Making my own water

[vkuroczka]

So I have had nitrates in the high 80's. In the past 6 weeks I have done 3 50% water changes. I had been using "catalina ocean water" with no sucess in even a little of a change in nitrates...I had tested them once and thought they dropped to 40 but did the test again and it was still at 80 ish, so tonight I bougt "oceanic" salt in the pre-measured 5 gallon packs. I purchased 5 gallons of distilled water at the store and mixed everything in a 5 gallon bucket. I have it mixing overnight with a bubbler..... so my question is since it's been years since I mixed my own water... will it be ok to put in my tank if my water parm. are ok??? I don't have a RO unit, is the distilled water ok? And last, if I intend to do a bigger water change, how long do I have the water mix for before I can test to see if it's within parm. and place into tank.
My one fish and I thank you in advance!!
My setup:
80 gal.
canister filter (media changed 1 month ago)
skimmer
uv sterilizer
broken coral floor (it gets suctioned VERY WELL with water changes)
20 pounds live rock (slowly accumulating)
2 turbo snails
1 flamehawkfish (had him for like 4-5 years now?? he's the only survivor from my ich attack in March 2008)
Amm. 0.25
Nitrates 80 ish may be more...
Nitrites 0
pH 8.0 (added buffer, my tank is ALWAYS at 8.2)
temp at 82
spec. grav. 1.021

 

[usirchchris]

Without reading your post I could tell you I am 99 percent sure it is your canister filter. They are for fresh water not saltwater. You will need to clean those pads out once a week minimum...probably 2 or 3 times a week would be best. Upgrade to a sump or wet dry, and you will not have near the problems. Sell that canister on craigslist and invest in a different filter system.

 

[sly]

Are you doing a high range or a low range nitrate test? I made the mistake one time of doing a low range test (which uses 100% tank water) but was reading it on the high range scale of my test kit. This artificially showed nitrates higher than they were.
Just to be sure... are you certain you are doing your test right?

 

[vkuroczka]

I'm doing a high range test... can anyone answer my question regarding my water?? thats all I want to know?

 

[bpro32]

The question you asked isn't going to solve your problem. The canister filter is causing the nitrates to be high. In saltwater there are various particles that aren't found in freshwater that can "clog up" your canister and produce nitrates to no end. If you clean that out thouroghly or get rid of it completely and the nitrates don't go down with water changes then you have a more serious problem and should come back to the board.
I have heard wait at least 24 hours before placing it in the tank, but test it as often as you'd like. As far as the distilled water goes I say just go ahead and use it. With the nitrates that high how much worse can it get?

 

[fats71]

Originally Posted by usirchchris
http:///forum/post/2591524
Without reading your post I could tell you I am 99 percent sure it is your canister filter. They are for fresh water not saltwater. You will need to clean those pads out once a week minimum...probably 2 or 3 times a week would be best. Upgrade to a sump or wet dry, and you will not have near the problems. Sell that canister on craigslist and invest in a different filter system.
see below
Originally Posted by bpro32
http:///forum/post/2591939
The question you asked isn't going to solve your problem. The canister filter is causing the nitrates to be high. In saltwater there are various particles that aren't found in freshwater that can "clog up" your canister and produce nitrates to no end. If you clean that out thouroghly or get rid of it completely and the nitrates don't go down with water changes then you have a more serious problem and should come back to the board.
I have heard wait at least 24 hours before placing it in the tank, but test it as often as you'd like. As far as the distilled water goes I say just go ahead and use it. With the nitrates that high how much worse can it get?
I went from a wet/dry to a fluval fx5 in my 75 gal tank and I went from high nitratees to none so in my case your both way wrong. I clean it every three weeks. In my tank I have a scopas tang, foxface, diamond gobie, blue spotted pufffer, xeniz, torch, purple carpet, 2 different zoos and a huge colt.
I have 60 pounds of LR and 60 pounds of LS. My tank is going on 4 months old and the canister was a awsome purchasse.

 

[vkuroczka]

ok in regards to my canister.... i clean it on a regular basis with media change and tubing scrubbing. I have had the canister filter for 5 years and have NEVER!!!! had a problem with nitrtes until recently..... i guess i am just VERY frustrated as everyone is judging me regarding what i have in my tank when what i have in my tank has been there for about 5 years and there has never been a problem.... i guess i will try to figure this out on my own....

 

[usirchchris]

I went from a wet/dry to a fluval fx5 in my 75 gal tank and I went from high nitratees to none so in my case your both way wrong. I clean it every three weeks. In my tank I have a scopas tang, foxface, diamond gobie, blue spotted pufffer, xeniz, torch, purple carpet, 2 different zoos and a huge colt.
Way wrong lol...I had two fluvals a 404 and 405 on my 125, and could never get the nitrates below 80 or so, took those out and now use a wet dry with no problems. Canisters and nitrates can go right into the category of nitrates and cc imo. Bet if he tries it (getting rid of the canister) they will go down. That's cool that yours is working out though

.

 

[funw/fish]

i have always had 2 wet drys on my 65 gl tank. but my prettyiest water came when i added a cansiter w/ micron filter to what i had. I am just saying that canister filters are relly great as long as they ared used with wet/dry or sum.

 

[bpro32]

Originally Posted by funw/fish
http:///forum/post/2593289
i have always had 2 wet drys on my 65 gl tank. but my prettyiest water came when i added a cansiter w/ micron filter to what i had. I am just saying that canister filters are relly great as long as they ared used with wet/dry or sum.
That makes complete sense... If you run both your water will be very clean before it even gets to the canister. But my guess is that if you just let it run without cleaning it for an extended period of time no matter what if you have a sump or not it will eventually build up nitrates... just my uneducated opinion

 

[usirchchris]

but my prettyiest water came when i added a cansiter w/ micron filter to what i had.
Do you mean clarity, or water parameters were much better...if you mean clarity you can buy micron filters to cut to size in your wet/dry.