K
kellys120
Guest
My question is what is the Ideal Nitrate level for a reef tank. I just checked my water everything checks good except my Nitrate level is around 40 to 80 PPM.
btldreef
Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by kellys120 http:///forum/thread/382828/ideal-nitrate-levels#post_3343671
My question is what is the Ideal Nitrate level for a reef tank. I just checked my water everything checks good except my Nitrate level is around 40 to 80 PPM.
OUCH.
Ideally we want 0ppm, realistically 10ppm and under is acceptable, the closer to 0 the better, especially if you have SPS.
Do you have any ideas why your nitrates are so high? Can you tell us about your tank? (all water parameters, inhabitants, corals, how old, how big, equipment)
What test kit are you using and how old are they?
How often do you do water changes?
Do you run a skimmer or use carbon?
What do you feed? How often, how much?
Originally Posted by kellys120 http:///forum/thread/382828/ideal-nitrate-levels#post_3343671
My question is what is the Ideal Nitrate level for a reef tank. I just checked my water everything checks good except my Nitrate level is around 40 to 80 PPM.
OUCH.
Ideally we want 0ppm, realistically 10ppm and under is acceptable, the closer to 0 the better, especially if you have SPS.
Do you have any ideas why your nitrates are so high? Can you tell us about your tank? (all water parameters, inhabitants, corals, how old, how big, equipment)
What test kit are you using and how old are they?
How often do you do water changes?
Do you run a skimmer or use carbon?
What do you feed? How often, how much?
K
kellys120
Guest
My tank is 1 year old size is 75g with a canester filter with carbon that is farily old and needs to be changed. I also have a skimmer. I usully feed flakes in the morning and flakes and frozen in the afternoon. I would say with water changes im not very religous about making them all the time. what is recomended?
all my parameters were good except the nitrates. I have one purple tang, one bye colored angle, cinniman clown, two green cromise, one cleaner shrimp, one butterfly. as for corals I only have some cabbage leather, and some small button polyps. I also have a common anemone.
all my parameters were good except the nitrates. I have one purple tang, one bye colored angle, cinniman clown, two green cromise, one cleaner shrimp, one butterfly. as for corals I only have some cabbage leather, and some small button polyps. I also have a common anemone.
K
kellys120
Guest
every month
K
kellys120
Guest
whats the best way to drop the Nitrate level
flower
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by kellys120 http:///forum/thread/382828/ideal-nitrate-levels#post_3343704
whats the best way to drop the Nitrate level
Water changes, lots and lots of water changes, a gallon a day is better than 30g in a month...I have done both and daily brings them down better. I have been told a refugium helps a great deal. I just installed my refugium and I have great hope that it will do what it's upposed to do.
0 is ideal
.05 for SPS coral
Under 20 for seahorses
Under 40 is acceptable for soft corals and inverts
Fish don't care..levels can be way up there and no harm done
Originally Posted by kellys120 http:///forum/thread/382828/ideal-nitrate-levels#post_3343704
whats the best way to drop the Nitrate level
Water changes, lots and lots of water changes, a gallon a day is better than 30g in a month...I have done both and daily brings them down better. I have been told a refugium helps a great deal. I just installed my refugium and I have great hope that it will do what it's upposed to do.
0 is ideal
.05 for SPS coral
Under 20 for seahorses
Under 40 is acceptable for soft corals and inverts
Fish don't care..levels can be way up there and no harm done
btldreef
Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by kellys120 http:///forum/thread/382828/ideal-nitrate-levels#post_3343681
My tank is 1 year old size is 75g with a canester filter with carbon that is farily old and needs to be changed. Carbon really only lasts two weeks, canister filters can be nitrate factories if they're not properly maintained. I also have a skimmer. I usully feed flakes in the morning and flakes and frozen in the afternoon. Stop feeding flakes. How much frozen are you feeding? IMO, cut out the flakes all together and just feed once a day and substitue flakes with algae sheets. I have noticed that flakes tend to build up quickly in many canister filters, this may be one of your problems. I would say with water changes im not very religous about making them all the time. what is recomended? This varies and is personal preference. I do weekly water changes. Most people do weekly or bi-weekly water changes. Try to get yourself into a routine.
all my parameters were good except the nitrates. I have one purple tang, one bye colored angle, cinniman clown, two green cromise, one cleaner shrimp, one butterfly. as for corals I only have some cabbage leather, and some small button polyps. I also have a common anemone. The anemone isn't going to tolerate high nitrate levels long term.
Is your cleaner shrimp your only CUC member? Do you have snails and/or hermits/
Originally Posted by kellys120 http:///forum/thread/382828/ideal-nitrate-levels#post_3343681
My tank is 1 year old size is 75g with a canester filter with carbon that is farily old and needs to be changed. Carbon really only lasts two weeks, canister filters can be nitrate factories if they're not properly maintained. I also have a skimmer. I usully feed flakes in the morning and flakes and frozen in the afternoon. Stop feeding flakes. How much frozen are you feeding? IMO, cut out the flakes all together and just feed once a day and substitue flakes with algae sheets. I have noticed that flakes tend to build up quickly in many canister filters, this may be one of your problems. I would say with water changes im not very religous about making them all the time. what is recomended? This varies and is personal preference. I do weekly water changes. Most people do weekly or bi-weekly water changes. Try to get yourself into a routine.
all my parameters were good except the nitrates. I have one purple tang, one bye colored angle, cinniman clown, two green cromise, one cleaner shrimp, one butterfly. as for corals I only have some cabbage leather, and some small button polyps. I also have a common anemone. The anemone isn't going to tolerate high nitrate levels long term.
Is your cleaner shrimp your only CUC member? Do you have snails and/or hermits/
K
kellys120
Guest
I have snailsaround 10 and I usually feed I cub of brine or myisin shrimp in the afternoon.
btldreef
Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by kellys120 http:///forum/thread/382828/ideal-nitrate-levels#post_3343782
I have snailsaround 10 and I usually feed I cub of brine or myisin shrimp in the afternoon.
You really need more CUC than that for that size tank. IMO, I would add another cleaner shrimp and more snails.
Originally Posted by kellys120 http:///forum/thread/382828/ideal-nitrate-levels#post_3343782
I have snailsaround 10 and I usually feed I cub of brine or myisin shrimp in the afternoon.
You really need more CUC than that for that size tank. IMO, I would add another cleaner shrimp and more snails.
gemmy
Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by kellys120 http:///forum/thread/382828/ideal-nitrate-levels#post_3343782
I have snailsaround 10 and I usually feed I cub of brine or myisin shrimp in the afternoon.
I would cut the feedings back to half a cube. This should help a bit. I also do weekly maintenance (ok...sometimes it is every two weeks) on my canister filter, and my water parameters are very good (nitrate is always below 10). I also run a skimmer and have a little HOB filter that was modded to be a little fuge.
Originally Posted by kellys120 http:///forum/thread/382828/ideal-nitrate-levels#post_3343782
I have snailsaround 10 and I usually feed I cub of brine or myisin shrimp in the afternoon.
I would cut the feedings back to half a cube. This should help a bit. I also do weekly maintenance (ok...sometimes it is every two weeks) on my canister filter, and my water parameters are very good (nitrate is always below 10). I also run a skimmer and have a little HOB filter that was modded to be a little fuge.