How do I lower my nitrate level?

[sweet_pea]

My nitrate level is sky high,how do I lower them as fast as possible? What are the causes of nitrate,so that I can eliminate the source.

 

[paulcoates]

basically, you need to do water changes. Feeding too much is a primary reason for high nitrates. Also, not enough flow can affect that too.
For you though, I would do 10% water changes twice per week and make sure that you have no dead spots in your tank as far as flow goes

 

[xnikki118x]

I also had problems with my nitrates when I used crushed coral.

 

[catawaba]

Water change water change water change on a schedule

 

[maxalmon]

Water changes are very helpfull, but you have to get at the source if they are really high. Overstocking, overfeeding, dirty filter sponges, canister filter media, old carbon, even the bubble arrestor filter on a skimmer, if you have a HOB overflow and it has one of those sponge tube things, that can also be a source. Find the source and work from there.

 

[ghettotang]

My suggestion to you like other people say is do a water, but I would try to do big water change every three days until it drop no more than half of you water in your tank. It depend on your size of you tank is the amount of water change you would do (I would say instead of 10% I would do about 30-40% of water). See I have 75 gallon and I use to have that problem too. So I when to my LFS and told them what my problem is. I told them I do 15 gallon water change every week. So they suggest that I'll do 35 gallon of water change every five days for a 1 month. And thats how I drop the nitrate down and since now my nitrate stay to zero. I still do 35 gallon of water change instead of every five days I do every weekend. Also to help you out I would through some cleaner clam, caurlpa, or chaeto plant either do you sump if you have any or into your tank. I just bought about half a pound of clam at my my local fish market and I throught them into my sump. I also have caurlpa into my sump and it grown like a weed. This two also help reduce and stay zero nitrate. I also use that plant to feed my tangs especially yellow and naso tang loved this plant.
I hope this suggestion help you out. Let me know later if this helps. Good luck

 

[maxalmon]

Weekly water changes of that size seem a little excessive, I would think that there is an underlying issue causing the high readings. on my 125 DT I do a 30-35g change about every 4 weeks, even at the time of the water change my readings are at 0. I have sump with a massive clump of chaeto in it and I feel that this cheato has made a world of difference in my water quality.
I would want to understand what is causing the elevated levels and then take corrective action. It seems that everyone thinks that a water change is the "cure all" for reef tanks, granted they do help in situations such as this. I do water changes to replenish minerals and trace elements, not to lower nitrates. The reason my levels are always minimal is because I pay attention to what and how often I'm feeding and about every other month I do a deep cleaning, inspecting ever crevice, nook and cranny for any type of buildup, I have a sand sifting cucumber, I pay attention to how many of my cleanup crew is still around and replace them as needed.

 

[farslayer]

I agree, the root problem lies somewhere, water changes only dilute the situation (no pun intended) and don't solve it. Post some details on your tank. Are you using crushed coral? How often and what do you feed? Do you dose with anything. What are your other readings? How big is the tank, what's living in there?

 

[ghettotang]

Yeah the water change is not going to be cure, but what I'm trying to say is that since the nitrate is high what would be the best thing do to bring the nitrate down. For what I know is that most people here even at your LFS and people with a lot of experience would say that water change is the way to help reduce your nitrate. I mean I could be wrong, but for the past 5 years of learning how to do SW most people would suggestion the first thing is water change if the nitrate is high. Just remeber what this person said he or she want to drop the nitrate as fast as it could. Yes, also that nitrate take a while to to drop it to zero. I'm sure you know that maxalmon. I'm only trying to help and passing on my experience on how to lower the nitrate. I'm sure that this might not be the way to do it, but trying new thing and experience is the a good way to start learning.

 

[maxalmon]

Ghetto, your absolutley correct, get the nitrates down with a water change. But once you do the water changes, start looking for whats causing the problem, don't simply rely on water changes to keep the nitrates down.

 

[ghettotang]

Yeah I aggree with that you don't just rely on water change, but thas only my suggestion since I've done I just want to share it to people to see if they would try and works.
Thanx for sharing your info to and other people.