Nitrates

[aquaria]

How can i keep my nitrates down.
ive done 2 water changes in a week
i have a skimmer
they never drop lower than 15
what can i do
all other readings are fine
tank is 10 months old and a 36g bow
thanks

 

[michaeltx]

what kind of substrate do you have and what type of filtration do you have on the tank.
if you have CC then you will need to vacum the cc to remove debris that can cuse them and some filters like wet drys with bioballs or hang on filters can cause nitrates to go up. but alittle more info wil certainly help in determining whats going on.
Mike

 

[sly]

How much live rock do you have? Do you have any foam or floss prefilters before your sump (if you have a sump)? Please describe your tank.

 

[larsdennert]

The pet store I sometimes buy from has 160 nitrates

I think under 40 is fine.

 

[michaeltx]

if you have corals its best to be under 20 zero is ideal. the pet store doesnt keep them long just trying to sell them quick if they start to decline they mark them down for quick sale and they are gone and they still make money our tanks as a hobby should be much much better than a LFS in most cases!! anything less is neglect of the animals in our care IMO>
Mike

 

[aztec reef]

how much do you feed? how often? how many fish do you have?additives? i would do a water change every other day until nitrates are low and at the same time lower feeding portions but not drastricly.

 

[poniegirl]

I don't know that I've heard too many folks say they have zero nitrate, ever. Something to shoot for, but I agree that nitrates under 40 are not cause for drastic measure. Nitrates of 15 are okay.
As important as it is to keep control of the nitrates, it is also important not to swing the levels too greatly, too quickly or too often. This will stress your fish and leave them weakened.
Aquaria doesn't say how high their nitrates go.

 

[aquaria]

its a 36g bow, i have alot of lr and i do have cc. i did a water change and it put it at 20. My skimmer collects like water not so much dirt or dissolved nitrates. i think i am going to try to cut back on the feeding level a little.
thanks everyone

 

[michaeltx]

do you clean the CC if not that is probably the source of the nitrates unlike sand CC has sharp edges that keep the worms and other fauna from populating it to a sufficient amount to keep up with the extra food and waste the fish provide.
mike

 

[aquaria]

what is the best method of grooming the cc??
~joe

 

[michaeltx]

well since its CC and not sand the best way is a vacum like the python aquarium vacs when you do a water change or even a hose that you can move around the top of the CC you dont want to disturb it to much though it will throw up a lot of junk like FW gravel does.
mike

 

[aquaria]

i will try that next water change (4 days) lol,
thanks again

 

[michaeltx]

no problem just keep up on that and it should help your nitrates alot.
let us know if it helps there might be something else contributing somewhere also
Mike

 

[aquaria]

thanks again :happyfish