Need help!! Nitrites & Ph

eskimo44

eskimo44

Member
My tank has been set up for about 6 weeks and here are my parameters
salinity= 1.0235
ites= between .3 and 0
( <.3 is yellow on my test, mine is slightly orange, .3 on my test is Orange. I am between .3 and <.3, so not zero)
ates= 0
Ph= 7.9 (how do i raise this, without a buffer?)
amon= 0
I did a 7% water change last week
It's a 75gal, 70lbs of LR, 80lbs of LS, (2) 1200 maxi jets, Emperor 400, 2 percs, 1 yellow goby.
 
sly

sly

Active Member
How long has your tank been set up? Have you cleaned any of your foam filters? Did you add anything to your tank recently? Have you taken your water to the LFS to have them test it to make sure that your tests aren't off?
 
sly

sly

Active Member
IMO, your filter is not big enough for your tank. Your filter is rated for a max of 400 gph... less as it clogs with debris. On a 75 gal tank, you would want at least 750 gph minimum.
Nitrite removal occurs in aerobic zones within the filter system. On your setup this would be the bio-wheel. Your system probably can't handle the bioload you have for that size tank. That is why your nitrites are building up. The filter simply can't process them fast enough.
I came across this site that explains a modification you can do to increase the performance of your filter. Maybe it could help you.
Link not allowed
 
sly

sly

Active Member
You said that you pH was 7.9. Do you know what your alk level is? If not then you need to buy an alk test kit. Alk is the buffering capacity of the water. If the alk is low, your pH will swing quickly because there is no buffer there to catch it. Because your filter is too small and your nitrites are rising, this could cause your pH to drop. There is nothing wrong with using a buffer to raise your alk which will stabilize your pH. I think most fish keepers use a buffer to maintain alk. I know I do...
If you upgrade your filter to handle the bioload, your pH may stabilize on its own (after a water change). But it's still a good idea to have a buffer and an alk test kit.
 
reefnut

reefnut

Active Member
What kind of test kit are you using?? Has it ever read 0?? Had the tank completely cycled??
Also, I would get a second opinion from your LFS.
With 2 percs & 1 yellow goby the 70# of LR is plenty to handle the bio-load with out the Emperor 400. In fact I would remove it or just use it for mechanical/ chemical filtration.
Are you testing your PH in the morning or at night??
Water changes will help both issues.
 
eskimo44

eskimo44

Member
I am usuing the Tetra Laboratte test kit. I have checked my Ph in the morning afternoon and evening. When i checked this morning it was 8.0. My Nitrites seemed to drop a little more the last few days. My test has shown 0, and now it is very very close, a slight tint of orange, barely noticable. I rinsed off my filter trays, and turned my powerheads up a little so bubbles will shoot out, but just a little. I read a post that it might help raise my Ph. I want to start putting corals, is 8.0 good enough? The next level on my Ph test is 8.3 and i am not even close to that.
 
reefnut

reefnut

Active Member
Your PH looks fine. Make sure you have no nitrites before adding any corals and you should be fine. You may consider adding 20-30 more pounds of LR unless you plan to stay with a small bio-load.
 
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