high nitrates

jeffk

jeffk

New Member
Hello all,
I am happy to say since the last time I posted, which has been a while (I read the forums more than anything), our tank has finally started taking off. I am still baffled by the high nitrates. Thinking it was something in the way I was testing, I took a sample to my lfs and they came up with the same readings.
Salinity 1.025
Phosphates 0
dKh 9
pH 7.9 - I know a little low
nitrates 80! - This was actually a little lower than my reading at home. When I did the test, it quickly went into triple digits.
Both my lfs and I used the API nitrate test. Has anyone had a problem with inaccuracy with the API test?
My tank is a 75 gallon with a 20 gallon sump. Everything in the tank looks great! We are excited that it is starting to really take off. All our corals look happy and our fish are doing great. I've been doing 15 gallon a week water changes and the nitrates are still too high.
Any ideas? Thanks in a advance.
A picture of the tank.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
LOL...Yes API tests read 0 then as soon as you have ANY nitrates it bounces up to 80+ because 80 is as high as it will read, but the color is so dark I added the +.
Your nitrates are not that high, or all the inverts (snails, hermits and such) would be dead at 40, and all corals dead at 20+. I use Seachem kits, they come with a regent to be able to double check the results.
 
jeffk

jeffk

New Member
I figured something was going on. My API test card goes to 160 and it was already at 80 by the time I got done shaking that test tube. I will order a salifert test, hopefully it will be more accurate. The way everything is thriving, I didn't see how the nitrates can be through the roof.
Thanks!
 
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