Help (tell me if im right)

[1fast300zx]

Alright To start things off I have had a never ending battle with High Nitrates around 100 to 150 ppm.
Quick background on the Aquarium set up
Set up in August.
125 Saltwater Aquarium with 100 Pounds of Live Rock
Coralife 220 Skimmer (largest model)
Two Maxi-jet 1200's (circulation)
MegaFlow Model 3 Wet/dry Filter MAG12 return pump
1.5 Inch Deep Sand Bed
LiveStock
12 Inch Stars and Stripes Puffer Fish
Thats it.
Now I have been fighing these High Nitrates for months, I posted 10 or so threads on here a while back under a different username but I forgot the password.
I currently have the basic pads inside of my Wet/dry. I had a carbon pad which I just removed after two months because it wasnt doing any good. I had a worker who is part of a fish maintence buisness stop by and check out the set-up, he said everything mechanically looked properly set up and this is what he suggested.
-First for me to remove the Live Rock from the back wall, I had it building up the back aquarium wall in a mountain like Manner. He suggested Building it in a honeycomb like pattern in the middle so there was space in front and behind the rock for openings for waste and food to circulate out. I changed the Live Rock right away to allow more openings.
-His second suggestion was MUCH MUCH MORE water circulation. He said the powerheads I had in the tank wouldnt get the job done. I had 2 powersweeps and two Maxi-jet 1200's. I removed the powersweeps because they didnt do anything and Currently had the two maxi-jets running.
Alright back onto topic he suggested Buying the largest Rio Powerhead I could find. I found them for sale on this site, the largest producing somewhere around 1500 gallons per hour. He said to hook pvc up to the rio while it was fully submerged near the bottom of the display aquarium and run the pvc along the back wall with openings for water to come out. He said this would keep the waste stirred and allow it not to settle around the live rock and sand which then create dead spots.
Does this sound like a good idea? I have eliminated all other factors for having the High Nitrates. I bought another test kit to make sure mine wasnt old, and I got the same readings. I have bought more live rock, tried different filter media. Also for a while I would do a 15 percent water change once a week. He said I would want to have my display water cycling 10 to 15 times an hour. The only concern I have with doing this is my puffer sometimes likes to lay on the bottom and Im afraid the current may be to strong for him to do this, but I would imagine some areas wont get as much current and he can lay there.
Thank you everyone for taking the time to read this long post.
Peter

 

[rbaldino]

I really don't see how more current is going to reduce nitrates. They build up naturally in the system and have to be removed, either with water changes or some sort of filter media. Are you using bio balls in your wet-dry setup? Those usually get blamed for nitrates. Is your test even accurate? Have a LFS test the water for you.

 

[1fast300zx]

I had several LFS test the water. Bio-balls were removed months ago so thats been eliminated from whats causing the nitrates.
The water circulation is one of the last things I think I can do to try to reduce the nitrates. Keep in mind this is a very large fish who produces a great amount of waste. The majority of the waste never makes it to the surface where my overflow box is because I think the circulation isnt strong enough for it to do so and it just gets stuck and hides in my sand.
As far as his health goes, he breathes fine, eats fine, and is extremely active with great color. So luckily I dont think the Nitrates being high are effecting him a great amount because I added the puffer in September (after a 30 day fishless cycle) and he has been fine since. But the high nitrates are getting on my nerves and I want the best water quality for my fish. I also tested my Tap water (i dont use an RO unit) it read 5ppm on nitrates. I understand an RO unit is the best route but I dont have an area to set one up right now. And besides that My nitrates are over 100, if they were around 40 ppm I would be happy since its not a reef tank.
Thanks

 

[1fast300zx]

Not sure if a picture will help or not but here is the Aquarium.

 

[rick58]

Actually, the advice is excellent. Water flow plays a major role in the process, keeping thing suspended until they can be filtered and preventing gunk from building up in 'dead zones' and within nooks in your live rock.
Your tanks looks great, by the way. Be careful not to add too much current, it will blow your sand around.

 

[puffer32]

Some large water changes might help.

 

[1fast300zx]

Thanks for the reply so fast! And sorry the picture of the tank is so small and in low quality, I couldnt get the original photo to upload on here because it was to large.
One thing I forgot to mention earlier was he suggested to Add Chemi-Pure into my wet/dry rather than carbon. He said it was the best media by far and would help the nitrates. Has anyone else used Chemi-Pure?
Thanks

 

[1fast300zx]

"Some large water changes might help."
Very true. I did several back to back 50 percent water changes and trust me they were not easy. Preparing and storing 50-60 gallons of saltwater sucked! Anyway I had no luck and the Nitrates still were reading high after a few days. I vacummed up as much waste out of the sand as I could without sucking sand into my python system.
I think the ultimate solution is going to be getting this large Rio Powerhead and rigging together a pvc system inside the aquarium to help evenly distrubute water flow. If anyone saw my pervious reply about the chemi-pure feel free to comment on the product. Im going to be ordering the rio powerhead and possibly the chemi-pure later tonight off of this website.
Thanks

 

[trainfever]

It sounds like you need to do more and bigger water changes. Try doing 25 gallon water changes every couple days, that will do it.

 

[hatessushi]

If you really want to get rid of nitrates since yours are so high is get a Denitrator. Midwest Aquatics make the sulphur and non-sulphur denitrifier. There are a few others out there. I have the sulphur one which I installed since my nitrates were at over 80ppm and my tank is a reef tank. My nitrates, after running it for the last 4 months, are less then 5 or at 0 I can't tell for sure. The maintenance is about every 4 months and is simple.

