Help@@@nitrate Problems@@@@

spanko

Active Member
Ah yes the Rothschild - Mondavi collaboration. You tempt me from 1137.7 miles away, you are an evil friend!!!!!! Cheers and have one for me!
 

lluv24

Member
hello everyone, i just got off work so i checked the post out. would it be a good idea to get some more live rock to replace the bioballs? how much more rock? how do i know when i have enough to replace the bioballs? for my subst, i have crushed coral, ive heard some people say its ok in a reef and some people say its bad! i dont know? ive had it for years with no problems yet! also all the fake corals i had i took out, i want the real thing now
. so im about to check the trates in a few. i'll let ya know wuzup
 
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vince-1961

Guest
I just wrote this in another thread, so I'll just copy and paste:
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The answer to your question is that there are, basically, 3 ways to reduce nitrates:
1. "The solution to pollution is dilution", meaning do water changes.
2. Grow some anaerobic bacteria to convert the nitrates into harmless gaseous nitrogen, meaning use a Deep Sand Bed (DSB).
3. Grow something much larger than bacteria that consumes nitrates for food, like cheato, which you grow in your sump, not in your DT.
Oh, and there is a 4th thing, but it's not how to reduce nitrates. This 4th item is how not to produce so much of it in the first place.
4. Eliminate your "nitrate factories", which is to say, change and clean your filter material more frequently.
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PS- My glass is empty. Who's got the bottle?
 

lluv24

Member
hi everyone, well since i cleaned the bioballs last night .my trates are now 80
i took some out and just pushed them around in some of the water i took out of the dt. i put some amquel in the dt to reduce the trates. should i do a water change tonight if so i need to make some new water now? what to do.......................
 

florida joe

Well-Known Member
hi everyone, well since i cleaned the bioballs last night .my trates are now 80
one thing has nothing to do with the other
retest nitrate testing has to be spot on
 

bulldog123

Member
Another dumb question, but are you following the directions. Not the back of the card use the book. If not you could be all over the map. Am I crazy here guys or have others experiece this.
 

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by Bulldog123
http:///forum/post/3117718
Another dumb question, but are you following the directions. Not the back of the card use the book. If not you could be all over the map. Am I crazy here guys or have others experiece this.
IMO nitrate test kits are one of the most Unreliable due to procedure error
 

lluv24

Member
okay i retested. i went with directions out of the book. the color is red! 40-80 is what it shows on the color chart. i just made some new water so im going to do a water change.
 
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vince-1961

Guest
the nitrate test is time sensitive. pay attention to the clock. If you read it too soon, the reading will be incorrectly low. If you read it too late, the reading wiill be incorrectly high.
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I'll drink most anything, whether it's before it's time, after it's time or whatever. I am not a problem drinker ... as long as the bottle is not empty. If it is, then there's a problem!
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PS- give the newly mixed water some time to sit and aerate. The process of salt dissolving robs the water of oxygen.
 

bulldog123

Member
Brother Ive been there, all I did was do water changes and add de-nitrate and reduce feeding. It took several week but I didnt lose anything. Good luck and just stick with the wc.
 
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vince-1961

Guest
There is no answer to that question other than "as long as it takes to competely dissolve the salt and replenish the oxygen." How long is that? It depends.
The more water movement, with air mixing in, the less time. If no water movement or air being mixed in, the more time --- at least 24 hours, IMHO
 

todj2002

Member
I would get rid of the bio balls. use a sump with cheato and if u can, build an algae scrubber. I (and prolly many many other newbs) have battled high nitrates. How many fish do u have? their poop and left over food are nitrate factories. what is ur feeding schedule. i only feed mine once every other or couple days. use lots of live rock and good flow to keep debri from settling in one area and remaining there. just my opinions. scrubber was the fix for me. i preach it all the time. i swear by it and cheato. good luck.
 
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