Nitrates 80. Inaccurate test?

[saltyscott]

I have a 125 fowler tank with a naso tang, clown, melanurus wrasse, coral beauty, kleins butterfly, and pink square anthias. Also have a cc star and many snails, crabs and a couple large clams that came attached to live rock. 180 # live rock. The tank is thriving. Today I tested the nitrates and it read 80. Can this be accurate? I know fish can be "ok" with nitrates that high, but not inverts and esp not clams, right? Tank has been up and running 8 months. Thanks!

 

[sepulatian]

It is certainly possible that that reading is accurate. You could always test your new water for a change to be sure that it comes up zero or double check the tank water with another test kit to be certain the first reading was accurate. The system isn't that old for salt. It is entirely possible that as the cycle has completely finished, with the addition of new inhabitants, that the nitrates are really showing up now. Do you have a refugium or other source of lowering the nitrates besides water changes?

 

[saltyscott]

I don't have a refugium. Will look into one of those. I do weekly 1/3 water changes. Can results be affected if I test water right after a feeding or if fish just pooped? Both happened today about a half hour before I tested.

 

[sepulatian]

Food or fresh waste wouldn't effect your nitrates immediately. If there is excess food or areas in the tank where waste settles then it would break down and eventually make your nitrates higher though.

 

[saltyscott]

Thanks for your reply. I will do a big water change and look into a refugium.

 

[beaslbob]

actually IMHO this all sounds about normal in a fo tank with no refugium, no macro algaes, and just using water changes.
Now with a refigum and thriving macro algae nitrates and phosphates should be unmeasureable.
my .02