Nitrates going down?

don trinko

don trinko

Member
I have a 20 and a 75 in both tanks the nitrates have gone down in between water changes. These are both relativly new tanks with base rock but very little live rock. The 20 has a skimmer but the 75 does not. Is my base rock changing nitrates to nitrogen after only 3 months? Don T.
 
sean48183

sean48183

Member
What is in the tank and how often are you feeding? What is your other filtration? Do you have a fuge? Sometimes it is normal for ph to go down at first in a new tank then go back up as time goes on.
 
don trinko

don trinko

Member
Nitrates are down, not ph. the 75 has 50 lbs base rock, 5 lbs live rock. Filter is 350 gpm canister and 2 300 gph power heads directed at the rock and one rotating 100gph power head. Nitrates are 5. They were 10 a month ago. 5 crommis 1 royal gramma, 2 clow, 1 firefish, 1 turbo snail and 3 dwarf crabs.
The 20 has 10 lbs base rock, 150 gpm hob filter, 100 gpm skimmer and 125 gph power head. Nitrates are <5 they wer 5 a month ago. 1 clown 2 pajama cardinals and 2 dwarf crabs. Don T.
 
sean48183

sean48183

Member
Sorry meant nitrates. Was just talking ph on another thread. Just out of curiousity do you have any algae growing any where in these tanks? In the 75g I would say the live rock is converting the base rock to live rock and helping knock down your nitrates but in the 20 you have no live rock. Could be the skimmer has broke in on the 20 and is removing fish waste before it is being converted to ammonia. Not really sure but either way it is a good problem to have.
 
don trinko

don trinko

Member
the 20 has some coraline algae but not much. The 75 has Corraline (mostly on the base rock) and some brown algae on the fake plants. Don T.
 
sean48183

sean48183

Member
Coraline won't eat up nitrates but is a good sign your tank and base rock is maturing. Brown algae and green hair algae consume nitrates at a very rapid pace so could be something there. I grow alot of hair algae in my fuge. What ever you are doing- keep doing it and happy reefing.
 
sean48183

sean48183

Member
Corraline uses calcium to form itself. I do not believe it uses nitrates for anything. Macro algae and micro algae use nitrogen along with light to grow.
 
sean48183

sean48183

Member
Originally Posted by Don Trinko
http:///forum/post/2893510
Thanks; No reef , just FOWLR. Don T.
Ha, ha I thought that was pretty funny. I really can't classify mine as a reef either. I only have about 6 corals in my 150g. I just say that cuz even the fish we keep are part of the reef.
 
srfisher17

srfisher17

Active Member
Originally Posted by Don Trinko
http:///forum/post/2893510
Thanks; No reef , just FOWLR. Don T.
In a FOWLR; nitrates are nothing to worry about anyhow. If I keep nitrates in my fish-only tanks under, say 60ppm, I'm perfectly happy---so are the fish. I've never seen any research that says otherwise.
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
Originally Posted by sean48183
http:///forum/post/2893552
Corraline uses calcium to form itself. I do not believe it uses nitrates for anything. Macro algae and micro algae use nitrogen along with light to grow.
Hmmm. I'm not totally convinced yet. Isn't Coralline a Macroalgae?
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by Bang Guy
http:///forum/post/2893608
Hmmm. I'm not totally convinced yet. Isn't Coralline a Macroalgae?
Coraline is in fact an encrusting Macroalgae
Nitrate, phosphate, silicate, carbon dioxide and dissolved organic matter are all used for the growth of algae and the difference between micro an macro is microalgae: small microscopic aquatic photosynthetic plants that require the aid of a microscope to be seen. macroalgae: large aquatic photosynthetic plants that can been seen without the aid of a microscope. I would assume both would lower nitrates to some extent
 
sean48183

sean48183

Member
Not all algae uses the same nutrients to grow or encrust. I don't believe coralline uses any nitrogen or phosperous to grow. It is made up of calcuim carbonate. In fact I think if there is too much of either po3 or no3 coralline will not grow. If your counting on coralline to reduce no3 in your aquarium it won't happen. Hair algae uses nitrogen and phosperous almost exclusively to grow. Ever notice how a tank with tons of hair algae never has either.
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by sean48183
http:///forum/post/2893781
Not all algae uses the same nutrients to grow or encrust. I don't believe coralline uses any nitrogen or phosperous to grow. It is made up of calcuim carbonate. In fact I think if there is too much of either po3 or no3 coralline will not grow. If your counting on coralline to reduce no3 in your aquarium it won't happen. Hair algae uses nitrogen and phosperous almost exclusively to grow. Ever notice how a tank with tons of hair algae never has either.
You in all probability are right. I just seem to have a vague recollection that coraline algae absorb a small amount of nitrates directly, using them to synthesize nitrogen containing organic molecules such as protein and DNA.
But I must say again this is just a vague recollection
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
It just seems odd to me that an algae would not use Nitrate & Phosphate for food like every other algae does. It's fairly slow growing so I imagine it wouldn't use much.
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by srfisher17
http:///forum/post/2894576
Hey Joe; I'm at the point in my life where everything is just a "vague recollection"
I know what you mean but I spent 68 and 69 in Vietnam so I can not blame all of the wild 60s on my vagueness
 
don trinko

don trinko

Member
Once you get in your 60's (years old) you can call it a senior moment.
Spelling? I'm not sure if you are talking abought my spelling but if you are you are correct. my spelling is horrable but at my age I don't care. Don T.
 
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