Nitrate #'s?
- Thread starter rcbc3384
- Start date
fedukeford
Active Member
did your tank go thruogh a cycle yet?
nm reef
Active Member
Originally Posted by rcbc3384
Oh yes indeed. About 12 weeks worth!!! It's a very long story but I finally got the #'s in line. The rates were never quite there. How do you get them down?
Just a few questions....
Define "#'s in line"
What was your initial ammonia source?
What test kit do you use for testing ammonia/nitrite/nitrate?
What is the basis of your biological filtration?
What size tank...livestock list...water source...lighting source/schedule...feeding routine...
...and as much information as possible on your filtration/circulation.
Elevated nitrates are normally the result of several factors. Over feeding...excessive nutrients being introduced...lighting out of spectrum...over extending the systems bio-load....any of a number of things can contribute to high nitrates. The more info you provide the easier it may be for folks here to help.
Oh yes indeed. About 12 weeks worth!!! It's a very long story but I finally got the #'s in line. The rates were never quite there. How do you get them down?
Just a few questions....
Define "#'s in line"
What was your initial ammonia source?
What test kit do you use for testing ammonia/nitrite/nitrate?
What is the basis of your biological filtration?
What size tank...livestock list...water source...lighting source/schedule...feeding routine...
...and as much information as possible on your filtration/circulation.
Elevated nitrates are normally the result of several factors. Over feeding...excessive nutrients being introduced...lighting out of spectrum...over extending the systems bio-load....any of a number of things can contribute to high nitrates. The more info you provide the easier it may be for folks here to help.
rcbc3384
Member
OK NM Reef, are you ready; here's how my #'s look "Today":
Ammonia - .25
Nitrites - .05
Nitrates - 35-40
pH - 8.4
My initial ammonia source was 45lbs of LR bought on this web site that made the level spike "big, big"
I use the Marine Lab test kit
I have a Fluval 404 canister & a AquaClear 70 PH
lighting is what came w/the set-up but I replaced the bulb w/a Coralife 50/50 bulb
I have a 55gal
I Have: 2 Pec Clowns, 3 turbo snails, 1 cleaner shrimp, 1 blood shrimp, 1 Emerald crab, 1 porclin crab and 3 conchs. All are pretty small
I feed them 1/2 a cube of Mysis shrimp daily
The water for changes is store bought SW
The water I use for evaporation replacement is tap water conditioned with Aqua Plus
Ammonia - .25
Nitrites - .05
Nitrates - 35-40
pH - 8.4
My initial ammonia source was 45lbs of LR bought on this web site that made the level spike "big, big"
I use the Marine Lab test kit
I have a Fluval 404 canister & a AquaClear 70 PH
lighting is what came w/the set-up but I replaced the bulb w/a Coralife 50/50 bulb
I have a 55gal
I Have: 2 Pec Clowns, 3 turbo snails, 1 cleaner shrimp, 1 blood shrimp, 1 Emerald crab, 1 porclin crab and 3 conchs. All are pretty small
I feed them 1/2 a cube of Mysis shrimp daily
The water for changes is store bought SW
The water I use for evaporation replacement is tap water conditioned with Aqua Plus
reefrobert
Member
I used tap water and the same water conditioner as you did. grew me alot of algae.
I use RO water for top off, but that just me.
I use RO water for top off, but that just me.
N
n_sarno
Guest
most LFS sell it by the gallon. However, I get mine - Jewel Osco.. They have an RO machine.. its 40 cents a gallon
S
sinner's girl
Guest
You shouldn't have am or nitrites in a cycled tank!
as far as nitrates, how much lr? ls or cc? cc will trap nitrates. If cc, are you vaccuming the cc when you do water changes?
try doing a bigger water change, don't feed as much or as often
Your numbers ARE NOT in line if you have am and nitrites.
Unless it's the test kit, I know one of them gives a false reading of .25, but you also have nitrites.
don't use tap, and don't use Aqua Plus, never add anything you can't test for. Just use ro water. Check your local walmart or other type stores. ask lfs if they know where you can get some. For me, it's .33 a gallon at walmart, and there a stand nearby where it's .30 (but takes cash, which I never have).
the am could be why your snails are dying, not sure about nitrates since they aren't that high....it's better to keep them under 20, closer to zero though.
as far as nitrates, how much lr? ls or cc? cc will trap nitrates. If cc, are you vaccuming the cc when you do water changes?
try doing a bigger water change, don't feed as much or as often
Your numbers ARE NOT in line if you have am and nitrites.
Unless it's the test kit, I know one of them gives a false reading of .25, but you also have nitrites.
don't use tap, and don't use Aqua Plus, never add anything you can't test for. Just use ro water. Check your local walmart or other type stores. ask lfs if they know where you can get some. For me, it's .33 a gallon at walmart, and there a stand nearby where it's .30 (but takes cash, which I never have).
the am could be why your snails are dying, not sure about nitrates since they aren't that high....it's better to keep them under 20, closer to zero though.
washowi
Member
Originally Posted by rcbc3384
All of my levels are fine (or close to fine sometimes) except my rates. How do I get them down? I do 10% water changes every 2 weeks. And could this be the reason my snails are dying? The rest of my population is fine.
Do you have bio-balls anywhere? Filter Sponges that have not been changed? any media? I bet thta's your nitrate problem. People forget these thing in they routine cleaning of tanks.
Just guessing
Todd
All of my levels are fine (or close to fine sometimes) except my rates. How do I get them down? I do 10% water changes every 2 weeks. And could this be the reason my snails are dying? The rest of my population is fine.
Do you have bio-balls anywhere? Filter Sponges that have not been changed? any media? I bet thta's your nitrate problem. People forget these thing in they routine cleaning of tanks.
Just guessing
Todd
pallan
Member
Originally Posted by rcbc3384
It's funny you asked that. When i changed the filter the last time I didn't change the sponges. Does that make the rates rise?
it sure can if they are dirty, clean them or replace often . i reuse sometimes but only after a good saltwater rinse in water im going to dispose of. same problem as you nitrates between 10-20. just got my fuge started and will be weening tank off the canistre filter.
It's funny you asked that. When i changed the filter the last time I didn't change the sponges. Does that make the rates rise?
it sure can if they are dirty, clean them or replace often . i reuse sometimes but only after a good saltwater rinse in water im going to dispose of. same problem as you nitrates between 10-20. just got my fuge started and will be weening tank off the canistre filter.