High nitrates

[blkhawk10]

My nitrates are at about 80 I was wondering how to lower them, what are nitrates caused by?

 

[jonp]

You might want to read up on the Nitrogen cycle. Nitrates are result of Ammonia converting to NitrItes and then into NitrAtes. You can lower them by doing water changes (recommend smaller water changes).

 

[olingerjccj]

What do you have in the tank, Possible over feeding?

 

[blkhawk10]

I have 2 seabae clowns, sixline wrasse, royal gramma, pl cardinal, 2 cleaner shrimp, various crabs, and a serpeant star. My halloween hermit keeps killing my snails, might that have something to do with it?

 

[allansam]

HOW LONG HAS THE TANK BEEN SET UP? HOW LONG HAS THE NITRATES BEEN THIS HIGH?

 

[nycbob]

things dying in the tank constantly can definitely cause medium to high nitrate. what substrate do u hv? list ur filter and amount of lr.

 

[blkhawk10]

I have a 37 gal. set up for about 5 years, the nitrates are ususally about 40 they have been high for about two weeks. I have a Emporer 280, with a new typhoon protein skimmer up for about a month and a half. Oh yeah and 55 lbs. of lr and all ls for substrate.

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by blkhawk10
http:///forum/post/2606798
I have a 37 gal. set up for about 5 years, the nitrates are ususally about 40 they have been high for about two weeks. I have a Emporer 280, with a new typhoon protein skimmer up for about a month and a half. Oh yeah and 55 lbs. of lr and all ls for substrate.
Did you add anything recently? The added bioload from a new fish or feeding more will cause a nitrate spike, as the final result of the cycle. Just out of curiosity, how have you had a saltwater tank for five years and never known what causes nitrates?

 

[florida joe]

Originally Posted by sepulatian
http:///forum/post/2606995
Did you add anything recently? The added bioload from a new fish for feeding more will cause a nitrate spike, as the final result of the cycle. Just out of curiosity, how have you had a saltwater tank for five years and never known what causes nitrates?
Gee would not a simple answer to his question be that nitrates are the end result of nitrification of ammonia

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/2607002
Gee would not a simple answer to his question be that nitrates are the end result of nitrification of ammonia
Since when do you know me to give an answer without explanation?

 

[florida joe]

Originally Posted by sepulatian
http:///forum/post/2607007
Since when do you know me to give an answer without explanation?

To know you is such a broad statement, and I am sure you do not mean in the biblica sense but point well taken

 

[sepulatian]

 

[allansam]

I had a 125 gallon with a 1 inch of crushed coral in the bottom. Also had a aqua clear 500 filter and protein skimmer. Nitrate's were always 100 ppm or higher. So here's what i was told . All power filters are nitrate factories. I was using my aqua clear 500. Also crushed coral was not deep enough. Used De-Nitrate in aqua clear all the time. Did water changes. I fought with this for a long time.
and finally sold the tank. Now i have a 75 gallon pre drilled with a 6 six sand bed.Also 6 inch in my refugium with micro algea. Nitrates are zero

 

[camfish]

Dilution is the best solution to pollution. Keep up on water changes. Nitrate reducing filter media may also help in the longrun. Make sure that your skimmer is big enough for your tank. The less organic waste leads to less ammonia which leads to less nitrite which leads to less nitrate. Refugiums are also something to look into. Good luck.