Nitrates AGAIN

[jacques]

My nitrates have been through the roof lately. I've done countless water changes, added bacteria, removed aqua chargers and done more water changes. I'm not overfeeding, so I'm not sure what the problem is. Here's my setup: 29 Gallons with just over 30lbs. of live rock and a substrate sand, cc and argonite. Its running a Fluval 404, a SeaClone skimmer and a submersible Rio for water movement. Its inhabitants include a fire and cleaner shrimp, a small and medium star, a dwarf angel, a clown, a damsel, a sponge, a tubastrea, some loose mushrooms, a bubble, two leathers and a fox coral. All of the corals are small to medium in size. I also have an emerald crab, about 15 hermits and some snails. The tank has been up for almost a year. The guys at my LFS are puzzled too. Any info would be helpful. Thanks,
J

 

[slk3599]

You have 1 gallon of rock per gallon and a nice sand bed..so my guess would be that the Fluval is the cause of the nitrates. The media in powerfilters is good at what it is made to do - break down ammonia, to nitrite to nitrates. But that is the end of the line. Seeing as you have enough live rock, I would gradually remove all the media in the Fluval and use it only to run carbon once in a while to polish the water. I would do a 25% water change and take out the foam pads in the canister - they are big time nitrate producers.
With the live rock, the sand bed, and the skimmer it should be enough filtration.
What percentage of your substrate if crushed coral? If it's a large percentage, that can be elevating the nitrates also.
HTH

 

[adrian]

I agree with the above that your fluval is contributing to your trates. I also think your sand bed is to blame, you want a fine particle sized sand. CC tends to trap wastes and and makes for a poor live sand bed.

 

[bobber]

I also agree with the above posts, but also wanted to point out that it could be a bad test kit(unless the lfs is getting the same readings). Just a thought--Bob

 

[jacques]

Thank you one and all for your thoughts. I have toyed with the idea of removing the Fluval, but I must admit, it makes me a little nervous. I've been in freshwater so long(over a score), a tank without a filter makes me shake. However, I do understand the biological process and it makes sense, so I think I shall remove the Fluval(I can always use it on one of my other tanks). Thanks for the advice, I'll let you know what happens,

 

[jacques]

UPDATE - I took the Fluval off, added an additional five lbs. of live rock and did another water change. Bought another test kit, tested with both. Nitrates at about 80. Down from 100 and above. Corals looking better. I'll keep with the water changes. Thanks for the advice,
[ May 17, 2001: Message edited by: Jacques ]

 

[burnnspy]

Another happy customer.
BurnNSpy