Nitrate Issue

[paintballer768]

Okay, so over the last two days, Ive done approximately a 20 gallon change, give or take a gallon or two. The tank is a 24 gallon. Nitrates progressively got up to about 30, so I kicked my own ass and got to the changes. Now its at about 15-20. Cyano, the green strand, is starting to show again (last time was the red). Either way I want to nuke the hell out of it, and my nitrates. So after some thinking, I want everyone's opinion to what would be the best way for nitrate control...
-I cleaned out my filters, so it shouldnt be that. (For reference, its the blue sponges in the back that comes with the nano tanks generally.)
-Use chaetomorpha algae. Would this help significantly? Long term?
Suggestions appreciated!!

 

[paintballer768]

A friend pointed out that I just converted from PC lighting to MH. Algae blooms cause higher nitrates? Possibilities?
Ive been meaning to do so for quite some time, but I went out and bought a timer for the MHs. Was a 9 hour light cycle (due to my schooling, I couldnt make it less than a 7 hr cycle myself setting it. Now its from 11 to 5. 6 hr cycle now, with daylight LEDs on for everything. Hope that will help.
Still, does anyone think this could have been my nitrate source? (the algae bloom).

 

[sac10918]

Are you possibly overfeeding the tank?

 

[paintballer768]

No I dont think I am. I feed in the mornings, and at nights. Because the CBA only eats flake, I feed flake, which I know isnt good, but they do a very good job at eliminating most of it. I add a little, let them finish it, add a little more, until they start to show less interest in the food, which then I stop

 

[big]

Paint here is my sort a "canned" Nitrate post. And yes with time Chaeto helps.
Nitrates are an issue that so many seem to have problems with. I too had this fault for a long time......... But with time and perseverance I solved my Nitrate problem. First ,.....feeding too much, (Although it was not my problem. )Second .....are there too many fish, or too big of fish ( this was my bane with fish growing over time), too big on fish for my tank size. Next....... is something dirty in the system and causing it? Forth, ......Not enough partial changes .
But the end all solution for me was when I broke down and took the time to build a large fuge with lots of Chaeto in it. Although I still check my Nitrate level once in a while, I know what it will be before doing so. ZERO!!!!!......... Good Luck.... Warren

 

[paintballer768]

Im willing to bet its either having too large of fish, an algae bloom, or not enough partial changes. Over the last month (while waiting for my paychecks to get some synthetic salt), I only did 1 water change of abotu 5 gallons. I think I allowed the nitrates to "brew" for too long.
Ive got a coral beauty angel and a maroon clown in here. Both are about...2.5-3" long. I bought them, knowing at some point, I was going to have to let one go to a better home once they get larger. Theyve only been in for about 2 months max. I can have accomodations arranged once the time comes, but before the last week or so, I have not had nitrate problems with them being in the tank.
As for something dirty in the system, I just cleaned out the filters 2 days ago, so both are a hell of a lot cleaner than before.
Thanks for the help. Im going to try doing some more partial changes, mixed with a reduced lighting period. If that fails, then I think I will let my maroon clown go to a friends house, who will have room.

 

[apos]

Feeding everyday can be too much when you are trying to bring nitrates down.
20 gals in a 24 gallon tank is one heck of a huge change though. Your trates didn't shoot down after that?

 

[paintballer768]

No. I think my test kit is just fine. When I go down to the LFS this weekend, Im going to get more water, and they give free tests, so Im going to have them test it, to compare against mine. Hopefully they will have gone down some, or my kit is wrong, but I dont really know. Frustrating tank sometimes haha

 

[earlybird]

Have you tested your source water? It's possible that the fresh water has nitrates in which case you're spinning your wheels if you are performing water changes with water that has trates.

 

[mike22cha]

Originally Posted by earlybird
http:///forum/post/2457937
Have you tested your source water? It's possible that the fresh water has nitrates in which case you're spinning your wheels if you are performing water changes with water that has trates.
I'm having nitrates in my tank too, and I'm defenitly going to be testing my water source for it. Got like 20-30 in my 20g and 10-20 in my 125g.
How would you reduce the nitrates from the source? Stick some cheato in the water mix?

