Nitrate levels in tank??

[samster]

my questions is i have seen and heard people that believes in not having to do WC with nitrates reading levels over the charts in their aquarium setups and their tanks actaully look like no difference then tanks with lower nitrates? what does the nitrate actaully do to the tanks? and is the LR suppose to remove nitrates in anyway? nitrates is a cause of algae? does nitrates detain animal growths? i've seen tanks with high nitrates with thriving softies and LPS, so why should we try to keep the nitrate level as close to zero as possible?

my nitrate is in the high range lately because i feed daily and i havn't caught up with my water changes but the livestock are all fine the strimps are supposely unable to stand higher nitrate levels correct? are there any systems that don't require weekly water changes with mirco plants etc? and possible to keep a zero nitrate reading? i mean the process of the cycle is ammonia<nitrite<nitrate and supposly nitrate is removed by Clams, xenias, cheatos, mangrooves, mirco etc and nitrate filters so if nitrates is removed it means the water is at step one before the fish pisS?

 

[ShaunW]

my questions is i have seen and heard people that believes in not having to do WC with nitrates reading levels over the charts in their aquarium setups and their tanks actaully look like no difference then tanks with lower nitrates?

Water changes are a must in an enclosed system. You have to eventually do them to dilute the build up of toxic waste products and replace essential elements lost during growth. But if you have means designed in your system to remove some of the waste products and add elements then water changes can be spread out for a considerable amount of time.

what does the nitrate actaully do to the tanks? and is the LR suppose to remove nitrates in anyway? nitrates is a cause of algae? does nitrates detain animal growths? i've seen tanks with high nitrates with thriving softies and LPS, so why should we try to keep the nitrate level as close to zero as possible?

Nitrate is part of the N-cycle. It is a nessesary by-product of biosynthesis/growth. So it really provides an intermediate in the N-cycle and can be used by certain bacteria, algae and corals as a source of energy. All corals species are different and certain corals can utilize and/or adapt to nitrate better than others. So as you mention above LPS and softies can deal with high levels of nitrate better than, for example, certain sensitive SPS species.

Most of the 0 nitrate proponents are hard core SPS farmers. For them keeping nitrate at a lower level is imperative to SPS growth and good health. However, for a different type of reef ecosystem nitrate may not be as an important factor to keep minimized.

 

[samster]

im not talkin bout alil nitrate im talkin bout i've seen SKY rocket like to the top of the charts of test kits and tank looks amazin but from what i remember of readin fact is that nitrates is toxin too but just not as bad as ammonia n nitrite? so its just better toxins for the tank as in safer for the tank but doesnt mean it does not cause harm?

i could never get my nitrate level under 20ppm i believe that was the reading no matter what it would jsut stay in that rangebb

 

[ShaunW]

As an aside, usually the source of high nitrate also leads toward having high inorganic phosphate too. These molecules are "super fuel" for any algae species that enters your tank. Since algae inheritally grows faster than most corals, the algae will start to take over the reef (utilizing other essential elements) while the corals will stagnate due to the competition. The battle for real estate would also play a role.

 

[samster]

where does the phosphate come from? ur meaning that the algae would consume trace elements etc that the corals and other animals need?
so waht if the system would have a phos reactor with high nitrates? what are side effects of high nitrate levels but phos removal? supposly nitrates is bad but animals can adjust to it?:biggrin:

 

[ShaunW]

Fish $hit and decomposing organic matter (non ingested food and death).

Yes.

No side effects that I can see if your not caring for SPS. High nitrates represents <20. Nitrate is bad once a critical concentration is met which is different for every coral species.

 

[samster]

yesh i understand i have a reading of 20 and i find it bad already but i've seen tanks with people tellin me and showin me of readins up to 120+ and their tanks look better then mine lol, i have notices when nitrates get high i see lil pores or lil holes in some weaker fish in my tank thanks for the replys i just assumed 120 would be real bad if i find 20 in my setup bad?

and my cheato never seems to grow how come everyone purns and pass them out like every week i would assume its suppose to be fast growing? lols

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

and my cheato never seems to grow how come everyone purns and pass them out like every week i would assume its suppose to be fast growing? lols

I found the same in my case. Mine seems never grow fast. I actually have try to keep one of my tank high in nitrate but the macro never grow fast.

Nitrate is toxins to some animals while they are food for others.

Recently, I noticed if you use Phosguard by Seachem, it MAY have side effects. So be careful if you are to remove phosphate using that product.

 

[inline6]

I have the same problem, my nitrate levels are a constant 10ppm.
No matter how much water I change it is always present, I tried different feeding habits for the fish and corals - still no change, however everything is thriving better than if I had 0 nitrates (there was a time when I had constant readings of 0)
I can't seem to figure this one out.
Any input would be greatly appreciated also.

 

[ShaunW]

I have the same problem, my nitrate levels are a constant 10ppm.
No matter how much water I change it is always present, I tried different feeding habits for the fish and corals - still no change, however everything is thriving better than if I had 0 nitrates (there was a time when I had constant readings of 0)
I can't seem to figure this one out.
Any input would be greatly appreciated also.

Some corals metabolize nitrate, that is why. They use it for energy/biosynthesis. You probably happen to have the species in your tank that like higher levels of nitrate.

 

[ShaunW]

yesh i understand i have a reading of 20 and i find it bad already but i've seen tanks with people tellin me and showin me of readins up to 120+ and their tanks look better then mine lol, i have notices when nitrates get high i see lil pores or lil holes in some weaker fish in my tank thanks for the replys i just assumed 120 would be real bad if i find 20 in my setup bad?

What corals are in this tank with a 120 reading?

and my cheato never seems to grow how come everyone purns and pass them out like every week i would assume its suppose to be fast growing? lols

Macroalgae requires more than nitrate to grow big and strong. You need other essential elements, like iron for example, for it to grow (please do not mention phosphoban!!!! or other iron related products without consulting a periodic table first, ).

 

[fishguttz]

Nitrate readings might be a constant 10 ppm because the source of water you're using is 10ppm!

and

(pH x nitrate) has a significant effect on survival!

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/...ve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11031310&dopt=Abstract

 

[inline6]

Nitrate readings might be a constant 10 ppm because the source of water you're using is 10ppm!

and

(pH x nitrate) has a significant effect on survival!

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/...ve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11031310&dopt=Abstract

That was the 1st test I did 0ppm from my RO/DI filter.
ph is constant @ 8.2-8.3

 

[tangerine]

take a read at this link.

http://forum.marinedepot.com/Topic36305-9-1.aspx

may explain why some of us have nitrates omipresent despite water changes and overall good husbandry.

some of the tanks that you see that looks great with higher nutrients levels than yours cud be due to "old tank" syndrome. livestocks that were in the tank cud have gradually acclimatize themselves as the levels wud have slowly creep up over a period of time.

new livestocks may not fare so well especially if they are from more pristine water enviorment.

 

[meschaefer]

.

Recently, I noticed if you use Phosguard by Seachem, it MAY have side effects. So be careful if you are to remove phosphate using that product.

Sort of off topic but....

A couple of years ago I tried using phosguard in my tank. My leather coral quickly shrivled up. When investigating the matter I found others who had a similar experience and advised tha tI remove the phosguard. IT slowly perked up once I removed it.