Nitrates at 80!!What to do?

crzyfshygy

crzyfshygy

Member
I tested my tank this morning and was alarmed to see my nitrates at 80. Have a full clean up crew, crushed coral. I do a 10% water change weekly. Why is the nitrates so high? Also I want to change to live sand cause I know this will help. i am getting ready to move in 1 week so i will have to break down the tank anyway. I have a undergravel filter, a Aquia View mini filter. and a Skilter 250 that I use for just filtration, not skimming! I f Irip out the undergravel filter and just use the 2 others that I have will this hurt my Biological filtration? It is a 11gal tank with 15lbs of live rock. I do not want to start a new cycle, I have live coral in there. Any sugestions would help me out the tank is only 55 days old.
 
crzyfshygy

crzyfshygy

Member
I don't know. Right when I tested it I did a 10% water change and it dropped to 50-60. I should have vacumed the substrate to get rid of any detritus but I stopped doing that because I heard it spikes amonia if you do it to well. It seems there is not really a perfect way to do anything in the hobby. i guess thats why i love it so much! How often should crushed coral be vacumed?
 
T

thomas712

Guest

Originally posted by crzyfshygy
How often should crushed coral be vacumed?
Everytime you do a water change, or whats happening to your tank now with the nitrates will happen even worse. Soon you can expect your fish to get sick and diseased.
I've been through this, 50% 75% even a few near 100% water changes when I had crushed coral and UGF...Never again.
Get rid of the Cursed Coral. yeah I said cursed. Toss the UGF out the door and into the trash. Read the advice for new hobbiest before Scotts comes along and posts a few more of my threads. <wink>
Thomas
 
T

thomas712

Guest
How does nitrate affect my fish?
Nitrate is the least toxic of the elements of the nitrogen cycle and the effects on fish are normally due to long term exposure.
Some of the effects can be summarized as follows:
Poor growth
Loss of appetite
Lethargy
Chronic stress
Reluctance to breed
Increase in gill rate and gasping
General ill health
Delayed wound healing
Clamped fins
When you move, I suggest you avoid these things and move forward with your plans to get rid of the UGF+CC.
Thomas
 
lizzard

lizzard

Member
There are many ways to reduce nitrate, including reducing the aquarium's nitrogen inputs, increasing nitrogen export by skimming, increasing nitrogen export by growing and harvesting macroalgae algae , using a deep sand bed, get rid of the crushed coral removing existing filters designed to facilitate the nitrogen cycle, get rid of the undergravel filter. Using nitrate absorbing solids, polymers and carbon.. All of this will help remove, and keep your nitrates in check.
 
mombostic

mombostic

Member
I have crushed coral, also. Because of the size of my setup and my stock, I can't foresee changing to sand. I would like to, and wish I had started with it, but I'm not sure how it would be possible. Everyone sort of mentions it in a casual sort of way, but I'm telling you, my tank is full of live rock, small inverts, an anemone, a few corals, not to mention my fish. I can't even begin to imagine how to get the coral and the UGF filter plate out of the tank and the sand in.
I thoroughly vacuum the coral once a week without fail and do a 10% water change. I also vacuum under my UGF plate once a month to keep things nice and tidy under there. I use Nitrate Sponge in one of the media baskets in my filter. I'm getting close to the one year mark, and my nitrates are currently below 5 ppm. It just takes some dedication, but I like doing it--it's part of my hobby!
 
murph145

murph145

Active Member
whats wront with UGF's
ive never really understood the benefits of each kind
my tank had 2 404's that pull throught the bottom of the tank through holes in the glass aquarium then return throuogh the top.
is this ok ive never had a problem
just saw this post and made me think if mines not adecuate?
thanks
 
crzyfshygy

crzyfshygy

Member
What kind of Nitrate sponge do u use and do they make one for my aquia view? Also what is AZ-NO3? Do you ever show amonia due to a good vacume?
 
lizzard

lizzard

Member
crzyfshygy, the way I would make the switch from cc to a deep sand bed is once you move your tank, add your sand and put some of your cc in nylon socks then place them on your sand for about a week. This will transfer the beneficial bacterica to the sand.
 
crzyfshygy

crzyfshygy

Member
Dude that is an awesome idea!!!!! Where and what kind of nylon socks? I guess a 3-4 inch bed would be good? Also should I do the sock with 1/2 the coral?
 
lizzard

lizzard

Member
traib, AZ-NO3 will aid in the reduction of nitrate but you are not addressing the problem of why your trates are high, your just removing the symptoms. ..You'll find that it's better to spend the money on salt for more frequent water changes. Again it comes down to maintenance.
 
crzyfshygy

crzyfshygy

Member

Originally posted by crzyfshygy
Dude that is an awesome idea!!!!! Where and what kind of nylon socks? I guess a 3-4 inch bed would be good? Also should I do the sock with 1/2 the coral?
Lizard, where do i get the socks?
 
lizzard

lizzard

Member
crzyfshygy, go get some nylon knee high socks maybe 4 of them make sure you use the top layer of your cc for this. Your dsb should be at less 4 inches! But 6 is considered better.
 
traib

traib

Member
I agree AZ-NO3 does not solve the cause of high nitrates, but it improves the quality of your water until you can figure out what is wrong. Water changes essentially do the same; treat the symptoms not the cause. The plus for AZ-NO3 is that its easier to do.
 
T

thomas712

Guest
Just want to point out this is an 11 gallon tank, there is no need for a DSB in it.
Just do a water change using RO/DI water.
 
crzyfshygy

crzyfshygy

Member
I TESTED THE WATER AGAIN AND IT WAS AT AROUND 60 ON THE NITRATES. IN THE MEAN TIME TODAY I DID A VACUME ON THE CRUCHED CORAL AND DID ANOTHER 10% WATER CHANGE. DID IT ABOUT 1HR AGO THE NITRATES ARE STILL SHOWING AT AROUND 60. HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO SEE IF IT DROPPES. LIZARD WHEN YOU WRITE NYLON SOCK ....DO YOU MEAN PANTYHOSE!!!!!
 
crzyfshygy

crzyfshygy

Member
WHEN YOU VACUME THE CC DO YOU JUST DO THE AREA THAT IS EXPOSED? AND HOW DEEP INTO THE BED DO YOU GO? I have crushed coral, also. Because of the size of my setup and my stock, I can't foresee changing to sand. I would like to, and wish I had started with it, but I'm not sure how it would be possible. Everyone sort of mentions it in a casual sort of way, but I'm telling you, my tank is full of live rock, small inverts, an anemone, a few corals, not to mention my fish. I can't even begin to imagine how to get the coral and the UGF filter plate out of the tank and the sand in.
I thoroughly vacuum the coral once a week without fail and do a 10% water change. I also vacuum under my UGF plate once a month to keep things nice and tidy under there. I use Nitrate Sponge in one of the media baskets in my filter. I'm getting close to the one year mark, and my nitrates are currently below 5 ppm. It just takes some dedication, but I like doing it--it's part of my hobby!
 
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