HELP!! Nitrates 160

[swalchemist]

Nitrate should be 0 in a reef tank or as close as possible. In my FOWLR I maintain a high of 5 ppm Nitrate and it's really easy to do. With a canister filter high nitrates are pretty common so it's advised to clean them quite regularly. Flow is still an issue in the equation IMO.

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by SWAlchemist
Nitrate should be 0 in a reef tank or as close as possible. In my FOWLR I maintain a high of 5 ppm Nitrate and it's really easy to do. With a canister filter high nitrates are pretty common so it's advised to clean them quite regularly. Flow is still an issue in the equation IMO.
I completely agree that they should be kept low. The filter should be cleaned, but we are talking about a crushed coral substrate here.

 

[swalchemist]

CC or sand matters little, if it's deeper than 2 inches and if detritus waste etc is settling onto and into it you have a problem, it becomes a time bomb of sorts. This is why I use high flow on all my tanks. You are likely right that the gobble is to blame but only because he, it, is likely stirring the waste up that's under the bed. However with increased flow there would be no debris to settle and the cycle would end.

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by SWAlchemist
CC or sand matters little, if it's deeper than 2 inches and if detritus waste etc is settling onto and into it you have a problem, it becomes a time bomb of sorts. This is why I use high flow on all my tanks. You are likely right that the gobble is to blame but only because he, it, is likely stirring the waste up that's under the bed. However with increased flow there would be no debris to settle and the cycle would end.
I do not agree. It matters a great deal if it is CC or sand. With sand the debris isn't trapped. CC is very porous. Detris gets trapped quite easily in the crevices no matter how strong the flow is.

 

[peef]

I am going to have to agree with sepulatian here. There is a BIG difference between CC and LS and the respective depths used with each. But anyway, cajundolphin, I would do some water changes and have your water tested by the LFS. It could simply be that your test kit is bad, old or anything of the sort... You can by a nitrate sponge to help remove the trates at a quicker rate. They are a granulate that you put into a mesh bag (dumb me forgot the technical name) and they absorb nitrates over time. They work wonders. Just for a fail safe I keep one in my back chamber of my NC at all times.

 

[petjunkie]

Ok it's perfectly believable to me that your nitrates went that high considering the amount you are feeding, cc substrate with no cleanings in three weeks and low flow/filtration. You should cut way down on feeding, do every other day and cut out bloodworms and brine shrimp, not really great for saltwater fish. Start doing large weekly water changes and figure out how much it takes to keep your tank at a reasonable nitrate level, I would aim for under 20. Make sure you gravel vac all the cc every time you do a water change and that there isn't any uneaten food, maybe siphon after feedings.

 

[darkgargoyle]

If you have a problem overfeeding or excess food on the bottom maybe a coral banded shrimp or other type could help I am still new to this too but I have a coral banded shrimp and it is a total pig between it, my 3 hermit crabs and the bristle worm that came in my live rock my tank hardly ever has food on the bottom.

 

[waterlogged]

Do biowheels cause high nitrates?

 

[ophiura]

Originally Posted by Waterlogged
Do biowheels cause high nitrates?

NO
Overfeeding, overstocking, lack of proper maintenance, lack of nitrate export...
These cause nitrates. Biowheels and bioballs do not "cause" high nitrates.