Nitrates will not go away!?

mistahken

mistahken

New Member
I have changed the water over the passed month now every 2 days a 20 gallon water change and the tank is a 55 gallon. I have all of the best matrix in it. I have took all the rock out and cleaned it. Cleaned the filter pads. The filter i have is this:
Fluval 406 canister
Protein skimmer
UV sterilizer
And a 750 power head.
Lights are just marine lane LEDs
I have added prime. Everything Fintastic has told me to do. And i can not get them to fully go away. (Fintastic is in NC pretty nice place) I am new to this forums So please help me out!
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Hi,
Welcome to the site!
Do you use API test kits? They read any nitrates as super high when everything is actually just fine. A water change every two days...believe me, you shouldn't have any nitrates at all. Are your inverts dying, do you have any shrimp in the tank?...I ask because nitrates over 40 would kill them off, and if the inverts are okay, you don't have a real problem.
 
mistahken

mistahken

New Member
No i used to use them but i was told that they kinda suck.. right now i am useing what the store i go to uses and it is called jungle 5-n-1 test strips. And no i have no shrimp in there i have 3 turbo snails 1 blue tang 1 black salt water mollie. And 2 VERY small clowns. Im scared to add anything in that tank because it will die and that's a lot of money! and im doing a water change right now as i type to lol.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by MistahKen http:///t/394899/nitrates-will-not-go-away#post_3515092
No i used to use them but i was told that they kinda suck.. right now i am useing what the store i go to uses and it is called jungle 5-n-1 test strips. And no i have no shrimp in there i have 3 turbo snails 1 blue tang 1 black salt water mollie. And 2 VERY small clowns. Im scared to add anything in that tank because it will die and that's a lot of money! and im doing a water change right now as i type to lol.
You need lab type tests not test strips. Having nitrates is pretty normal, as long as the count is under 20 for the inverts like snails. All that a test strip tells you is that you have nitrates, the lab tests give you the exact numbers. Fish by the way are not really bothered at all with high nitrates...it can go above 100 and they will be fine. We don't want nitrates that high, but I just want you to understand that your fish are not in danger.
I use SeaChem test kits, it comes with regents to be able to double check the results for accuracy.
 
mistahken

mistahken

New Member
WOW! thank you!!!!!!! the store i go to told me that if i have even a little bit everything dies. But then how are my blue tang still going? So i can add fish in this tank and just keep doing what i am doing now? I was getting worried lol. And maybe you can answer me this. I have a 29 gallon i HAD some corals in it. and this green/purple/almost black algea has came up and i have scraped it with a razor blade and nothing i do stops it from growing
 
sweatervest13

sweatervest13

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by MistahKen http:///t/394899/nitrates-will-not-go-away#post_3515098
WOW! thank you!!!!!!! the store i go to told me that if i have even a little bit everything dies. But then how are my blue tang still going? So i can add fish in this tank and just keep doing what i am doing now? I was getting worried lol. And maybe you can answer me this. I have a 29 gallon i HAD some corals in it. and this green/purple/almost black algea has came up and i have scraped it with a razor blade and nothing i do stops it from growing
Not sure what that is.. It may be cayno. Either way you probably have excess nutrients in the tank. What and how much do you feed?? What kind of filtration do you have on the tank? Do you have a sump with a refugium for Macro's? What kind of water did you start the tank with?
Using RO/DI water for all of your water changes and top off's is the best way to go. Give us a run down of how you started the tank and some more tank stats.
Looks like you have a blue tang in a 29g tank?? These fish need a lot larger tank, you may want to look for a new home for this fish. I just want to give you a heads up before the Tang Police come at you.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by MistahKen http:///t/394899/nitrates-will-not-go-away#post_3515098
WOW! thank you!!!!!!! the store i go to told me that if i have even a little bit everything dies. But then how are my blue tang still going? So i can add fish in this tank and just keep doing what i am doing now? I was getting worried lol. And maybe you can answer me this. I have a 29 gallon i HAD some corals in it. and this green/purple/almost black algea has came up and i have scraped it with a razor blade and nothing i do stops it from growing
Hi,
Stay on this site...you will learn so much.
Pay attention to what sweatervest said, and answer those questions.
In a 29g you can't keep a Hippo Tang they need a 100g tank minimum.
Do yourself a huge favor, and get this book as your next purchase...it will save you so much money and headaches.

A page so you can see the info it offers'
 
mistahken

mistahken

New Member
for the 29 gal i all i have on it is a fluval 106 with a small power head. I use RO water for changes. I dont over feed them. All my levels seem to be pretty good.
 
sweatervest13

sweatervest13

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by MistahKen http:///t/394899/nitrates-will-not-go-away#post_3515127
for the 29 gal i all i have on it is a fluval 106 with a small power head. I use RO water for changes. I dont over feed them. All my levels seem to be pretty good.
Good using the RO for topoff's and WC's

Make sure you are cleaning the canister filter often (some folks say every two weeks). These can lead to high nitrate levels when not maintained.
What tank is having the issues?? What are the exact parameter numbers for Ammonia, nitrite, pH, nitrate for the tank in question. We need to know what the reading are to help give advice. "Pretty good levels" helps but to get the most help please give exact #'s.
How much do you feed every two days?? 1 cube? Mysis is not the worst fish food you can feed, but make sure you are feeding a variety. I like marine cuisine, mysis, emerald entree, and Rod's food. I use something different every day. Are you feeding the tang algae sheets?? If not, look into those. Tangs need some greens (also use Emerald Entree frozen food for greens). I feed algae sheets (1/4 to 1/3 of a sheet on an algae clip) every two to three days. I usually feed every day 1 frozen cube (thawed and rinsed in RO water in a brine shrimp net) for a 125g with 11 fish (two tangs, 5 chromis, 1 bangaii cardinal, 1 clown goby, and two fish that don't eat frozen {LMB and Mandarin dragonet}). For a 55g with less fish I would do like you do and feed every other day or use 1/2 a cube a day.
I am by no means the "Tang Police" or other fish police, so I will let others chime in about what fish belongs in what size tank. I just want you to know that the "Tang Police" are out there.
 
mistahken

mistahken

New Member
Ph is 7 no ammonia Nitrite is 0. I was going to ask about feeding next. I do mix it up i use mysis and marine cuisine. And yes the tang gets algae sheet :) i feed a half of a cube to the 55 and half or a little less to the 29 i have
 
geridoc

geridoc

Well-Known Member
Why is your pH so low? Seawater should be between 8 and 8.3. Could something have died in the tank? That will acidify the water, and raise nitrates as well.
 
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