High Nitrate - Looking for advice. (1 Viewer)

[iamivantx]

Alright guys.. After about a month of trying to deal with high nitrate in my 75 gallon salt water fish tank.. I'm seeking advice.

• Running for over 1.5 years
• have a 15 - 20 gallon sump.
  • Been changing the sock every 3 - 4 days.
  • Has several macro algae
  • Live rock pieces
  • Sand
• Fish
  • Clownfish - He's been acting weird. Swimming towards the top on certain days.. but then goes back to the bottom on others?
  • Blue damsel
  • Salfin
  • Coral beauty
  • Cardinal
  • Sand sifting star fish
  • Some type of benny
• Other than that I have some mushroom and other live coral.

What I've been doing to try to get the nitrates down:

• Using prime very sparingly, but have tons
  • Hate feeling like I'm just covering up the problem instead of fixing the root cause.
• Recently bought Dr. Times Waste-Away and used 70 ml about 5 days ago.
• Bought Dr. Tim's One and Only used 4 0z a few days ago.
• Have done about a 40% water change last weekend.
• Bought seachem de-nitrate and used half last weekend.. Poured it into the overflow box.

Where am I going wrong, or what else can I do to try to fix this?

 

[OceansX]

The nitrate-reducing bacteria need a low oxygen/almost no oxygen environment, and a carbon e.g. sugar vodka source to reduce nitrate. They'll chemically literally reduce, so convert nitrate to nitrogen gas.

Did you notice a nitrate drop after a 40% water change?

You may want to wait several days to let the bacteria you introduced to begin to kick in. Also, consider adding a brick of that made-made live rock stuff, a thick live rock piece into your sump and/or look into vodka/sugar dosing. This last option may be what you need.

I'd take a water sample to a sponsor store to check your test kit result? Call ahead. Most stores will do this if it's a reasonable request i.e they're not too busy, you ask nicely, they aren't exhausted, etc.

Keep us posted

 

[Diesel]

Not sure where you go wrong but how are your corals reacting on the high No3?
Any idea where you are with your Po4?
How do you run your skimmer?

 

[webster1234]

I was having problems with high nitrates (50ppm or so) and added a bio pellet reactor. Knocked them down to undetectable within a few weeks and it has kept them there for several years (and I have a lot of fish and feed 3x daily). Just use pellets sparingly because it will reduce the nitrates very fast. I only run about 4 cups for a 400g system. In fact, if you decide to go that route, start with half of the pellets you plan on using, then add more after a couple weeks. But I would also want to know your PO4 levels. If they are high also, make sure your skimmer is working efficiently. My PO4 levels were around .30 along with my high nitrates and skimming more wet for a while brought the PO4 levels down to .03.

You haven't said anything about maintenance. Have you blown your rocks off with a turkey baster when you cleaned your tank? You have sand. How deep is it and do you vacuum it with a gravel vacuum when you do a water change? How much flow do you have in your tank? Do you have any detritus issues? Sometimes the simple things can make a big difference too. Make sure you are cleaning your gravel and blowing your rocks off every time you do a water change. You should also be changing at least 10 gallons/week in water right now. Have you checked your source water to make sure you aren't adding anything to your tank?

 

[nvy]

sugar! i haven't tried it myself but I've seen a few videos using sugar to knock down nitrates.

 

[OceansX]

Oh great point Webster1234, test your source water ASAP. If everything else is on track, this will do it. I had a failing a membrane, and didn't realize why water changes weren't helping?

 

[iamivantx]

The nitrate-reducing bacteria need a low oxygen/almost no oxygen environment, and a carbon e.g. sugar vodka source to reduce nitrate. They'll chemically literally reduce, so convert nitrate to nitrogen gas.

Did you notice a nitrate drop after a 40% water change?

You may want to wait several days to let the bacteria you introduced to begin to kick in. Also, consider adding a brick of that made-made live rock stuff, a thick live rock piece into your sump and/or look into vodka/sugar dosing. This last option may be what you need.

I'd take a water sample to a sponsor store to check your test kit result? Call ahead. Most stores will do this if it's a reasonable request i.e they're not too busy, you ask nicely, they aren't exhausted, etc.

Keep us posted

I did notice a nitrate drop after the 40% water change but it went back up within a couple days. I also tried allowing some time for the bacteria I introduced to kick in but never saw any results from it.

Last Saturday I actually ended up going to FJW and purchased the Curve 5 skimmer.. Started dosing vinegar at around 12.5 mil and that seems to be bringing them down.

 

[iamivantx]

My corals are taking a hit, but have made it through so far. I do not have any idea where my PO4 is at, I'll be getting something to test that tomorrow. Currently I'm running my Curve 5 on max so if I'm not mistaken I'm getting real wet residue.

Not sure where you go wrong but how are your corals reacting on the high No3?
Any idea where you are with your Po4?
How do you run your skimmer?

