richie1742
Member
how do i lower my nitrate? i have a 25 gallon tank with LR and LS and hangon bio filter. everything els is good except my nitrate. should i do a water change? how much?
thanks in adv.
thanks in adv.
nitrate help please!
- Thread starter richie1742
- Start date
airforceb2
Active Member
Depends on how high they are and what all the other levels are. There is a reason they got high in the first place. List specifics about your tank please.
richie1742
Member
i just took a sample to the lfs and they said theres too much nitrate change 50%, what causes it to shoot so high?
robert dri
Member
i would recommend a wet/dry filter system
airforceb2
Active Member
Before that, get your own test kits. You should know where all the levels are at. Also, look into a skimmer. They help to reduce nitrates.
What kind of water circulation do you have? Bad water circulation can result in dead spots in the tank. Food and detrius can collect in these dead spots and that will cause your nitrates to spike as well.
How long has the tank been set up? Do you have any livestock in it yet?
What kind of water circulation do you have? Bad water circulation can result in dead spots in the tank. Food and detrius can collect in these dead spots and that will cause your nitrates to spike as well.
How long has the tank been set up? Do you have any livestock in it yet?
richie1742
Member
live stock are 6 snails and 6 hermits, tahts it. and i have low water flow now. i dont have heater now, will that help? im doing corals so i dont think im going to look into a wet/dry
airforceb2
Active Member
A wet/dry or a sump is a good thing to have with corals. You want as much water volume as possible. Also...you need a lot of water flow for corals. A heater wont help get your nitrates down but will help if your water temp fluctuates more than 2-3 degrees. Do you have lights for your corals yet?
richie1742
Member
yeah, im getting about 7 watts per gallon (power-compacs), i heard a biological filter is not needed for corals becasue the LR takes its place. and hows a maxijet 900 - 250 gallon turnover for my 25 gal reef?
airforceb2
Active Member
Get the MJ 1200. 295GPH. You want 25-30x turnover in your tank depending on your corals.
birdy
Active Member
25X turnover is a lot, probably more than most would want for a softy, LPS tank. sps need at least 25X turnover. I would get two MJ 900 (better to have two or three powerheads creating random flow), in a 25gallon tank.
My question would be if you are using tap water? If so that could be a source of Nitrates.
If not, test your makeup water for nitrates and be sure they are 0.
Then do water changes.
A protein skimmer will help and I don't think you need a wet/dry if you have plenty of LR and plenty of circulation then that should be enough.
Do several 25% water changes and get your own test kits, don't rely on what the LFS tells you.
My question would be if you are using tap water? If so that could be a source of Nitrates.
If not, test your makeup water for nitrates and be sure they are 0.
Then do water changes.
A protein skimmer will help and I don't think you need a wet/dry if you have plenty of LR and plenty of circulation then that should be enough.
Do several 25% water changes and get your own test kits, don't rely on what the LFS tells you.
richie1742
Member
no i buy my water at the lfs. i think im going to buy my own test kit. whitch are good? that are relitivly inexpensive.
airforceb2
Active Member
Salifert are the best and most accurate but they are a little more expensive. Save yourself the trouble and get accurate tests...otherwise you will run into problems later.