Is Nitrate bad for corals?
- Thread starter thang45
- Start date
flower
Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by thang45
http:///forum/post/3161281
I've added 6 small fishes since 2 weeks ago, and now I have noticed that the corals are not open up like the use to. Is this because of high Nitrate?
Usually my Nitrate is 0, but the last 3 times that I check it is 25mg/L. Is this the problem?
How can I lower the Nitrate quickly?
I doubt nitrate is the problem...I think you are safe under 40. I use RO water and run a skimmer..so stuff gets striped out of the water. When my corals do the shrink on me, I usually need to up my alk and or PH.
You can replenish everything with a water change. This also lowers the nitrates.
http:///forum/post/3161281
I've added 6 small fishes since 2 weeks ago, and now I have noticed that the corals are not open up like the use to. Is this because of high Nitrate?
Usually my Nitrate is 0, but the last 3 times that I check it is 25mg/L. Is this the problem?
How can I lower the Nitrate quickly?
I doubt nitrate is the problem...I think you are safe under 40. I use RO water and run a skimmer..so stuff gets striped out of the water. When my corals do the shrink on me, I usually need to up my alk and or PH.
You can replenish everything with a water change. This also lowers the nitrates.
thang45
Member
Originally Posted by Flower
http:///forum/post/3161282
I doubt nitrate is the problem...I think you are safe under 40. I use RO water and run a skimmer..so stuff gets striped out of the water. When my corals do the shrink on me, I usually need to up my alk and or PH.
You can replenish everything with a water change. This also lowers the nitrates.
I use the unbaked baking soda to increase my alk for about 2 weeks, and it bought my pH from 8.3 to 8.0. Then I found out that I should baked the baking soda before using it, so I threw out the old batch and created a new batch. Could this be the problem?
My tank parameters:
Cal = 450
AlK= 9.8
Mag = 1350
Temp = 80F
http:///forum/post/3161282
I doubt nitrate is the problem...I think you are safe under 40. I use RO water and run a skimmer..so stuff gets striped out of the water. When my corals do the shrink on me, I usually need to up my alk and or PH.
You can replenish everything with a water change. This also lowers the nitrates.
I use the unbaked baking soda to increase my alk for about 2 weeks, and it bought my pH from 8.3 to 8.0. Then I found out that I should baked the baking soda before using it, so I threw out the old batch and created a new batch. Could this be the problem?
My tank parameters:
Cal = 450
AlK= 9.8
Mag = 1350
Temp = 80F
flower
Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by thang45
http:///forum/post/3161300
I use the unbaked baking soda to increase my alk for about 2 weeks, and it bought my pH from 8.3 to 8.0. Then I found out that I should baked the baking soda before using it, so I threw out the old batch and created a new batch. Could this be the problem?
My tank parameters:
Cal = 450
AlK= 9.8
Mag = 1350
Temp = 80F
UMMM...you are over my head...I use ALK buffer and PH buffer between water changes, if they drop from using RO water. I did start putting ALK buffer in my top off and it keeps things more stable.
I never knew exactly how to use the baking soda so I never did. But I never before heard you had to "bake" it before use..
Have you been feeding your corals? What kind of lighting you have, and if they are having chemical warfare with each other, are all reasons for corals to shrink up.
I have to go to work so I am not much help I know...sorry.
http:///forum/post/3161300
I use the unbaked baking soda to increase my alk for about 2 weeks, and it bought my pH from 8.3 to 8.0. Then I found out that I should baked the baking soda before using it, so I threw out the old batch and created a new batch. Could this be the problem?
My tank parameters:
Cal = 450
AlK= 9.8
Mag = 1350
Temp = 80F
UMMM...you are over my head...I use ALK buffer and PH buffer between water changes, if they drop from using RO water. I did start putting ALK buffer in my top off and it keeps things more stable.
I never knew exactly how to use the baking soda so I never did. But I never before heard you had to "bake" it before use..
Have you been feeding your corals? What kind of lighting you have, and if they are having chemical warfare with each other, are all reasons for corals to shrink up.
I have to go to work so I am not much help I know...sorry.
thang45
Member
Originally Posted by Flower
http:///forum/post/3161418
UMMM...you are over my head...I use ALK buffer and PH buffer between water changes, if they drop from using RO water. I did start putting ALK buffer in my top off and it keeps things more stable.
I never knew exactly how to use the baking soda so I never did. But I never before heard you had to "bake" it before use..
Have you been feeding your corals? What kind of lighting you have, and if they are having chemical warfare with each other, are all reasons for corals to shrink up.
I have to go to work so I am not much help I know...sorry.
I think I have the problem why the corals shrink. I added a brass valve 3 weeks ago and this valve might have leached some of the copper into the tank.
I have purchased Seachem Cuprisorb and hopefully this will fixed my problem.
http:///forum/post/3161418
UMMM...you are over my head...I use ALK buffer and PH buffer between water changes, if they drop from using RO water. I did start putting ALK buffer in my top off and it keeps things more stable.
I never knew exactly how to use the baking soda so I never did. But I never before heard you had to "bake" it before use..
Have you been feeding your corals? What kind of lighting you have, and if they are having chemical warfare with each other, are all reasons for corals to shrink up.
I have to go to work so I am not much help I know...sorry.
I think I have the problem why the corals shrink. I added a brass valve 3 weeks ago and this valve might have leached some of the copper into the tank.
I have purchased Seachem Cuprisorb and hopefully this will fixed my problem.
thang45
Member
Originally Posted by ophiura
http:///forum/post/3161887
A brass valve is a big problem indeed, and often not recognized by many.
What sort of corals do you keep? Nitrates can be considered a problem in SPS tanks, but less so in soft coral tanks.
I keep hard and soft corals. I'm pretty sure it is the copper because most of the snails are not moving. I just hope Cuprisorb will remove the copper.
BTW, does poly filter remove copper as well? the package said "remove heavy metal, does that include copper?
http:///forum/post/3161887
A brass valve is a big problem indeed, and often not recognized by many.
What sort of corals do you keep? Nitrates can be considered a problem in SPS tanks, but less so in soft coral tanks.
I keep hard and soft corals. I'm pretty sure it is the copper because most of the snails are not moving. I just hope Cuprisorb will remove the copper.
BTW, does poly filter remove copper as well? the package said "remove heavy metal, does that include copper?
ophiura
Active Member
Yes, a polyfilter will help but I would take as many approaches as possible, including carbon as well. Have you done a copper test? A polyfilter will turn pale blue with copper I believe.
The snails are a really "good" sign if you will of a heavy metal issue. Good spotting (though a problem
) That is a tough lesson to learn.
The snails are a really "good" sign if you will of a heavy metal issue. Good spotting (though a problem
) That is a tough lesson to learn.
thang45
Member
Originally Posted by spanko
http:///forum/post/3162214
I don't see you mention but I am taking for granted that you have removed the brass valve from the system, yes?
Yes, that was the first thing I did when I found out about it.
BTW, thank you for posting the picture.
planning to do 20% WC after work. I just hope that my reef tank can be saved.
I still see some snails moving around, I hope that is a good sign.
http:///forum/post/3162214
I don't see you mention but I am taking for granted that you have removed the brass valve from the system, yes?
Yes, that was the first thing I did when I found out about it.
BTW, thank you for posting the picture.
planning to do 20% WC after work. I just hope that my reef tank can be saved.
I still see some snails moving around, I hope that is a good sign.