nitrate problem?
- Thread starter dre82584
- Start date
- Location
- The Big City
It would help first if you listed your tank size, equipment, filters, Live stock you have in the tank(corals and fish) and what and how much you feed. Also what are you levels, Ph, Cal, Alk & Nitrates. Also how long has the tank been up for.
As for fish only type tanks, nitrates aren't that big of a problem and usually the best way the bring them down is by doing water changes.
As for fish only type tanks, nitrates aren't that big of a problem and usually the best way the bring them down is by doing water changes.
i have a seaclone skimmer on a 30 gallon a fluval 405. n a emperor 400. my coral tank. have 3 fire fish a juvanile orange shoulder tang a banana wrasse n a mono. corals alot to many but n e where from leathers to zoa's toadstools mushrooms. gsp colt's / bout 50-60 lbs live rock been runnin like 4 months been dooing great . nuttin is really wrong nothing is dieing i feed them like once every other day for the fish n its only a half a cube of brine shrimp and the corals twice a week. well my pulsing xenia's dont look gretat cant keep them alive for nothing. ph is 8.4-8.5 calcium is like 410.. alk never really tested for it .
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Most likely your problem is the fluval and emperor filters. HOw often do you clean them? the most likely going to raise your phospate and nitrate level so if i would be you i would get rid of those two items do your regular water change and within a short period of time yoru nitrate level will go down. What kind of corals are you feeding 2x a week. You really dont have to feed corals all you need is proper lighting and good water quality and you will be fine. How big is your tank? If its smaller then a 20 gallon then the skimmer would be fine but if its bigger i would def invest in a biggerr skimmer for better filtration. Good luck and happy reefkeeping
Your live rock and a better skimmer will be your filtration if you are not planning on making a sump. Which i would discourage you from doing since you dont need it on a small tank like that. Just a good skimmer. All i am running is 2 skimmers and my size tank is similar to yours. Fluvals are good for fresh water not reef.
As previously stated: Stop feeding your corals. You haven't listed any that require feeding to thrive. You're simply adding to your nitrate problem.
In regards to feeding frozen products, brine shrimp is pretty low on the nutrition scale.
BTW, what are your nitrate levels?
In regards to feeding frozen products, brine shrimp is pretty low on the nutrition scale.
BTW, what are your nitrate levels?
- Location
- NY
Lugol's solution should be used when you receive your new zoo's or if you see a health problem with them. It is used as a prophylactic antiseptic treatment, not as food.
Upgrading your skimmer and water changes should help to lower your nitrates. Adding a macro algae refugium would help a lot too.
Upgrading your skimmer and water changes should help to lower your nitrates. Adding a macro algae refugium would help a lot too.
- Location
- North Jerzy
nit.
hang on refug. and a better skimmer would solve the problem . Masterswimmer said it best. i think wingo has a hang on refuge he's selling . if i spelled his name right . Good lucK with that
hang on refug. and a better skimmer would solve the problem . Masterswimmer said it best. i think wingo has a hang on refuge he's selling . if i spelled his name right . Good lucK with that
I'm also biased toward the refugium.
I have a 9 Gallon Nano tank but use a 10G refugium. If you have the space to hide such a thing I'd highly suggest it(or keep it in the open if you like to look at neat creatures in there). I have a couple of inches of sand, live rock rubble and a bunch of Macro Algae.
When I had reef tanks years ago Macro was unheard of but today I'd swear by it. The pace at which these things grow prove that they take many toxins out of the water and are a great boost to the overall ecosystem of your tank.
I only add a handful of supplements for my corals, do regular top offs and minimal water changes. (In fact, I've only done 1 significant water change and the tank has been up for close to 3 months now - This is unheard of for a Nano, but then again considering the water displacement it's not really a Nano after all).
Good luck.
I have a 9 Gallon Nano tank but use a 10G refugium. If you have the space to hide such a thing I'd highly suggest it(or keep it in the open if you like to look at neat creatures in there). I have a couple of inches of sand, live rock rubble and a bunch of Macro Algae.
When I had reef tanks years ago Macro was unheard of but today I'd swear by it. The pace at which these things grow prove that they take many toxins out of the water and are a great boost to the overall ecosystem of your tank.
I only add a handful of supplements for my corals, do regular top offs and minimal water changes. (In fact, I've only done 1 significant water change and the tank has been up for close to 3 months now - This is unheard of for a Nano, but then again considering the water displacement it's not really a Nano after all).
Good luck.
I agree with Wes, and while you're at it - you should also remove the Banana Wrasse - it can grow up to 11 1/2 inches and the Mono who will end up around 8 inches.
You will have more success in this hobby if you research fish/corals/equipment before you purchase them
You will have more success in this hobby if you research fish/corals/equipment before you purchase them
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- Location
- Staten Island
Natureef denitrifier!!!! no water changes in 7 months now... And yes I have SPS...
- Location
- Cliffside Park, NJ
Sounds interesting....Is it miracle mud or a specific equipment you're using?
- Location
- Staten Island
It's a reactor that uses methenol to boost good bacteria levels, causing them to eat nitrates at a high rate... Bringing them down to undetectable levels, from what I understand...then the reactor flushes nitrate free water back into your system and also raises alkalinity as a biproduct of the process.. I think...ha ha ha. It works wonders for regular hobbiest that like to overfeed their fish and still have a healthy enviroment for the fish..And SPS... Oh yeah it cost about $650 to get started for first year then 40 every year after for methenol...
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There are lots of different style nitrate reactors. I'm using a mix of Sulfur and Matrix in the one I'm in the process of setting up. I'm using that to feed Ca reactor media for the added benefit of raising the Ca while lowering the nitrates.
But having the right fish in the 30g tank should be step one to resolving the problem.
But having the right fish in the 30g tank should be step one to resolving the problem.
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- Location
- Staten Island
Just carbon and matrix....What? And the feeding of the bigger growing fish in a small system will fight a denitrifier and take forever to cycle nitrates down..Yes antifreeze is the main ingredeint in this reactor..But you must let it cycle down to 0 or you will be poisoning you system, and burn the fish..But corals weather this poison well...
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