 

[iamivantx]

I was having problems with high nitrates (50ppm or so) and added a bio pellet reactor. Knocked them down to undetectable within a few weeks and it has kept them there for several years (and I have a lot of fish and feed 3x daily). Just use pellets sparingly because it will reduce the nitrates very fast. I only run about 4 cups for a 400g system. In fact, if you decide to go that route, start with half of the pellets you plan on using, then add more after a couple weeks. But I would also want to know your PO4 levels. If they are high also, make sure your skimmer is working efficiently. My PO4 levels were around .30 along with my high nitrates and skimming more wet for a while brought the PO4 levels down to .03.

You haven't said anything about maintenance. Have you blown your rocks off with a turkey baster when you cleaned your tank? You have sand. How deep is it and do you vacuum it with a gravel vacuum when you do a water change? How much flow do you have in your tank? Do you have any detritus issues? Sometimes the simple things can make a big difference too. Make sure you are cleaning your gravel and blowing your rocks off every time you do a water change. You should also be changing at least 10 gallons/week in water right now. Have you checked your source water to make sure you aren't adding anything to your tank?

I honestly cannot afford to buy a reactor after having spent over $400.00 on the past month on the fish thank. I really wish I could, but its not possible for now.

In regards to my maintenance, I will be honest that I slacked a bit with it and when I decided to get serious about cleaning the tank I stirred up all the sand bed. I understand that wasn't a smart move. My sand bed is about 2 - 3 inches deep in some parts. I was not vacuuming the sand bed when I was doing water changes and I recently bought a new vacuume that includes its own little filter, I was thinking of using it, but thought perhaps I should stabilize the tank before I stir up the sand bed again. The flow in the tank is currently 2 530 gph pumps that should be making it a circular motion in the tank, during the evening a third pump turns on which blows behind the rocks I have in the tank. Detritus, I'm not sure if I have that.

The last time I did do a water change and all I did use the pump to blow the rocks "Clean" or what I thought was clean, but I have not used a baster or even shook them for that mater. Haven't tested my water source, but will certainly do that next water change.

 

[iamivantx]

By the way apologies for all the late replies.. My post didn't get posted right away and had received some other suggestions else where so thats what I been trying.

 

[Diesel]

No need for a reactor.
I did a test on a large tank in my Frag room with these NP Biopellets as my No3 was twice you had and Po4 around 0.85.
After a week I had HA bigger and faster growing than my grass in the front yard.
Did a 48 hr soak in RODI water, dumped it in a mesh filter bag and did position it in a fast moving water area in the sump.
With in a week Po4 was 0.12 and No3 was 0.06. WINNER!!
Had to remove it from the system as about 200 frags which all were sold already starting to lose color.
I have 1/4 cup in my sump from my DT and all # are in check as I don't run any reactors or GFO not to mention Carbon.

NP Biopellets XL 1000ml | Premium Aquatics

Btw, you can get it by FJW.
I think it's around $20.

 

[iamivantx]

No need for a reactor.
I did a test on a large tank in my Frag room with these NP Biopellets as my No3 was twice you had and Po4 around 0.85.
After a week I had HA bigger and faster growing than my grass in the front yard.
Did a 48 hr soak in RODI water, dumped it in a mesh filter bag and did position it in a fast moving water area in the sump.
With in a week Po4 was 0.12 and No3 was 0.06. WINNER!!
Had to remove it from the system as about 200 frags which all were sold already starting to lose color.
I have 1/4 cup in my sump from my DT and all # are in check as I don't run any reactors or GFO not to mention Carbon.

NP Biopellets XL 1000ml | Premium Aquatics

Btw, you can get it by FJW.
I think it's around $20.

So should I have these biopellets and activated carbon in my sump or one or the other?

 

[Diesel]

So should I have these biopellets and activated carbon in my sump or one or the other?

No activated carbon.
I been off that AC for about 3 years now and tank is a lot healthier.
Just the BP in a mesh bag hanging in your sump by a rapid moving area of water.

 

[iamivantx]

No activated carbon.
I been off that AC for about 3 years now and tank is a lot healthier.
Just the BP in a mesh bag hanging in your sump by a rapid moving area of water.

Just to ensure we're re on the same page.. What do you consider rapid water movement? I don't believe I have rapid movement in my sump other than the overflow box..

 

[Diesel]

You have a skimmer right?

 

[iamivantx]

You have a skimmer right?

Yes I do

 

[Diesel]

Hang the bag in front of the skimmer outlet in a position that it will hit the BP direct.

 

[iamivantx]

Hang the bag in front of the skimmer outlet in a position that it will hit the BP direct.

Got it. Appreciate the help. Yesterday was the first day that I noticed my nitrate start to come down still seems to be around 80+ but a lot better than where I started.

 

[OceansX]

I wouldn't stir or disturb a sand bed as a general practice.

 

[iamivantx]

I wouldn't stir or disturb a sand bed as a general practice.

Yeah unfortunately I had to learn that the hard way. It's all on its way to getting better now. Have been having some good results with vinegar dosing.