Detailed help request
Are you experiencing any problems in your tank? Yes
Brief Description NO3 High 64+ PPM - discovered today my test kits been telling me lies...instead of 0.75-1.0 ppm NO3 I'm actually 64+ ppm.
Double checked high reading with lfs.
Tank sizeDouble checked high reading with lfs.
RSM 250
System Volume 200
How long has your tank been running? In my care 7 months - 1.5yrs from previous owner
What livestock do you have? 13 fish - all okay
few LPS - torch,suncoral,gono,zoas etc all ok
3 SPS - acro's - relatively new - haven't coloured - guess i just found out why, thought it was my PO4
Water Parametersfew LPS - torch,suncoral,gono,zoas etc all ok
3 SPS - acro's - relatively new - haven't coloured - guess i just found out why, thought it was my PO4
Alkalinity (dkh): 7.7 hanna
Calcium: 450 salifert
Phosphate: 0.12 hanna
Magnesium: 1300 salifert
pH : 7.9
Nitrite:
Nitrate: 64+ Red sea
Ammonia:
Salinity: 1025
Temperature: 26.0-27.0 (chiller)
What lighting is over the tank?Calcium: 450 salifert
Phosphate: 0.12 hanna
Magnesium: 1300 salifert
pH : 7.9
Nitrite:
Nitrate: 64+ Red sea
Ammonia:
Salinity: 1025
Temperature: 26.0-27.0 (chiller)
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Pumps and equipment -
Maintenance -
Other info and photo's. Sigh - Looking for some advice on how best i should deal with this.
1st stumbling block is sometime later this week i need to go to sea for at least a couple of weeks.Wife can be about the tank but limited hands on.
Test kit i had been using i inherited when i bought the tank( the red sea dual no3/po4 test kit, I bought a Hanna po4 meter & the reading from that agreed with what the redsea kit was saying & i wrongly presumed the NO3 would also be correct.
I have been dosing 3ml/day NOPOX
I have soaking in RO 500ml Orca Titanium Bio cubes
Wednesday morning last i did 10% water change
Wednesday arfo i dosed chemiclean to deal with some cyano
Saturday arfo i did 20% water change.
Skimmer is still struggling to come right frm the chemiclean.
I'm keen to dump some water out tomorrow then there will be a few days delay in the next NO3 drop when i guess the bio cubes will start to kick in. Planning on putting the cubes in tomorrow.
I work on 250L less +/- 50kg live rock = +/- 200L true volume
Could i get some opinions on how much water do you think i can safely change out?
Was thinking to go with 30% then let the cubes do their thing??
Edit: i also have the normal bio cubes on the way, i wonder if it may not be better to use those rather than the titanium version & then maybe the PO4 will slow down the NO3 reduction to not be so drastic whilst i'm not here
1st stumbling block is sometime later this week i need to go to sea for at least a couple of weeks.Wife can be about the tank but limited hands on.
Test kit i had been using i inherited when i bought the tank( the red sea dual no3/po4 test kit, I bought a Hanna po4 meter & the reading from that agreed with what the redsea kit was saying & i wrongly presumed the NO3 would also be correct.
I have been dosing 3ml/day NOPOX
I have soaking in RO 500ml Orca Titanium Bio cubes
Wednesday morning last i did 10% water change
Wednesday arfo i dosed chemiclean to deal with some cyano
Saturday arfo i did 20% water change.
Skimmer is still struggling to come right frm the chemiclean.
I'm keen to dump some water out tomorrow then there will be a few days delay in the next NO3 drop when i guess the bio cubes will start to kick in. Planning on putting the cubes in tomorrow.
I work on 250L less +/- 50kg live rock = +/- 200L true volume
Could i get some opinions on how much water do you think i can safely change out?
Was thinking to go with 30% then let the cubes do their thing??
Edit: i also have the normal bio cubes on the way, i wonder if it may not be better to use those rather than the titanium version & then maybe the PO4 will slow down the NO3 reduction to not be so drastic whilst i'm not here
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