I am getting uber frustrated!

sac10918

sac10918

Member
Okay
Trying to get my damn nitrates down from around 50. I have a 24 gallon aquapod. On Saturday and Sunday (5 days ago) I did a 3 gallon water change each day. I posted on here and was told I should do a larger water change. I spent the last few days mixing up my water and just performed the change. I changed like 8 or 9 gallons. Once I had removed the water I wanted, the water line was just over half of the tank....
I just tested my nitrate level and it hasnt budged! Not even a little bit! I am sooooo frustrated! I have cut feedings by ALOT, purchased some cheato, done 3 water changes but still nothing!

What am I doing wrong? I don't have any sponges or anything that should be harboring the trates. The only other thing I think I will do (perhaps tommorrow) is to siphon out my back compartment where the pumps and heater go as there is some debris back there......
Please help me....All I want to do is have a nice tank and some bloody inverts and corals and I can't!! ARGH!
 
sac10918

sac10918

Member
Hi Lion
Thanks for responding....
When I do my smaller weekly water changes I used boxed ocean water that has Zero nitrates.
Today since I did a larger change, I made my water using RO water and instant ocean salt. I tested that water before I added it and it had a tiny tiny bit of color to my test, indicating that the nitrates were like 2. I went ahead and added this water anyways, figuring that 9 gallons of water with trates of 2 would at least bring my nitrates of 50 down a hair. But no action!
 
lion_crazz

lion_crazz

Active Member
Originally Posted by sac10918
Hi Lion
Thanks for responding....
When I do my smaller weekly water changes I used boxed ocean water that has Zero nitrates.
Today since I did a larger change, I made my water using RO water and instant ocean salt. I tested that water before I added it and it had a tiny tiny bit of color to my test, indicating that the nitrates were like 2. I went ahead and added this water anyways, figuring that 9 gallons of water with trates of 2 would at least bring my nitrates of 50 down a hair. But no action!
How many large water changes have you done recently?
 
sac10918

sac10918

Member
I just did a 9 gallon water change about 30 minutes ago on my 24 gallon tank.
I usually do about 3 gallons a week for regular maintanence but this past week a did two 3 gallon changes back to back for a total of 6 gallons over those two days....
So in total for this week I have changed 9 + 6 gallons
 
sac10918

sac10918

Member
What do you mean by filter media? I dont have any bioballs or sponges in the back or anything.... Just pumps, heaters, etc.
Maybe that is my problem?
 
sac10918

sac10918

Member
BoneSnapper~
I guess I dont have a "filter"
I have an aqua c remora protein skimmer, a phoban reactor running carbon, and a large pump that keeps the water circulating....
The only sponge filter type media I have is the two little discs that are at the bottom and top of the Phosban reactor. I didn't realize that these need to be replaced until last week and my replacements should be arriving by mail soon...
Renogaw~
As far as I can tell I dont have any sediment problems.... I know some of it accumulates in the back of my tank where all the pumps and stuff are, but I try to keep that relatively clean (although I intend to clean it out really well this weekend).
I think I have been lacking in the water flow department. I just changed out my little hydor rotator that I had connected to the outflow on the upper left of the tank and replaced it with a Y shaped ball jointed thing that allows me to adjust the flow a little more precisely.... I also have a koralia nano being delivered next week. I also have a maxijet 400 placed lower in the tank (more for my clown to play in the jet stream than for circulation)...
If a picture of the tank or back area would help, I can try to post one...
 
big

big

Active Member
What is your bio-fish load, is it too high?? Is there ANYTHING too dirty in the system that could be causing it???... Like many, too high nitrates are a serious issue as you well know. I at one time had too many larger fish making controlling nitrates a difficult issue. The two secrets for me where an smaller bio-load of fish and a large refugium containing lots of Chaetomorpha also frequent partial changes which I see you are now doing.
I think the one big thing for me really was the Chaetomorpha. It works like a nitrate magnet for removing it. I now have zero nitrate all the time
. I do realize in a smaller system like yours having a refugium may be hard to do, but any size is better than nothing. I think the Chaeto is the best thing I have ever done in "Reefing"..... Good Luck with this issue..... Warren
 
alex4286

alex4286

Member
the old filter pads are prob the cause of this. in less their replaced its just turning the new water bad again. once these pads have been changed, do another water change asap. also look around in your tank. Is anything dead? or dying? if I were you I would just take out the dirty filter pads NOW. You technically don't need any and can do fine with a refuge & good skimmer. But i wouldn't leave it in any longer and just put the new one in when it comes.
 
sac10918

sac10918

Member
I only have one fish in there so I dont think my bio load is too high...
I can't visibly see anything dead or dying...
THe only filter pad I have is the small disks on the Phosban...Is that what you are refering too, Alex
 
big

big

Active Member
Something seems to be wrong here, low bio-load, only one fish, frequent partial changes, nothing dirty or amiss, and a good test kit!!....... It does not make good since to me. OK experts help HER out!
 
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