Nitrates to high

[Tiger eye]

Higuys im siting with a problem, my nitrates stay at 50 Even after doing a 33% water change. All the other parametors are corect and even my corals look happy but i lost a fire shrimp and a boxer shrimp. I would very much like to get two cleaner shrimp but i first want to get the nitrates right and stable.

Can anny body help with ideas?
I do 33% water changes a month and use Seachem reef Salt.

 

[lIghty]

How much do you feed and how often?

How is the flow in the tank?

What skimmer are you running? Size of tank.


I've battled with nitrates for years, and ever since I installed a sulphur reactor, my nitrates are less than 5ppm.

 

[Jamie@Vertex]

Tell us a bit about your filtering system. Water changes are not enough to control nutrients in most cases. By NO3, I strongly recommend some kind of carbon dosing. I use Vertex Pro-Bio Pellets with great success. NO3 is about 0.25 constantly

 

[skairik]

Post a few more details about your system, such as TWV (total water volume), bio-load, skimmer size and what method(s) besides water changes you're using for nutrient export. I agree that water changes are not enough to control NO3 exclusively.

 

[dallasg]

also how accurate is your test kit, have you had your water tested else where? is it expired? which brand?

 

[salty dog]

How long has your tank been running?

 

[FransSny]

Use Microbelift Special Blend and Nite Out II to get your bacterial population going, consume your nutrients and stabalise those paramaters

 

[Tiger eye]

Hi guys
I feed a pinch twice a day and my total water volume is 150 litersand i have 11 fish.
sump is as folows: 900 x 300 x 400 and 4 compartments.
1st: TS 1 skimmer and DIY algea scruber.
2nd: live rock with milions of cluster dusters and a 300W heater.
3rd: DSB
4th: Sponge filter and a DIY Carbon and Fosfate Reactor and 2000 l/h return pump.
I try to do maintenance once a week.
I have a RO unit for top ups and water changes.

My Cluster Duster Farm

 

[Tiger eye]

Sorry I forgot to say the tank has been runing for a year and a half.

 

[Jamie@Vertex]

With your set-up, I'm surprised tha NO3 is a problem. I would get a second opinion on water testing. What is the PO4 level? You could have phosphate limitation, which is rare, but does happen. Although a DSB should be chewing up the NO3 in any case.

Beautiful worms. Don't you just love 'em?

 

[Tiger eye]

PO4 is not regestering, it shows 0

 

[dallasg]

i agree with Jamie, i think your test kit is bombed

 

[carlosdeandrade]

I went away for ten days, my house sitter didn't do what hes was told, NO3 at 30, after being at 1ppm for months, lost two cleaners and two snails! I know how youo feel! SORRY MAN!

 

[Jamie@Vertex]

What brand test kits are you using?

 

[dallasg]

I went away for ten days, my house sitter didn't do what hes was told, NO3 at 30, after being at 1ppm for months, lost two cleaners and two snails! I know how youo feel! SORRY MAN!

30ppm is not high, i really doubt you lost them due to that

 

[Jamie@Vertex]

30ppm is not high, i really doubt you lost them due to that

I would agree with Dallas, it may have been a part of the problem, but I think it was a combi-shock. Maybe O2 depletion was involved.

 

[Tiger eye]

Ime using Sera Marine test kit.

 

[dallasg]

i would take it to Dorry Pets, they are your closets seeing your profile and ask them to confirm
also get your PO4 tested

 

[Tiger eye]

That sound s like a good idea bevore i go spend mony. Thanks for all the coments and help. Ill report on what dorry finds.

 

[Jamie@Vertex]

That sound s like a good idea bevore i go spend mony. Thanks for all the coments and help. Ill report on what dorry finds.

Sounds like a plan! Sera kits are not accurate enough for low readings. For PO4 try an D-D/Rowa, Macherey-Nagel or similar, as these read well into the <0.10 area. A Hanna meter is, also, good.