 

[earlybird]

Originally Posted by MIKE22cha
http:///forum/post/2457941
I'm having nitrates in my tank too, and I'm defenitly going to be testing my water source for it. Got like 20-30 in my 20g and 10-20 in my 125g.
How would you reduce the nitrates from the source? Stick some cheato in the water mix?

Source water should be RO or RODI and the filters should be changed on schedule or as needed depending on what the filters let through. DI water should be zero's across the board indluding TDS.

 

[paintballer768]

Mine is RO/DI from the LFS, so when I go I will ask them for a test result or information on that.

 

[earlybird]

Originally Posted by paintballer768
http:///forum/post/2458193
Mine is RO/DI from the LFS, so when I go I will ask them for a test result or information on that.
Don't do that. Instead take some of your RO that you got from them and ask them to test it. If you ask them they will tell you that it's good even if it's not. Well, I can't say for certain but it's possible. My guess is they need to change their filters.

 

[paintballer768]

Okay.. I may just go to a different LFS this weekend. Going to give another local one a try, maybe it will be better. Could this also be the source of my diatoms and cyano?
This is my 2nd bout with cyano, and the tanks been up for about 6 months. Im assuming the nitrates are the source of that, but to make sure, Im going to buy a phosphate removal pad (a mesh bag with these white beads in them). It did the trick for cyano last time, as it got narrowed down to being fueled by my phosphates, but I want to rule that out for sure.
Im still confused when it comes to the diatoms. I had a very small bloom when it was cycling, but Ive had diatoms for about the last month or two, hoping that I can keep it at bay by stirring the sandbed every other day and keeping up the changes. What can I do about this?

 

[paintballer768]

I made a thread on Reef Central, and we've pretty much narrowed it down to overfeeding. I think my sun coral is going to have to go in the near future, due to there really being no very effective way to feed it without polluting the tank. Im going to buy some extra gas cans to house RODI water, for a couple of 30-40% water changes throughout the week. This will have to lower the levels to acceptable conditions.

 

[mike22cha]

Originally Posted by earlybird
http:///forum/post/2457985
Source water should be RO or RODI and the filters should be changed on schedule or as needed depending on what the filters let through. DI water should be zero's across the board indluding TDS.
I use RO/DI from my new filter, which is less than a month old, so it's not needing new pads I'd think.

 

[earlybird]

I had diatoms for a long time. They would come and go and come back again. It was difficult but I tried to stop worrying about them and the have been gone now for about 3 months or so. I've battled cyano (red) twice in the first 6 months and recently green cyano in the last month. I have done nothing but water changes and switch up my flow. It's all part of the maturation process, I'm convinced as my levels were all and are always spot on and I don't have any macro algae to give false tests. Just took some patience and all is good now. I'm sure it will be the same for your tank. I don't use any chemicals or fancy pads. Just carbon about once a month and regular water changes and a routine cleaning schedule of my pumps, powerheads, skimmer, etc.

 

[paintballer768]

Originally Posted by earlybird
http:///forum/post/2459384
I had diatoms for a long time. They would come and go and come back again. It was difficult but I tried to stop worrying about them and the have been gone now for about 3 months or so. I've battled cyano (red) twice in the first 6 months and recently green cyano in the last month. I have done nothing but water changes and switch up my flow. It's all part of the maturation process, I'm convinced as my levels were all and are always spot on and I don't have any macro algae to give false tests. Just took some patience and all is good now. I'm sure it will be the same for your tank. I don't use any chemicals or fancy pads. Just carbon about once a month and regular water changes and a routine cleaning schedule of my pumps, powerheads, skimmer, etc.
Yea I think thats what Ill do. Theres been plenty of changes in the tank over the last week, between a new aquascape last night, and the water changes. Im going to replace another 10 gallons this weekend, and that should bring it down. I fell victim to cute-fish syndrome, where I fed them too much. Now that Im addressing the problem, I dont think I should have much of a nitrate problem in the future. Ive learned to be extra careful when it comes to feeding.