nitrate high, dont know why.

[mr.bubble]

No mucis at all. it is just laying on its side very white and i tried to move it but it was falling apart in my hand!

 

[mr.bubble]

ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR SAVING THIS CORAL?! I LOVE THIS CORAL AND I REALLY DONT WANT IT TO DIE! <img src="graemlins//angel.gif" border="0" alt="[angel]" />

 

[fshhub]

between hte clown and nitrates, i would have to thigk that the leathere does not have good odds
but if i may, you say you are making an algae tank??
did you ever consider plumbing it into your main tank?
makes a good refugium, and definitely will not hurt one bit for the nitrates, at all, the algae would only help by exportin the nutrients more
just a suggestion

 

[mr.bubble]

why i am making the algea in a sepret aquarium is because all my tangs eat it up soooo fast. i spent $50 on some grape algea stuff and my tangs ate it in 10 minutes! but could i screen of an area in the tank just for the algea? that way they would consume my nitrate and whatever grows out of the screen, the tangs could eat. but i sounds like alot of work. has anyone ever done this? any more ways to bring down the nitrate? ANY INFO HELPS! THANKS. <img src="graemlins//confused.gif" border="0" alt="[confused]" />

 

[fshhub]

never tried something like that, but like i said you could plumb in the algae tank, then it would serve 2 purposes, nitrates and food
jsut get an over flow and a pump and sowm pvc plumbing, or a pump and pvc an dmake it a gravity fed, it is pretty simple

 

[mr.bubble]

Is there a posibility that i am over feeding the fish? i feed them about 2 time a day live brine, one in the morning and one at night,and every saterday kelp and krill(no brine). do you think this is posibbly why my nitrate is high? <img src="graemlins//confused.gif" border="0" alt="[confused]" /> <img src="graemlins//eek.gif" border="0" alt="[eek]" />

 

[uncle fester]

If you don't mind seeing the material in your tank you could get some light diffuser material like the stuff for fluorescent lights at the hardware store (hobbyists typically call this "eggcrate" make sure it's NOT painted, though). Cut 6 pieces same size, put the algae inside the cage and wire it closed w/ plastic cable ties like electricians use. Then tangs could eat what they can reach but would be unable to reach it all

 

[mr.bubble]

Thats cool but how much do you think it will cost? im on a tight buget right now. <img src="graemlins//uhuh.gif" border="0" alt="[U-Huh]" />

 

[uncle fester]

I found it for 10 bucks at Lowe's. Unsure on cable ties, just make sure no metal in the ties! Other option is to super glue it closed maybe? Also, the clear plastic balls people play w/ hamsters in would work as well (holes drilled in it of course). That option would be even cheaper I'd guess.

 

[mr.bubble]

can i put some live rock over the screen so you do not see it? the fish would be able to get at it and it would eat the nitrate. Can i do that? <img src="graemlins//confused.gif" border="0" alt="[confused]" />

 

[uncle fester]

I imagine you could do that but remember the caulerpa need some light at least to continue to grow.

 

[mr.bubble]

Isnt it posiible to have one of those lights that can go under water and behind a rock to give it light. i did a water change and now my nitrate is at 40 ppm . any more ways to get my nitrate down. IM WILLING TO TRY ANYTHING NOW! THANKS.

 

[uncle fester]

Mr. Bubble e-mail your tank specifics (size, filter, lighting, and substrate) at nicholas@wcc.net. Easier to do it that way. I'll be waiting.

 

[mr.bubble]

My tank size is 80 gallons, subtrate is crushed coral, my filter is a huge wet/dry. i know i forgot something!

 

[mr.bubble]

I forgot about the lights. i have 3 florecent 150 wt lights and one blue atinic(150wt).

 

[mr.bubble]

ANY MORE WAYS TO GET MY NITRATE DOWN? im willing to try anything now! THANKS. <img src="graemlins//confused.gif" border="0" alt="[confused]" /> <img src="graemlins//uhuh.gif" border="0" alt="[U-Huh]" />

 

[mr.bubble]

any more ways to get nitrate down? Thanks.
PS HOW DO YOU GET PICS ON THE POST?

 

[mr.bubble]

How do you get the bacteria in the sand? i have 2 inches of crushed coral. ANY INFO HELPS! THANKS.

 

[richard rendos]

Huge wet/dry system will do exactly what it was designed to do... get rid of ammonia and nitrites. These forms of nitrogen are converted by aerobic bacteria. Wet/dry is perfect for this, but to get rid of nitrates, you need an anaerobic area in your tank. Nitrates are converted to free nitrogen by anaerobic bacteria. Protein skimmers will remove waste from the tank before it has a chance to be broken down into forms of nitrogen. Also...nitrates will be removed in direct proportion to the amount of water changed. If you have 40 ppm then changing half you water will result in 20 ppm. If you do 5 gallons on an 80 gallon tank, then you nitrates will only reduce by 1/16th. Meaning you will go from 40 to 37.5 by changing 5 gallons of water. Doing water changes more often or in greater amounts will help get nitrates under control. To keep them under control, look for the cause..too many fish, overfeeding, no protein skimmer or not big enough protein skimmer, something dead and decaying in the tank, dirty filter media or sponges.
Hope this helped a little.

 

[mr.bubble]

That helped ALOT!! i think i have too many fish . also i looked in the back of my tank and there is this brown junk all around the crushed coral. is that something decaying? i havent lost any fish or corals exept my dying leather. how much water should i change and how often? ANY INFO WOULD HELP! THANKS.