High nitrates

[dlsrks]

Have a 29 gallon reef tank that I started about 4 months ago. My nitrates are very high. Been changing water weekly. Cleaned filter and I still have high nitrates. Any suggestions how to get them down? Already lost some corals. And how often can I change the water?

Have a 6 stage RO/DI system.
30 lb live rock
30 lb live sand
Fluval 305 canister filter
2 powerheads
Coralife protein skimmer. Good up to 100 gallons.
2 ocellated clownfish
1 six line wrasse
2 blue/green chromis
1 pajama cardinal
1 black and gold damsel

 

[tonedogz]

Have a 29 gallon reef tank that I started about 4 months ago. My nitrates are very high. Been changing water weekly. Cleaned filter and I still have high nitrates. Any suggestions how to get them down? Already lost some corals. And how often can I change the water?

Have a 6 stage RO/DI system.
30 lb live rock
30 lb live sand
Fluval 305 canister filter
2 powerheads
Coralife protein skimmer. Good up to 100 gallons.
2 ocellated clownfish
1 six line wrasse
2 blue/green chromis
1 pajama cardinal
1 black and gold damsel

I can't see anything your doing wrong. how high are your nitrates

 

[AquaRick]

How much are you feeding and how often do you feed?

 

[Phranque]

It's good that you have a decent skimmer, that's helping, and you could be overfeeding, contributing to the issue, but I believe the root of your problem is the fact that you have 7 fish in a 29 gallon reef.... that's quite a bioload. On top of that, you're using a canister filter. Doesn't really matter how much you clean it... it's still converting 7 fish's worth of waste into nitrates.

Sounds like you have 2 options... get rid of the canister and a few fish, or be prepared to do larger pwc's more often to prevent further coral loss.

 

[carey]

I had 5 fish in my first sw tank which was a 29g. I also started it with just a hang on back filter and eventually going to a canister. I consistently held at 0 nitrates. It can be done.

My question would be also how much and how often are you feeding? And for ha'ha's have you ever tested the ro/di water for nitrates? You never know....

 

[Schism]

This is 7 fish in 29g. You are overstocked my friend. No other way to fix this besides removing atleast 2-3 fish. Remember these fish grow the more they grow the bigger the bioload.

Im maxed out at 4 fish in my 29g reef. If i added one more fish, i would have a major problem.

 

[bavass]

Thats a lot of fish in 4 months, i am not sure if the biological filter has had enough time to get established that quick. I feel like i am pushing my bioload with 7 in a 55g with a oversized skimmer. When i had high nitrates a did 40% water changes every 3rd day till they were down

 

[dlsrks]

Nitrates are around 80. I feed them every two days. I moved the rest of my corals to my 75 gallon reef tank. So I won't be feeding much now that it's fish only. I was feeding quarter cube of brine shrimp and coral food. I do have some new growth on the live rock but they are very small and don't seem to be effected.

 

[dlsrks]

Based on what fish I have in the 29 gallon, which fish do you think I should move to my 75 gallon? I know I can't move the clownfish. I did have a domino damsel in there that I moved. He was a little terror in there.

 

[Newfiereefer]

If you need to move , the chromis can be moved without worry , there super nice fish.

 

[Phranque]

For the time being, I would move the 2 chromis, the cardinal, and the damsel. 3 fish in the nano should let you (and your system) get caught up. Once you get your nitrates under control, maybe move the cardinal back in. Don't know about the B&G damsel, however.... even though a lot of sites say "min 30g tank", they can get upwards of 5" long, which is a bit big for a 29g, IMO.

 

[Schism]

For the time being, I would move the 2 chromis, the cardinal, and the damsel. 3 fish in the nano should let you (and your system) get caught up. Once you get your nitrates under control, maybe move the cardinal back in. Don't know about the B&G damsel, however.... even though a lot of sites say "min 30g tank", they can get upwards of 5" long, which is a bit big for a 29g, IMO.

I agree.

 

[dlsrks]

When I move the fish to my larger tank, will I need to acclimate them to that tank since my parameters are correct?

 

[Schism]

When I move the fish to my larger tank, will I need to acclimate them to that tank since my parameters are correct?

You need to acclimate them with any change in water. So yes.

 

[dlsrks]

Thanks for all the info. I will start moving the fish tomorrow and check my nitrates in a couple days to see how it's doing.