Nitrate level way above 100ppm! - Aquarium Advice

tshere · 09-19-2006, 02:42 PM

I checked my nitrate level this morning on my 20 gallon saltwater tank and it was above 100 ppm. I did a 50% water change. How long will it be until I can check the level again and see results from the water change? Is is immediate? Ok, It has been several hours since I did the water change and the level is still about 80. What do I do now?

HELP

dskidmore · 09-19-2006, 02:51 PM

Well, the math says that if you start with 100 ppm, and do a 50% water change, you'll be at 50 ppm. This is still mighty high, but to reduce shock to your fish, wait until tomorrow to do another 50% water change, bringing you down to 25 ppm. If you are trying to keep corals, you'll want to do at least one more 50% water change and get below 20 ppm. The level should be reduced as soon as your water is throughly mixed, so just give it an hour for your filters to mix the water before re-testing.

tshere · 09-19-2006, 02:58 PM

Thanks. I had a black and white clown to die last week. I also have a anemone that used to be about 4 to 5 inches tall and now it's about the size of a pea. I hope this will help it.

dskidmore · 09-19-2006, 03:16 PM

What kind of lighting do you have for the anemone? They require very intesne lighting to thrive, as well as being very sensitive to water conditions.

tshere · 09-19-2006, 03:28 PM

Power-Glo high intensity 18,000K 15W

OK OK........I've been reading and have realized that that is not even close to being enough light. What I don't understand is that the anemone was fine for several months. Now it's tiny. The pic is before. I don't have an after right now but it's tiny.

dskidmore · 09-19-2006, 05:31 PM

The anemone can get some food from the water, but will decline over time if it doesn't get enough food from light. They will often linger for months before declining, sometimes even budding off babies during the decline, in the hopes that one will survive.

tshere · 09-19-2006, 06:22 PM

So what would be ideal lighting for my tank? It is a 20 gallon. I also have a feather duster. Do they require such light? I've checked my nitrate level now several hours after the 50% water change. There doesn't seem to be much difference at all. What now??

**roka64** · 09-19-2006, 06:27 PM

Can you confirm your readings with another kit or your LFS? How old is the kit? What kind of filter do you have, ie; bioballs/wheel, sponge?

**melosu58** · 09-19-2006, 06:38 PM

Something is causing these high nitrates. pwc`s are your best defense and i mean several and not just one. Then we have to find out where it`s coming from. How often are you feeding?

dskidmore · 09-19-2006, 06:55 PM

If the first reading you got was above the top color on the chart, it may be significantly higher than that number. Keep up the water changes. Are you using tap water or RO/DI water for your water changes?

Until recently, what has your water change routine been?

How long has the tank been running?

Lighting: You probably want one of the higher end PC/CF light systems. Try to aim for 200 watts, although it's undestandable if that's out of your budget. I think 2x65 is about the best you're going to find in premade fixtures, a 3x65 would be more ideal for the anemone.

The feather duster doesn't need much light. It eats small particles of food floating in the water.

09-19-2006, 02:42 PM	#1
tshere Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ripley, MS Posts: 21 Images: 1	Nitrate level way above 100ppm! I checked my nitrate level this morning on my 20 gallon saltwater tank and it was above 100 ppm. I did a 50% water change. How long will it be until I can check the level again and see results from the water change? Is is immediate? Ok, It has been several hours since I did the water change and the level is still about 80. What do I do now? HELP

09-19-2006, 02:51 PM	#2
dskidmore Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Genesee Valley Posts: 2,290 Images: 1	Well, the math says that if you start with 100 ppm, and do a 50% water change, you'll be at 50 ppm. This is still mighty high, but to reduce shock to your fish, wait until tomorrow to do another 50% water change, bringing you down to 25 ppm. If you are trying to keep corals, you'll want to do at least one more 50% water change and get below 20 ppm. The level should be reduced as soon as your water is throughly mixed, so just give it an hour for your filters to mix the water before re-testing. __________________ 75 gallon freshwater Baby shrimp sighted! 2.5 Gallon unpowered freshwater now with high light 0.25 gallon palmtop doomed to an unlit end?

09-19-2006, 03:16 PM	#4
dskidmore Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Genesee Valley Posts: 2,290 Images: 1	What kind of lighting do you have for the anemone? They require very intesne lighting to thrive, as well as being very sensitive to water conditions. __________________ 75 gallon freshwater Baby shrimp sighted! 2.5 Gallon unpowered freshwater now with high light 0.25 gallon palmtop doomed to an unlit end?

09-19-2006, 05:31 PM	#6
dskidmore Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Genesee Valley Posts: 2,290 Images: 1	The anemone can get some food from the water, but will decline over time if it doesn't get enough food from light. They will often linger for months before declining, sometimes even budding off babies during the decline, in the hopes that one will survive. __________________ 75 gallon freshwater Baby shrimp sighted! 2.5 Gallon unpowered freshwater now with high light 0.25 gallon palmtop doomed to an unlit end?

09-19-2006, 06:55 PM	#10
dskidmore Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Genesee Valley Posts: 2,290 Images: 1	If the first reading you got was above the top color on the chart, it may be significantly higher than that number. Keep up the water changes. Are you using tap water or RO/DI water for your water changes? Until recently, what has your water change routine been? How long has the tank been running? Lighting: You probably want one of the higher end PC/CF light systems. Try to aim for 200 watts, although it's undestandable if that's out of your budget. I think 2x65 is about the best you're going to find in premade fixtures, a 3x65 would be more ideal for the anemone. The feather duster doesn't need much light. It eats small particles of food floating in the water. __________________ 75 gallon freshwater Baby shrimp sighted! 2.5 Gallon unpowered freshwater now with high light 0.25 gallon palmtop doomed to an unlit end?

09-19-2006, 02:58 PM	#3
tshere Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ripley, MS Posts: 21 Images: 1	Thanks. I had a black and white clown to die last week. I also have a anemone that used to be about 4 to 5 inches tall and now it's about the size of a pea. I hope this will help it.

09-19-2006, 06:22 PM	#7
tshere Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ripley, MS Posts: 21 Images: 1	So what would be ideal lighting for my tank? It is a 20 gallon. I also have a feather duster. Do they require such light? I've checked my nitrate level now several hours after the 50% water change. There doesn't seem to be much difference at all. What now??

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