nitrates - 10

[dicemanj]

My water levels are
Ammonia = 0
Nitrite = 0
Nitrate = 10
Water 1.022
Are the nitrates okay at this low level? My 55 gal tank has 2 clowns, and a yellow tang, a few snails and crabs, a brittle star, a CB shrimp, and about 25lbs LV. Is there anything to do to lower the Nitrates?
Why do people not put plants in there display tank.
Thanks

 

[thomas712]

Nitrates of 10 is fine.
People try not to put macro algea's in the main display because many of them can root right to the live rock and take over, at that point it is a royal pain to try to remove. Instead this is why the refugium was created.
Thomas

 

[beaslbob]

Plant life is added to the display for three reasons. 1) to complete the nitrogen cycle and otherwise maintain the system. 2) to feed the livestock. 3) because they look nice.
Your tang would love some living gracileria to browse on. Sure 10 ppm nitrAtes is fine but 0.0 is better. And plant life will do that and consume carbon dioxide and heavy metals as well.
the only problem I had with macros in my diplay was getting enough in there so that new growth was greater than what the livestock was eating.

 

[reefnut]

Originally posted by beaslbob
Sure 10 ppm nitrAtes is fine but 0.0 is better. And plant life will do that ans consume carbon dioxide and heavy metals as well.
This coming from a guy that can not get his nitrates below 40ppm... :nope:
dicemanj, is a refug an option for you? I agree with Thomas though... with the critters you have 10ppm is fine.

 

[dicemanj]

a refug is not an option at this time, is a shaving brush plant a good option, or is it simple not worth it. Also, I have cc now, would switching that to LS help? If so, does it harm the fish and rock that is in the tank when I switch it. I am assuming the tank will be cloudy again. I have two 10 gallons that are empty. Would I be better to put the rock and fish in those tanks while I switched from CC to LS. I am not sure I want to due this, just curious of the best way.

 

[thomas712]

By all means if you can switch to live sand or other aragonite dry sand then I would do that, but thats me.
However if you have crushed coral and only 10ppm of nitrates then IMO you are doing very well. Nothing to really worry about there.
Yes the tank would be cloudy again but you can pre cure dry aragonite sand to help seed it and reduce the amount of time that the tank is cloudy.
Personally I would take the tank apart and seperate the fish/inverts and live rock, make the switch.
Up to you, again with cc and only 10 ppm of nitrates your doing fine.
In other words if it isn't broke why try to fix it.
Thomas

 

[beaslbob]

Originally posted by ReefNut
This coming from a guy that can not get his nitrates below 40ppm... :nope:
.

macro culture tank 0.0 for months. display now 20ppm.

 

[leopard_babe]

My 2 cents, after recently having an experience with macro algea.
Yes plants will grow to the rock.
Yes my water quality improved tremendously.
Yes nitrates did go from 20 to zero.
I would HIGHLY recommend adding some form of plant life. My plants have rooted to the rocks, but I pull them out all of the time. It is not to big a pain in the butt. If you want to improve your water quality, and lower your nitrates, I would get some plants. Plus they added som nuch more dimension to my FOWLR tank.
HTH
Leopard

 

[jedininja]

Originally posted by beaslbob

macro culture tank 0.0 for months. display now 20ppm.
Macxro cluture tank is not a fish tank and does not produce the same nitrates as a stocked fish tank would nor would it be a how most people want thir tanks to look.
For a guy that says nitrates will go down to 0 within a few days of adding plants, it sure is taking you a LONG time to get your nitrates down. You've had that infuge setup for a while now. I could've gotten my nitrates down to way less than 20 with 1 simple water change and then used my plants in my fuge to maintain it near 0.

 

[reefnut]

Originally posted by dicemanj
a refug is not an option at this time, is a shaving brush plant a good option, or is it simple not worth it.
Simply not worth it IMO. It will take more than a couple shaving brushes to help with nitrates. They may help a little but not enough to notice.

 

[jedininja]

You can add the shaving brush if you like the looks, but they wont put a dent in your nitrates.

 

[dicemanj]

thanks to all who replied.