 

[1fast300zx]

"It sounds like you need to do more and bigger water changes. Try doing 25 gallon water changes every couple days, that will do it."
Yeah I am sure that will drop the Nitrates. However I have a feeling once I stop doing a water change every 2 to 3 days and begin doing them weekly the Nitrates will creep back up. I think I need more water circulation in the aquarium. Thanks for the input though, I plan on doing water changes more frequent, right now I do around 30 gallons every other week.

 

[trainfever]

You might also want to increase the amount of live rock. You should have about 1 1/2 to 2 pounds per gallon. I dont think you have 1 pound per gallon.
I also just reread your posts and I think the prolem might be that your tap water has 5ppm nitrates. So in actuality, when you do a water change, you are not removing as much nitrates as you think you are. There are inline filters that you can hook up to your faucet when you need to do a water change. You then remove them until next water change. I suggest you look into one of these.

 

[1fast300zx]

"If you really want to get rid of nitrates since yours are so high is get a Denitrator. Midwest Aquatics make the sulphur and non-sulphur denitrifier. There are a few others out there. I have the sulphur one which I installed since my nitrates were at over 80ppm and my tank is a reef tank. My nitrates, after running it for the last 4 months, are less then 5 or at 0 I can't tell for sure. The maintenance is about every 4 months and is simple."
Those look pretty awsome. Thanks for the advice. How exactly does it run and where do you place it? If spending that much money is what I need to do I will but I was hoping stronger water flow/circulation would take care of the problem and would be much cheaper

 

[1fast300zx]

"You might also want to increase the amount of live rock. You should have about 1 1/2 to 2 pounds per gallon. I dont think you have 1 pound per gallon."
Thanks again for the advice.
I was considering increasing the Live Rock but this is a Fish Only aquarium containing nothing but a Puffer Fish. I have 100 pounds currently. I am concerned right now that the reason my Nitrates are as high as they are is because the Live Rock is actually trapping and making waste build up, I think a Rio powerhead that pumps 1500 gph would take care of this if evenly distrubted throughout the aquarium floor. What do you think?
Thanks
Also does anyone use Chemi-Pure filter Media? Is it good?

 

[rbaldino]

Originally Posted by 1fast300zx
"It sounds like you need to do more and bigger water changes. Try doing 25 gallon water changes every couple days, that will do it."
Yeah I am sure that will drop the Nitrates. However I have a feeling once I stop doing a water change every 2 to 3 days and begin doing them weekly the Nitrates will creep back up. I think I need more water circulation in the aquarium. Thanks for the input though, I plan on doing water changes more frequent, right now I do around 30 gallons every other week.
Circulation doesn't really have a lot to do with biological filtration, and just because waste gets trapped in a filter as opposed to sitting on the substrate doesn't mean it's not still breaking down. No matter where the waste is, it's still in the water column, still releasing ammonia. Bacteria convert that to nitrite, then to nitrate. Unless you have a fuge or aneorobic bacteria in the tank, the only way to really deal with nitrates is through water changes or filter media designed to reduce nitrate, Like Seachem's DeNitrate.

 

[1fast300zx]

Man I am really starting to get a Headache trying to decide what to do. Luckily my puffer appears to be in excellent health and Im not in a huge rush here, would just like to drop these Nitrates for good sometime soon thoguh.
I was looking at the Midwest Aquatic DeNITRIFIER and its a lot of money but all the reviews say its excellent and drops the Nitrates almost to 0 ppm. Anyone have expierence with any type of DeNITRIFIER system?

 

[rbaldino]

Originally Posted by 1fast300zx
Man I am really starting to get a Headache trying to decide what to do. Luckily my puffer appears to be in excellent health and Im not in a huge rush here, would just like to drop these Nitrates for good sometime soon thoguh.
I was looking at the Midwest Aquatic DeNITRIFIER and its a lot of money but all the reviews say its excellent and drops the Nitrates almost to 0 ppm. Anyone have expierence with any type of DeNITRIFIER system?
Never used a setup like that. Remember, though, that you don't need the equipment to run the media, it just makes it more effective. You could fill a bag with DeNitrate and put it in a power filter or in the sump.

 

[myreef05]

Personally, I think the test kit is wrong or it is being read wrong. Take a sample to the LFS and see what they say. If in fact it does prove to be that high, large water changes every other day or so will help greatly. Good luck.

 

[infalable]

I had similar probs. I have a 46 gal tank. I started changing the water much more often. Then used my phosban reactor for some denitrifier (sp). Look for dead spots where water doesnt flow. Also, dont over feed. You have probably done all this. good luck.

 

[1fast300zx]

I had two bags of No-Nitrate inside my Wet/Dry where the bio-balls used to be and I had no luck at all with these. Somebody suggested placing chemi-pure in the wet/dry instead, I have not tried this out yet. I have no problem doing large water changes over the course of a few weeks but my only concern is the Nitrates beginning to climb again. I want them to end or atleast stay under 40 ppm. I have two test kits. Both read very high. I am going to take water to the LFS again but last time I did they werent very clear on the reading but agreed they were higher than usual.
Could I perhaps add a canister filter to also help the overall water quality?
I really would like to avoid spending 450 dollars on a DEnitrifier especially since this isnt a Reef Aquarium. There is one thing alive in my aquarium beside my inverts hiding in the live rock and thats a Puffer Fish.