High nitrate question....help!

[thincat]

Great, I knew you could do it! NOW BACK TO MY REGULAR TANK MAINTENENCE!!!

 

[bavass]

thats awsome, LOL!
I am not there yet, still wanna hit zero and then the hard part starts staying at zero!

 

[bavass]

Nitrates are back up to 10ppm, I don't understand what is causing the bouncing back and forth? I am doing 2 20g water changes a week, I am cleaning the skimmer cup each time. I am not disturbing the sand by vaccum. I just can't figure it out. I make my water on Wed and Thursday for a Sunday water change and on Sunday I make my water for a Wed or Thursday water change. I check the nitrates in the new water just before I do the water change and its always zero!

 

[bavass]

well I have been out of town and have not done a water change since last Tuesday and my Nitrates are at 5ppm. Maybe just maybe i am winning the battle?

 

[austinsdad]

Heck, 10 ppm is still very good IMO. You were winning then. 5 is a bonus.

 

[bavass]

20g water changes every few days except during the holidays, I did a water chaneg aster I tested and going out of town till Sunday again so it will be intresting to see what the Nitrates are when I get back

 

[bavass]

was at the beach last week so one week with no water change and Nitrates are staying below 10ppm bouncing between 5 and 8ppm. I will keep up the 20g water changes and see how low I can get it!

 

[bavass]

Update!!!!!

I have nor done a water change in over a week since last Wed. and my nitrates are holding at 2ppm! Oh Yeah!!!!!!

 

[eatsomepopcorn]

You should use RO water. You could go to a multi-chamber sump or add a canister to the mix. The other thing is to consider using a denitrator like
Aquaripure Nitrate Filter

 

[thincat]

bavass, I do think you got it under control. Good for you... you did not give up and now it's just a matter of keeping up the water changes.
Good show!!!!!!!!

 

[bavass]

You should use RO water. You could go to a multi-chamber sump or add a canister to the mix. The other thing is to consider using a denitrator like
Aquaripure Nitrate Filter

The first thing I did was remove the canister filter I had. I am currently using a tap water purifier which is ok does give me 0 Nitrates. I am planning on getting a RO/DI 4 chamber purifier in the near furture

 

[bavass]

bavass, I do think you got it under control. Good for you... you did not give up and now it's just a matter of keeping up the water changes.
Good show!!!!!!!!

I hope so! I did have 2 Green Chromis's die on me in the last few weeks not sure why! I think my Biocolor Psuedachroma might have had something to do with it. I have planted some macro algae in the tank and added a few red mangroves to the overflow that now has roots growing. I am planning on getting more fomr John at Reefcleaners.org as soon as he gets everything in that I want to order. Hopefully will bring it down to 0 and help keep it there!

 

[eatsomepopcorn]

Nice job.

 

[bavass]

just ordered a RO/DI and added more Macro's so hopefully it will come down more!!!!!!!!

 

[bavass]

I have done 1 25g Water change with the water from the RO/DI man this thing is nice!!! Nitrates did not drop much still at 5ppm. Tested water coming out Nitrates 0 and Phosphates 0 much better than the Tap Water Purifier I was using!

 

[bavass]

Got to love RO/DI Nitrates are down 2ppm

 

[bavass]

On my second week of doing 2 5g water changes and so far the Nitrates are staying around 2-5ppm. I am doing one on Sunday and one on Thursday every week! I have also started using Seachem Reef Salt instead of Coralife.

 

[bavass]

I think my live rock is leaching Nitrates they are back up to 5ppm after a 15g water change to bring down and I have Cyano covering my overflow and some on the back glass. I guess I will try a phosban reactor with Seachem De-Nitrate and see if that will bring them down. I have been doing 2 5g water changes a week for a month now. I did add the new light fixture about a month ago. I was hoping that was causing the algae but it would have burned off by now if it was from the lights. I might get 2 Phosban Reactors one for De-Nitrate and one for Phosphates even tho its reading 0 still may be there since I have cyano. Onething is for sure something is there. Really makes me mad I have worked my but off to get this tank running nice. Any advice?

 

[melosu58]

I personally would not fret over 5 ppm. Mine vary from 0 to 5 and I`m happy with that. What are your phosphate readings?

 

[bavass]

Phosphates are 0 but with the Cyano in the tank it could be giving false readings on both.