High Nitrates

[justlooking]

My PH, Amonia, Nitrite, Salinity are all fine but my Nitrates are HIGH. He said REALLY high but I just checked with my kit and Nitrates were 20. Inverts shrimps crabs are fine. Fish seem fine but one died yesterday. I had done a small water change. Are Nitrate Sponges good, I had one in for 6 months, should I change it? How High of Nitrates with everything else perfect would it start to become harmful.

 

[justlooking]

One more bit of info. I have a biowheel filter, I havent changed the cartridges in about 4 months, should I change them, could that have anything to do with it or no?

 

[justlooking]

Anyone?

 

[perchpsk]

are you using tap water or RO water? Tap water is is full of phospates and the like that stimulate algae growth and increase nitrates

 

[demosthenes]

I know that most people urge you to get rid of nitrates and other problems the natural way, so in that I would suggest a DSB and/or a refugium. I, however, use Nitrate Reductor by Kent Marine. I've never been able to detect nitrate. It's in a canister that is only there to expose the water to the Nitrate Reductor. I soon plan on adding a refugium, not for any nitrates, but for the pods.

 

[lnarobbins]

I have 2 emperor double bio-wheel filters,
I change the filter media once a month,
in my opinion, if you do a little more aggressive water change (20-25%)once a month,
and maybe you might be feeding to much,
those two things might help
I need to learn to feed less myself so, I need to listen to my own advice
Alan

 

[justlooking]

I have CC substrate, no LR or LS. Dual bio-wheel filter. 46 bow tank. Should I change my filter media and put some kent nitrate sponge in? I had some in but havent changed it in a few months. Also havent changed the filter cartridges in a few months, could that be part of it?
Any help is appreciated.

 

[justlooking]

Put some reducer in and mixed up the substrate. Also only fed brine shrimp today and will feed light tommorow. All the inverts seem fine