Nitrates always at 20ppm Is that bad?

[Moneymaks24]

This is my second tank build and again my readings of nitrates at at 20 ppm should I do something to lower them is so what? I Have a 34 gallon Solana with 3" mini flakes substrate and 25lbs of live rock. Thanks

 

[troywalkerphoto]

Chaeto, culpera, etc macro algae!

 

[Moneymaks24]

I used to have chaeto it always dies on me. I used 13w 6500k bulb on it at night and nothing.

 

[edd]

I used to have chaeto it always dies on me. I used 13w 6500k bulb on it at night and nothing.

you have to rotate it at least once a week, so the bottom gets light.

 

[troywalkerphoto]

I rarely do anything to mine. Its in my sump, and my overflow box is fill of it. I have t5 lighting and a ge par 38 led standard bulb. Its growing chaeto, culpera, and dragons breath and working on halimera. if you need some let me know. a small frag would be great as a trade.

 

[Tonyscoots84]

Start doing more water changes

 

[Moneymaks24]

The tank just finished cycling and I did a 90% WC still at 20ppm my other 8 gallon tank had been reading 20 ppm for over a year. No real issues but I never had sps or anything sensitive

 

[Tonyscoots84]

Have you tryed a diff. test kit?

Give us a rundown how you set this tank up...

 

[Moneymaks24]

Ai test kit. It's not the best but it does work. As I said on top of page I have 30 lbs of sand an 25 lbs of rock. No filtration it jus finished cycling. I will add skimmer GFO n all that when I stock it. I have a tank build thread on here its called: refurbishing my use solana 34 tank. Thanx

 

[Moneymaks24]

Used* solana 34

 

[Tonyscoots84]

Have you tried another test kit? After a 90% water change your nitrates should not be the same....

 

[Moneymaks24]

Did not try a diff test kit, but as I said I've used this kit for a year and it gives me different measurement sometimes even 0 so I know the kit works, also during cycle it shows nitrates going up as it should. I would get a new kit but I'm just wondering if it matters I know my lfs keep nitrates at 80 for like 5 years and no prob.

 

[dba]

AI is horrible, had severe issues on getting accurate readings. it doesnt give accurate readings, especially with ammonia and nitrates...

get salifer or elos

 

[troywalkerphoto]

get a separate test done at lfs or a buddy with a different kit. AI is a horrible kit as the readinds are all over the place and the shelf life is really short. I helped another member who was having problems. His kit read 20ppm nitrates. My Redsea kit read 160ppm!

 

[Moneymaks24]

That's OD!

 

[BaaMNYC]

Just curious have you tried testing the new saltwater before the water change? Curious if it reads 20ppm or 0.

 

[Moneymaks24]

No ill try it but where would nitrate come from in that case? Unless its the salt but I doubt it

 

[E.intheC]

Have you tryed a diff. test kit?

Give us a rundown how you set this tank up...

This. How are your corals? Fish won't be bothered by nitrates like that. Some corals will, but it depends.

 

[Moneymaks24]

Corals are fine except one zoa frag stopped opening like 3 weeks ago other than that no issues. I ordered some iodine for him already