Nitrate battle

[causeidm]

Ok, I have been batteling nitrates for the last 3 months. Right now I am running a nautilus skimmer I have about 3 -4 inches of sand, and over 70 pounds of LR, My nitrates have just been sitting at 20 ppm no matter what I do! I hate this and it is keeping me from putting corals in my tank. I try doing small water changes every week, 4-8 gallons and large water changes about every month, 12 - 15 gallons. Is there anything I could do to help lower my nitrates. My ammonia and nitrites are both at 0.

 

[slick]

You could try blowing out your rocks with a ph and make sure they don't have any crap in them.

 

[buzz]

20 isn't really all that bad...ask around...many have levels higher than that...

 

[slick]

Right but it's also not good.

 

[col]

Sorry if it's a dumb question - but have you checked the water you are using for nitrates?

 

[causeidm]

Yeah I did, it does have nitrates so I've been using the distilled water from the grocery store for water changes, however, when I first set up my tank in june, I used the water from our well treated with Kents Amonia detox and I still use that water, treated with amonia detox for my kalwalser and reef builder. I tested it and it does have like 10 ppm of nitrates, but I figured it was such a small amount of water that it wouldn't matter. Do you think I need to start using the distilled water for that to?

 

[pyro383]

If you added water has 10ppm nitrates, I am sure that feeding probably adds 10ppm so you are at that 20ppm. 50% of corals can withstand nitrates in your range and a few thrive in higher, it just depends of the specific coral. If you look at my list, all are thriving and my nitrates go from 10-50ppm. I feed heavily also for my corals.

 

[causeidm]

Thanks