Water Quality

[Craig J]

The other day I bought a leather coral from my LFS.

Just for curiosity sake I decided to test the Nitrate in the water from the LFS bag that I brought home my coral in. I was surprised to see it was around 100.

Was that a real measure? Does leather coral excrete any sort of Nitrate that might have been the cause for the high reading in the bag or was that just their water?

I will say that one of the reason I've been going to this particular LFS is that their tank water always looks much cleaner than other fish stores I go to, not that visual is the best test thought.

Just curious.

 

[jdeets]

Often an LFS will have interconnected tanks and a common sump--so that the same water is circulating through the tanks. If that's the way they have their system set up, then that would explain it. All the waste from their fish inventory is showing up in the water in the coral tanks.

The leather shouldn't have any appreciable impact on water quality.

 

[Craig J]

Yes, I believe they do have interconnecting systems.

But isn't a Nitrate level of over 100 bad for their livestock?

 

[jdeets]

Yes, but from their perspective, they only hold their livestock until it's sold.

You might present some of these issues in the "Industry Behind the Hobby" forum. That forum is frequented by folks who own and operate LFS's.

 

[Anonymous]

The other day I bought a leather coral from my LFS.

Just for curiosity sake I decided to test the Nitrate in the water from the LFS bag that I brought home my coral in. I was surprised to see it was around 100.

Was that a real measure? Does leather coral excrete any sort of Nitrate that might have been the cause for the high reading in the bag or was that just their water?

I will say that one of the reason I've been going to this particular LFS is that their tank water always looks much cleaner than other fish stores I go to, not that visual is the best test thought.

Just curious.

The coral itself may not have excreted any nitrates, but what is in the bag, any particulates of food, waste material, or even organics on the coral itself (or rock it was connected to) could have broken down to nitrates.

I do not belive the LFS's water had nitrates that high, that is the only reason I would figure something else during its stay in the bag caused it.

LFS near me has trates always in the 10 range or lower, even with interconnecting tanks. Otherwise, he would not be able to keep some of the corals he has there.

Your milage may vary.

 

[Lutra1]

What is LFS? I'm assuming it basically is a fish store, but was wondering what the exact meaning was.

 

[trido]

Local Fish Store

 

[Craig J]

Hmm. I'm wondering though how the life can survive with Nitrates that high in their tanks.


I will also present this in the other forum; thank you.