Problem with Nitrate!

bonesnapper

bonesnapper

Member
Ok, so in the past week I have done three, four gallon water changes in my 25 gallon tank in an effort to reduce my Nitrate. It went down from 100+ to about 40-50. I need it lower. I have tried Amquel, and it says it makes the Nitrate harmless? Because all of my corals and fish are fine. Oh and how it got to 100+, my mom was over feeding(I was at my dad's house). I have also tried to reduce feeding, but still nothing. Also I changed out some of my filter media, the foam and the bio stage.(I have a hang on filter, Aqua Clear 55). Thanks.
 
al mc

al mc

Active Member
Unless you have a way to export the nitrates...growing macroalgaes or having a deep sand bed allowing for anerobic change of nitrate to nitrogen gas only more water changes will work IMO. You have done well with the water changes you have already completed. If the tank inhabitants look good
I would continue the 20-25% daily changes until you get down to a nitrate level of 10 (probably 3-4 more changes). If your inhabitants appear stressed then do a 50% water change.
Large water changes are ok IF the S.G, temp and pH all match (new water versus DT water)
 
bonesnapper

bonesnapper

Member
Nothing looks bad in my tank at all. What are macroalgaes? I might have some. My sand bed is about 2", and I have some Nassarius Snails stirring up the sand bed.
 
lion_crazz

lion_crazz

Active Member
Or, just take the simple approach and start doing large water changes. Change out about 12 gallons every time you do a water change (50%) and really clean the tank up. Get a bigger clean-up crew for the sand bed, and stop using AmQuel (and tap water, if that is what you are using).
 
clown316

clown316

Member
try some chemipure elite . it should lower your nitrates. i just put that in my tank the other day because i am having a problem with nitrates as well. also removes silicates and phosphates and what not.
 
mscarpena

mscarpena

Member
For anyone that is having Nitrate problems I just reduced mine form 40-50ppm to zero in about 4 weeks by cutting back feeding. I would have nver thought that I was overfeeding my tanks. I have been reefing for about 5-6 years now and I consider myself very advanced. All my fish food that I was feeding was gone in less than 1-2 minutes and I was feeding 3 times per day. About 1 year ago I dropped to 2 times per day and figured I would see a drop, never did. So I posted here on how to reduce Nitrates and everyone said cut back to 1 time per day. Well cutting from 3 to 2 did nothing so I figured cutting from 2 to 1 would also do nothing, but it worked. My fish are very active and feed from the tank more and look no worse for the wear. They are very fat and happy. SO I too would now reccomend to cut back feedings for anyone that is having Nitrate troubles.
 
big

big

Active Member
Originally Posted by mscarpena
For anyone that is having Nitrate problems I just reduced mine form 40-50ppm to zero in about 4 weeks by cutting back feeding. I would have nver thought that I was overfeeding my tanks. I have been reefing for about 5-6 years now and I consider myself very advanced. All my fish food that I was feeding was gone in less than 1-2 minutes and I was feeding 3 times per day. About 1 year ago I dropped to 2 times per day and figured I would see a drop, never did. So I posted here on how to reduce Nitrates and everyone said cut back to 1 time per day. Well cutting from 3 to 2 did nothing so I figured cutting from 2 to 1 would also do nothing, but it worked. My fish are very active and feed from the tank more and look no worse for the wear. They are very fat and happy. SO I too would now reccomend to cut back feedings for anyone that is having Nitrate troubles.
Good advice
Here is what you should see when testing!
 
sh2000

sh2000

Member
My Nitrates are between 10-15 ppm can't seem to get it lower. I feed 1 cube of brine shrimp every other day and a pinch of formula one pellets daily. I have about 9 small fish in a 80 gal. reef tank with a huge clean up crew and a 4 inch sand bed. I'm thinking of getting a medium clam...would this help? should I feed every other day for a while ? I currently have 2 cleaner clams somewhere in the sandbed.
I also use the Red Sea test but my color is light pink :(
 
big

big

Active Member
Nitrates are an issue that so many seem to have problems with. I too had this fault for a long time......... But with time and perseverance I solved my Nitrate problem. First ,.....feeding too much, (Although it was not my problem. )Second .....are there too many fish, or too big of fish ( this was my bane with fish growing over time). Next....... is something dirty in the system and causing it? Forth, ......Not enough partial changes .
But the end all solution for me was when I broke down and took the time to build a large fuge. Yep I know it ain't "tumbling" in the picture the stuff grows so fast I need to hand tumble it daily and send about a bucket full to my LFS each month.This thing is a nitrate magnet, plus it grows lots of good pods etc. Although I still check my Nitrate level once in a while, I know what it will be before doing so. ZERO!!!!!......... Good Luck.... Warren
 
sh2000

sh2000

Member
Thats a bit advandced for me lol, I have no idea what that is or what it does,or where it goes....I'll keep doing water changes every 2 weeks and cut down on feeding and get a derasa clam. Hope that works out.
 
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