down, The test kit we have says that they are about 15-20. i think it is our water. Most of it was premade by the lfs but we used tap for the rest. So my question is can the tank cycle out the nitrates by itself? Or can I get a water purifier and do a water change? and if so what kind of purifier should I get?
Also i have noticed little white bugs on the rocks, So i did my reading and i think they are the copepodss and amphipods. Is that normal can they survive with the nitrates being so high. Any help you guys can give me would be great
Thanks Amber
 
bigarn

bigarn

Active Member
WELCOME AMBER!

Those nitrate readings are fine .... 20 or less is very good. Your tank may be cycled, did you ever see an ammonia and nitrite spike? Those are definitely pods, congrats! They're a sign that the tank is progressing nicely.

Oh yeah ... don't use tapwater, RO water only.
 
reefnut

reefnut

Active Member
Welcome to SWF.COM Amber... glad you found us.
I agree with bigarn, 15-20ppm nitrates is not real bad but I do think the lower the better.
1. Can the tank cycle out the nitrates by itself?
A. Yes & No. Deep sand beds & live rock can process nitrates utilizing anaerobic bacteria. Things like algae, corals, plants, etc will use up nitrates for nutrients. A lot of people run refuge's to grow macro algae to help with nutrient export. A skimmer will also help a LOT by cutting down or removing organic matter/ proteins before it has a chance to become nitrates.
2. Can I get a water purifier and do a water change?
A. Water changes are a good idea regardless of the nitrate level but yes... water changes will help!
3. What kind of purifier should I get?
A. Distilled or RO/DI water. You can buy distilled water from supermarkets, buy RO/DI water from supermarkets or you can buy a RO/DI machine to purify the water at home.
4. Can they survive with the nitrates being so high?
A. Yes, the pods will be fine.
HTH,
 
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