Nitrates....What is my problem here?

jgonier

jgonier

Member
I can't seem to get my nitrates down. I have done water changes (not as many as I should) and I have plenty of filtration going on, but yet my Nitrate levels are heading off the charts.
Here are the facts.....
Water Quality
Sal./Gravity = 30/1.023
PH = 8.2
Ammo. = 0
Nitrites = 0
NitrAtes = 40 to 80
Tank Specs.
- 20 Gal. tall
- 15 watt 50/50 light
- emporer bio-wheel 280 filter running filter media with carbon
- Mag. 350 running filter media with carbon and ammo chips
- about 6 pounds of live rock
- 2 pounds of some kind of rock from my LFS with lots of little holes in it (lufa (sp?) rock I believe).
- 1 1/2" to 2" sand bed (most was dry sand for salt water and the rest was Live sand)
- 1 Penguin 550 power head in right corner blowing across the back of tank to the left
- Tank cycled in about four weeks from the date it was set up
- Tank was cycled using two mollies (which had about 30 babies in the tank) which were removed before I added the other tank mates.
- First tank mates added was the cleaner crew, then about a week later the two clowns.
- Tank has been up now for about 2 months
- Water changes and top offs done with bottled RO water.
- Initial tank setup was with tap water. This caused a diatom bloom, but my snails and crabs took care of that when they were added. No out break sense.
Fish
2 Perc. clowns
2 Astria snail
2 Hermit crabs (1 scarlet & 1 blue leg)
Anyone have any suggestions? I do admit I do probably over feed my fish. I think it is cruel to only feed once a day or like some do and only feed once every other day. If there hungry, I feed them. It's like someone telling me I can only eat once a day, even though I am hungry, so I end up feeding them about three to four times a day (very small pinches). They do eat almost all of it (some of it falls to the bottom before they can get it because of the water flow from my filters and power head, and they won't eat it off the bottom (at least I have not seen them). My crabs get to it though.
Hope I gave enough info on my tank to help you answer my question.
 
nm reef

nm reef

Active Member
My first question would be...what do you feed and how often and how much? In that small of a system with the filtration you mentioned excess feeding alone could easily contribute to elevated nitrates. You might consider removing the bio wheel and insure the carbon source is replaced on a regular basis. Water changes can and will help but it would be much better to determine the source and work from there.:thinking:
 
jgonier

jgonier

Member
I feed them Nutrafin Max Marine Complete Food. They are slow sinking pellets about the size of a pen tip. I feed them about 3 to 4 times a day and each time they get a very small pinch of about 15 to 20 of these little pellets.
 
nm reef

nm reef

Active Member
If it were me...I'd stop the daily feedings and do small percentage water changes every few days for a couple of weeks and see if that reduces the nitrates. The fish you have can do fine without multiple daily feedings and the food alone may be contributing to your nitrates.
Compared to you livestock I keep a huge amount of snails/crabs/coral/fish/shrimp/pods/worms....granted its in a 100 gal display but ... I sometimes go several days between feedings.:thinking:
 
dburr

dburr

Active Member
My take on feeding is this, I feed every 2-3 days. You would be surprized what is in your tank thet they pick on all day. Clowns eat pods and algae. They wont go hungry. They just love a gormey (sp) meal that the flakes give.
HTH
 
jgonier

jgonier

Member
Ok, I'll reduce the feedings. Do you think a skimmer would help? I do not have one yet because people have told me I really don't need one. Would a skimmer help reduce the Nitrates? I have also been thinking about getting another 10 pounds of live rock. I know more LR helps, I'm just wondering about the skimmer.
 
fshhub

fshhub

Active Member
a skimmer is a good idea, adn maybe do as NM suggested by removing your filter and bio wheels you could probably help to pull the nitrates back down. and defintiely back off to feeding 1x per day or even 1x per 2 days.
 
jgonier

jgonier

Member

Originally posted by fshhub
a skimmer is a good idea, adn maybe do as NM suggested by removing your filter and bio wheels you could probably help to pull the nitrates back down. and defintiely back off to feeding 1x per day or even 1x per 2 days.
I'm confused, I thought filters helped keep you water conditions in check, that's why you use them. So why would they be adding to my problem and why would I wan't to remove them?
This statement just confuses me a little. Sorry.
 
T

thomas712

Guest
Those filters may be traping detritus and creating DOC's, it could be the source of your nitrates. Are the filters collecting deposits where the water comes in at the pump? This could also be a problem.
Rocks (not that you have alot) should be blown off every once in a while to remove debris and things that may also be decomposing and adding to the nitrate problem.
I also have the feeling that you should be vairing your diet, not just pellets but also a flake and occational meaty food as well, just once a day.
Thomas
 
nflnutswif

nflnutswif

Member
We just use one of the power heads aim towards the rock and watch what blows off! It gets sucked up and you're clear again in no time! These guys are good! Heed thier advice

You'll be fine!
Does anyone think he should slowly lower his (30) salinity???
I think I would!:yes:
 
misskitty

misskitty

Member
I have noticed that every one that has high nitrates has the same issue! Either they are using tap water .. OR.. THEY HAVE BIO WHEEL!
Now when I first got my eclipse bio wheel... it was god sent... BUT! Now after 2 years.... its a nitrate factory!
So heres what I did:
Got a RO/DI (on ---- for 82 bucks 100 gpd!)
And tossed out the eclipse hood... BTW that hood is a pain the the bloody arss!
I got a enhiem 2215 thats 90gal ph and I have a 30 gal.
Did a 100% water change ( of course I have my huge back up tank with just salt water and such) and took out all the LR and fish, and cleaned it and let it filter for a week with new RO/DI salt water and new filter. Test water... AND PERFECT! But all the stuff back in and watched that damn green hair algea die off!

This may sound like pain in the butt... but I took my time and planned it out carefully... my biggest help is my 55 salt water tank with nothing in it for now ( cause I am waiting on my MH light).
Hope that was some what infomative...
Kitty
 
T

thomas712

Guest

Originally posted by sal713
what do you mean "the rocks should be blown off"?
With all the snails, hermits, shrimp, and other crabs, not to mention the fish, the detritus (fish poo and waist) can land on the rocks. Also the worms that inhabit the rocks burrowing deep within them can all cause some degree of decaying matter to build up on the rocks.
Once in a while when you are doing routine maintanence you should blow off the rocks to clean all that stuff that builds up off of it, cleaning out the pours of the rocks can help with filtration IMO.
Thomas
 
T

thomas712

Guest

Originally posted by nflnutswif
Does anyone think he should slowly lower his (30) salinity???
I think I would!:yes:
Nope. Like GreatfullReefer said if anything he could raise it to 35 ppm or 1.025. That is full strength salinity and better for snails anyway.
Thomas
 
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