Nitrate nightmare!!!

noah793

noah793

New Member
Ok, I have a 55 gallon fish only tank.. Been up and running for 3 years almost now. This is the problem: my nitrates on my nitrate tester( not strip) indicates high levels.. I'm in the red. Now I have done water changes every two weeks 10% even 20% still no change. I have hooked up to the tank a basic mechanical filter/ bakpak skimmer. All have been running well. I cleAN the filter once every 3 weeks and the skimmer has been hooked up last month but after the first few days of skimming only lil bits of skimmate pulling.. Not sure if there is suppost to be constant skim?? But anyway red and dark algae are constantly being spotted on the back and sides of the tank.. I have to scrap them off and it looks like dark peels of algae when scrapped. My power heads aren't sticking to the glass anymore. All my large inverts have died only the lil ones live. Fish: tang/2damsels/ clown/ star fish and pencil urch. All the fish are doing well but why are my nitrates not going down???? I have the lighting turned auto on at 11 am off at 8pm feed every other day. I'm confused and upset.. What is the problem.. Why am I getting this algae and what am I doing wrong? I ha skimmer/ mech filter/ do water changes... Still off the hook nitrates. I used to have anemz and large crabs for long time and now can't have them they die!!! Pleasesomeone help me!
 
louti

louti

Member
How old is your test? They can go bad and give false high readings, especially for nitrates. How much/how often are you feeding? What kind of filtration do you have?
 
trouble93

trouble93

Member
If you only change 10 or 20% every few weeks you aren't cutting into the problem if levels are already high...Cut back on feeding for a bit(what are you feeding?) and for a few weeks do 30% W/C That red algae could be cyano have you checked your Phosphate level?
 
beaslbob

beaslbob

Well-Known Member
You nitrates are high (or even just measureable) simply because the nitrate consumers have not kept up with the nitrate producers (bioload).
Water changes will lower the nitrate levels but not maintain 0 nitrates.
I maintain 0 nitrates with a refugium full of fast growing macro algaes like chaetomorphia.
So you can add macro algaes protected in some kind of refugium and get the nitrates down. The refugium does not have to be an external container/sump type of design. Just something in tank partition or container to keep the fish away from the macros aso the macros can thrive.
my .02
 
ibanez

ibanez

Member
It sounds like the algae you are referring too is coralline algae which is wanted in the aquarium as long as it doesn't block your view.
In the 55 gallon, the bak pak is a little small, you should upgrade the pump or get the preskimmer box which makes it more efficient.
 
noah793

noah793

New Member
I'M feeding only two pinches everytime I feed. I haven't checked phosphate. I'm not using any preventitive things for nitrate... Not sure what I would use!?? As for green macro algae I think u said..( I'm on my phone so can't look back at message ) I have used green plant bubble looking greens but they eat that or it gets stuck in power filter.
 
cranberry

cranberry

Active Member
When you change your water, your not using water from a "holding container" are you? If so, check for scum in your bucket.
 
noah793

noah793

New Member
Ok... I use basic water from tap... I wasgetting RO water b4 for a while but still had same outcome so that's why I said f it cuz why am I running to the store if nothing is changin? Also I see that some of you have refugiums or dumps... I havnt gotten into that because itseems expensive and time taking. How do I set one up?? Is a sump easier? The posting before that said I don't need one and that it can be internal.. How would I do that?? What could I use? I don't want my tank to look ghetto with odd boxes holding stuff in it. I guess would I hide it in rocks or behind it?? Any thoughts would help.. And what specific greens should I be looking for?? Like leafy or what... Does it matter what kind!! Thanks
 
J

jstdv8

Guest
Have you considered testing your water before you put it in the tank to see what the parameters are?
 
J

jstdv8

Guest
Have you considered testing your new water before you add it to the tank? See if the perameters are high and you are not helping by doing water changes.
 
noah793

noah793

New Member
have tested the water and it's in the clear! Well something has tibe wrong if it's in the red I'm thinking cause I get dark spots of algae and my large crab inverts and snails die rightaway. Ok another ?.... If the red spots on my tank aresuppost to be potentialy good are the dark spots as well?? I mean it looks dark and dark green and red. Is this from the nitrate?
 
bigarn

bigarn

Active Member
That sounds like coralline to me also. It comes in assorted colors, and it's not from nitrates.
 
bigarn

bigarn

Active Member
Originally Posted by Noah793
http:///forum/post/3244403
If it's coraline or what your saying should I be scraping it off or is it ok???
If it's on the front glass, scrape it. Anywhere else I'd let it be ... unless it really bother's you.
It's actually desirable to have, so consider yourself lucky.
 
ibanez

ibanez

Member
Originally Posted by Noah793
http:///forum/post/3244403
If it's coraline or what your saying should I be scraping it off or is it ok???
For most hobbyists, coralline is aesthetically pleasing and only removed when it blocks the view. It hurts nothing to be there. Remember, algae is natural. It only becomes a problem when it gets on things we don't want it on. When algae becomes a problem it is usually do to bad water conditions. We don't like to look at algae, but it is a beneficial part of the ecosystem. It provides food for algae eating animals and inverts.
 
nwdyr

nwdyr

Active Member
if stuff is dying , I think he has a prob.
The only thing you said you changed was the water,,,,, if it were me , I would do a large water change and go back to RO water. I never use anything but RO water , I had a bad hair algae prob. once , but I stopped doing my water changes
I will NEVER do that again! Had to break down the tank! what a pain...good luck
 
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