High Nitrate Levels

[mcowart]

I am helping a friend out with his saltwater that he has had for about a month now. He aquired it from someone who was moving and couldn't take the tank with him. The tank has been up and established for about 2 years now. It successfully supported numerous healthy fish during that time.
My friend got the whole setup from the guy that included all of the water and everything being transported that was used. Since setting it back up, we have fought Nitrate levels >160ppm. I understand that the move most likely sturred up all of the nitrates uried in the sand and such but what will be the most effective method to combat this. We have been doing large water changes (30% at times) to no avail. I don't want to change things too much and kill the fish (mostly damsels) and inverts that are in there and still making it, but I know that such toxic levels are equally bad for them.
What can we do to most effectively combat this? If it's just to keep doing water changes, how often and how much will be the most effective but not too much?? Thanks so much for any help that you can throw my way.

 

[salty2275]

I had the exact problem with my tank that I purchased used. In the end, I had to buy a small QT tank and transfer my livestock to that tank. Then I had to completely tear the display tank down and replace the substrate. You can reserve a little of the old sand to layer on top of your new sand to kick start it biologically. If it is crushed coral, I'd put a little in a nylon bag so it can be removed later. As a side note, I'd also use this time to make sure your skimmer works properly. I also added a refugium while I had the tank dismantled. I had hair algae galore so I scrubbed all my rock with a soft bristle toothbrush and placed it in a dark Rubbermaid tub with a powerhead and a heater in it. It was a job, but it cured my nitrate/hair algae problem.

 

[murph]

How big is the tank?
What kind of skimmer?
What is the situation as to size of sump if you have one and what type of overflows.
How deep is the sand bed?
How much live rock?
IMO you are on the right track with the water changes, although ultimately you may have no choice but to break it down and start over as salty said.
If it were me and there is a decent quantity of LR in the system I would start pulling off the old sand with the water changes in preparation of replacing it which is most likely the source of the problem. Using a three quarter inch siphon hose should enable you to pull off old sand with the old water. Every other day water changes should be fine and take it right down to bare bottom. Your live rock should maintain your bio filtration. Leave it bare bottom and continue with water changes until nitrates come down to at least ten. A shallow new sand bed can be layered in after all of this is accomplished.
In the long run it would probably be cheaper just to break the tank down and start fresh.

 

[adamc1303]

Did you use more than one test kit and got the same results?

 

[mcowart]

Thanks for your quick replies to my post. It's a 55 gallon tank with about 45 or so pounds of LR in it. He is using a SeaClone 100 skimmer and doesn't currently use a sump. His filtration system does use bio wheels, which I have read some opinions that they can cause problems, myth or not?. We could look at changing that out too if need be. His sand bed is about 1 1/2 in deep. Thanks for the help.

 

[mcowart]

Originally Posted by Adamc1303
Did you use more than one test kit and got the same results?
I've only used one test kit. However, I've used this same test kit in about 3 other instances (my new cycling tank setup, my water source , his water source) and came out with nothing for nitrates each time. Should I still seek an alternate source for testing??

 

[hatessushi]

You might want to put a nitrate swponge in your filtration system for a a day and see if that lowers it. I tried that once and it lowered my nitrates quite a bit. Make sure you errr....uh your friend follows the instructions.

 

[mcowart]

We 'll try a nitrate sponge. Thanks
Originally Posted by HatesSushi
Make sure you errr....uh your friend follows the instructions.
I am just helping out a freind I promise. I would own up if it were me. I am just using his bad experiences as learning for me once mine is done cycling. Thanks again.

 

[mikeyjer]

If it were up to me, I'll upgrade that skimmer! Water changes every other day around 20-25% until nitrate drops. I'm so glad that I don't have nitrate problem to deal with... :happyfish