Nitrates

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puffdaddy1

Guest
Have several well established saltwater fish tanks. Our nitrate levels have always been running on the high side. All other levels are completely normal, ph is good, no nitrites, etc. What is the best way to lower nitrates, other than limiting feeding?
 
spiderwoman

spiderwoman

Active Member
What is your filtration in each tank, how often do you do water change, what is the fish list for each tank?
 
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puffdaddy1

Guest
Hello, thanks for the responses. We have an established 125 gallon tank. There are 11 fish in the tank, no invertebrates. The tank has been up and running for about 4 years. We do water changes every other weekend.
 
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puffdaddy1

Guest
We have a 20 gallon sump, a protein skimmer, UV sterilizer, carbon, and 3 bags filled with a nitrate reducing substance. The fish are a sailfin tang, a blue hippo tang, a porkfish, a stars and stripes puffer, a blue throat trigger, a niger trigger, 2 damsels, a jewel damsel, a sebae clownfish, and a coral beauty.
 
spiderwoman

spiderwoman

Active Member
Wow, I'd say you are overstocked and the filtration is not sufficient for that amount of bioload. How much LR and LS do you have in the tank?
 
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puffdaddy1

Guest
We have about 2 inches of live sand, and probably about 25 pounds of live rock.
 
noah's nemo

noah's nemo

Member
Originally Posted by Puffdaddy1
http:///forum/post/2772191
We have a 20 gallon sump, a protein skimmer, UV sterilizer, carbon, and 3 bags filled with a nitrate reducing substance. The fish are a sailfin tang, a blue hippo tang, a porkfish, a stars and stripes puffer, a blue throat trigger, a niger trigger, 2 damsels, a jewel damsel, a sebae clownfish, and a coral beauty.
Seems abit much.Keep us informed though with spiderwomans questions.
 
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puffdaddy1

Guest
The fish only tank is 125 gallons, wouldn't that much more live rock be a bit excessive?
 
noah's nemo

noah's nemo

Member
Not at all.Some ppl do a 2to1 ratio.You could get 50 or 60 more lbs of LR and start adding base(cheaper)....I have a 75 with about 90lbs.Its the main filtration in our tanks.
 
spiderwoman

spiderwoman

Active Member
In a 125 FOWLR I'd go with 150lbs of LR at least. You do not have enough biological filtration in your tank to effectively manage the current bioload, not even close.
 
geridoc

geridoc

Well-Known Member
You should also consider using the sump as a refugium for nutrient export. If you have the room, add a light and some chaeto . Over time this will help with elevated nitrates.
 
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puffdaddy1

Guest
Thanks for your responses! We did add culerpa (sp?) with a light on it 24-7. It eventually just disintegrated, or died off. During the time that it was in there, we didn't notice an appreciable difference in the nitrates. Is there another product that is readily available at our LFS that we could try, perhaps a different plant?
 
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puffdaddy1

Guest
I think my husband probably underestimated the amount of LR we have in there, I would say it is closer to about 50 pounds.....
 
geridoc

geridoc

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by Puffdaddy1
http:///forum/post/2772676
Thanks for your responses! We did add culerpa (sp?) with a light on it 24-7. It eventually just disintegrated, or died off. During the time that it was in there, we didn't notice an appreciable difference in the nitrates. Is there another product that is readily available at our LFS that we could try, perhaps a different plant?
Calerpa is not a good choice-it tends to go ----nail, a problem in tanks. Chaetomorpha is much better, but be sure it gets good flow. Sometimes it does nothing for weeks, then takes off
 
don trinko

don trinko

Member
Water change is one way to remove nitrates. If your nitrates are 40 and you change 50% of the water your nitrates will be 20. ( until more nitrites are converted to nitrates) Don T.
 
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puffdaddy1

Guest
Is it okay to put the chaetomorpha in the actual tank? We have 2 surgeonfish that dig algae and such.
 
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