High nitrate question....help! - Aquarium Advice

bavass · 09-30-2009, 09:32 PM

I have a 55g tank that has been up and running for awhile a few years. I have 55lbs of live rock. 2 powerheads in tank, turbofloater 1000 skimmer, mag drive 7.5 in sump for return, Rena Xp2 canister filter with activated carbon, phosphazorb and the standard filters all is replaced every 30 days. 2 small pumps in sump for circulation. The only thing I still have living in the tank is a star fish. Was trying to get nitrates under control before adding anything. My nitrates are off the charts. I was doing some reading and it might be beacuse I have about 4 inches of sand. Was thinking of taking out about 3 inches of sand and leaving just about 1 inch of sand. Then there is less sand for oragnics to be trapped in and be easier to clean. Should I do that or should I remove all the sand and put new in? Water changes are not helping. I have been doing about 20g a week for months almost a year now and still no drop in nitrates. Does anybody know if this will help? Was also thinking of buying some Reef Rock and adding that and make some more live rock about 50lbs is what i was thinking of adding rather than adding live rock for 3 times the price. I also use a tap water purifier when doing water changes.

InfernoST · 10-01-2009, 06:32 AM

Are you using tap water or RO/DI? If you're using tap I would stop and get an RO/DI unit. Also test your tap for nitrates, you would be surprised what's in there that aren't good for your tank.

Innovator · 10-01-2009, 07:43 AM

I would not remove the sandbed just yet. As usual, what are your water parameters? Do you use a gravel vacuum? Do you feed, how much? Do you add any buffers/additives, how much? You mention the only thing STILL living is a seastar, which makes it sounds like your previous livestock has continually died off? What kind of test kits are you using? How old are your test kits?

bavass · 10-04-2009, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Innovator

I would not remove the sandbed just yet. As usual, what are your water parameters? Do you use a gravel vacuum? Do you feed, how much? Do you add any buffers/additives, how much? You mention the only thing STILL living is a seastar, which makes it sounds like your previous livestock has continually died off? What kind of test kits are you using? How old are your test kits?

I use a Tapwater Purifier Deionizer Unit replace the cartridge every 3 months or about every 125g worth of water changes. All other parameters are in line. I have not removed any sand yet. I was thinking of upgrading my Rio 2100 that is on my Turboflotor 1000 with the Oceanrunner 2700 and buying a new feed pump for the skimmer. Maybe a bigger one, I am currently using a Rio 600 was thinking of going to the MJ1200?

**melosu58** · 10-04-2009, 09:43 PM

I would go with an RO/DI unit or at least a RO unit. A tap water purifier does not get everything you need to get out of tap water. You can get a RO/DI for just over a hundred dollars on ebay.

bavass · 10-16-2009, 12:15 PM

update Nitrates are down to 20ppm

**melosu58** · 10-16-2009, 12:55 PM

So what did you end up doing to get it down?

bavass · 10-16-2009, 01:25 PM

I did a 40% water change every 3-4 days using a vaccum in a different small area of the tank each time. I also replaced my cartridge in my tap water purifier. Pulled the canister filter out. Started adding Prodibio Bioclean. Sprayed the live rock down with powerhead. Cleaned Turboflotor skimmer. Replaced my two Maxijet 900's in tank with 2 Hydor Koralia 2's which they actually just got here yesterday, but I am hoping that improving the flow in aquarium will bring down more. I will say it is harder to get the nitrates to drop from 20 than from 160+. But I will keep doing water changes probably do a big water change every week from here instead of every 3-4 days. I also think I am going to buy a scavanger crew to help clean up the hard to reach areas and sift the sand. I think I am going to order the package from ReefScavengers.Com | Saltwater Aquarium Supply | Cleaner Packages, Saltwater Fish, Corals & More!! see what you think of it. I will be getting the 55g package. Hope that will also help bring the nitrates down more.

bavass · 10-16-2009, 02:25 PM

I am trying get this tank up and running correctly. Nitrates have gone from 160+ down to 20ppm. Should be able to click on image for a larger view.

Skimmer

Sump

**melosu58** · 10-16-2009, 04:04 PM

How about making a batch of SW for a PWC and do some water test results before you add it to the tank. We can make sure you are not adding it to the tank. Everything else looks good.