nitrAte off the chart.

gritchie2

gritchie2

Member
i have a 125 reef set up with about 40 gallon sump, it has been set up for about 4 years. haven't tested for any thing other than salinity and kh for several months, possibly six or so months. alge seemed to be growing faster than normal so i did a full test, found nitrates off the chart over 100. after this I have preformes 3 water changes of 30 gallons at a time 3 days in a row and there has been just a slight change in nitrates.
How much is too much water to change at one time??? any other sugestions. I don't think I have been overfeeding. I do feed 2 or 3 times a day but the fish eat all the food in just 1 or 2 minutes.
water test
nitrate just under 100 after 3 water changes
KH 8.0
alkalinity 2.86
calcium 360
PH 8.1
nitrite 0
amonia 0
salinity 1.025
 
onyx

onyx

Member
Perhaps go and buy a new/different type of nitrate test kit just to be sure. Some kits can degrade in quality after a long time. I'm not saying it is the test kit's fault, but if the kit says nitrates are over 100 and everything looks fine (not to mention you changed 90 gallons of water in 3 days with few results), it may be something to try.
Also, as far as water changes go, most of an aquarium's beneficial bacteria resides on the glass, rocks, sand, and other surfaces (not so much in the actual water) so doing massive water changes should not have too much of a negative impact as long as you don't go crazy with them =). Hope this helps.
If a new test kit still says nitrates are at 100, it will then be a good idea to find the source of the nitrates. How many fish are in the aquarium, what type of filtration are you using, is the water you are using from a well or tap source that is no good, do you constantly dose the water with supplements or filter feeder foods (nutrient rich water)? Finding the source of the nitrates will help to fix the problem.
 
D

dennis210

Guest
Nitrates at or close to 100, If you do a 50% water change (60 to 65 gallons)
it would still leave you with nitrates of around 50. Waterchanges are a way of diluting what builds up in our systems as well as adding trace elements.
You say you have a 125 gallon system with a 40 gallon sump. Do you have live rock and if so how many pounds? Are you using a deep sand bed or crushed coral base? What kind of skimmer are you using? Have you mesed with the substrate lately. Had anything die in there? When you ask a question about nitrates especially - you need to give a better description of the system and it's parameters.
Remember regular water changes are a great thing - better husbandry practices are a must in this system.
 
metweezer

metweezer

Active Member
Are you using RO/DI water? How about cheato in your sump
Do you have a TDS meter? What kind of lighting and when is the last time you changed the bulbs? So many questions... So much time
 
stangbabe1993

stangbabe1993

Member
I know I'm going to get a bunch of stuff about this but I had nitrate problems to no matter what I did I couldn't get them down. so I happen to be googleing one day and came across something called an eco-aqualizer, at first I was skeptical but I know have 0 nitrates. And i figure if that little thing can save my fish than I'm all for it. I have spent so much money on fish now I can at least by and they won't die so far so good
 
spiderwoman

spiderwoman

Active Member
You mention that you have a reef tank. How are your corals doing? Most corals respond poorly to high nitrates.
How much LR and LS do you have?
 
michael1972

michael1972

Member
Don’t buy an eco you have a sump get some magnets and put them on your feed to your sump “ I have a eco and I love it but I wasted my money “ If u search this sight all it is a couple of magnets on pvc and you have to run a power head into the eco that = more $ in the long run with the electric bill.
There is so much we need to know about your tank.
Did you retest your water with a friends kit or your LFS?
What are you feeding 3x a day?
What is your clean up crew.
Does the food even hit the bottom of the tank?
What is your bio load how many fish?
Do you have hair algae on your rocks?
When you do a water change do you clean your rocks and sand?
Do you see all your fish are any M I A ?
How old are your lights?
What skimmer are you running does it pull any skim how dark?
And more and more a pic tell a thousand words!!
 
metweezer

metweezer

Active Member
Originally Posted by stangbabe1993
http:///forum/post/2700001
I know I'm going to get a bunch of stuff about this but I had nitrate problems to no matter what I did I couldn't get them down. so I happen to be googleing one day and came across something called an eco-aqualizer, at first I was skeptical but I know have 0 nitrates. And i figure if that little thing can save my fish than I'm all for it. I have spent so much money on fish now I can at least by and they won't die so far so good
Does this thing really work? I haven't heard about it. Any others have any success with it? This could be a dream come true if it really works. Stang, how is yours hooked up?
 
earnit33

earnit33

Member
Is there anything new you may be doing different,in the past 4 years up to when this issue started! anything you may be doing different,whether it's different RO water,different food,adding new LR that's un-cured can spike a system, feeding a little more than in the past etc.Are you missing anything and can't find it,that may have died.
 
siline

siline

Member

Originally Posted by stangbabe1993
http:///forum/post/2700001
I know I'm going to get a bunch of stuff about this but I had nitrate problems to no matter what I did I couldn't get them down. so I happen to be googleing one day and came across something called an eco-aqualizer, at first I was skeptical but I know have 0 nitrates. And i figure if that little thing can save my fish than I'm all for it. I have spent so much money on fish now I can at least by and they won't die so far so good
0ppm nitrates??? With what other technics??? How many water changes (%)??? & how frecuent???

What Protein Skimmer???

Originally Posted by stangbabe1993
http:///forum/post/2700095
eco-aqualizer is better you don't need any chemicals
Do you sell the ECO-Aqualizer???
Originally Posted by MICHAEL1972
http:///forum/post/2700130
Don’t buy an eco you have a sump get some magnets and put them on your feed to your sump “ I have a eco and I love it but I wasted my money “ If u search this sight all it is a couple of magnets on pvc and you have to run a power head into the eco that = more $ in the long run with the electric bill.
There is so much we need to know about your tank.
Did you retest your water with a friends kit or your LFS?
What are you feeding 3x a day?
What is your clean up crew.
Does the food even hit the bottom of the tank?
What is your bio load how many fish?
Do you have hair algae on your rocks?
When you do a water change do you clean your rocks and sand?
Do you see all your fish are any M I A ?
How old are your lights?
What skimmer are you running does it pull any skim how dark?
And more and more a pic tell a thousand words!!
Does it really works??? On saltwater/reef tanks???
I know someone that has one, BUT on a fresh water tank...
Is really just a couple of magnets???

Originally Posted by metweezer
http:///forum/post/2700550
Does this thing really work? I haven't heard about it. Any others have any success with it? This could be a dream come true if it really works. Stang, how is yours hooked up?
Thats the question everyone wants an answer... but a realistic, trully, precise & sincere one!
 
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