Nitrate problems

[Jasonrusso]

I have a 150 gallon fowler with a 30 gallon sump. I only have 2 fish (porcupine puffer, Mombassa Lion, and a Golden Dwarf Eel.) I try and try and I just cannot get my nitrates down. The API test always comes up red (80+). I've been using bio-pellets and I got a new skimmer (Reef Octopus xs-200). Iv'e changed 15 gallons a day (that is my max) for 4-5 days straight and I cannot make a dent.

I make my own water (RO/DI unit) and I have tested the water to check if there were nitrates in it, and they tested 0.

I recently removed the sponges from my Eheim return pumps and I am going to start changing my filter socks daily.

Anything I am missing?

 

[Bectan01]

You use bio pellets in the sump? Even though you dot have many fish they are messy eaters! How much do you feed and how often?

 

[bribo12]

Do you have a lot of algae? The fact that you're changing the water a bunch and it doesn't even budge makes me skeptical of the tests.

 

[Jasonrusso]

I feed the puffer every day, but he usually eats everything except for the small pieces. I feed the Lion and eel every 2-3 days. I also have hermit crabs and snails.

I have 2 bio pellet reactors in the sump because I can only fit enough pellets for 75 gallons in each. I do have algae, but nothing I would consider terribly excessive. I'll have to pick up a different test kit. Which name brand should I get.

 

[Bectan01]

Yup that was my next question. - are your kits old? Try the Red Sea nitrate kit, or get your LFS to check it too?

 

[dmolavi]

I would pick up a Salifert or RedSea kit and double check those results.

 

[Jasonrusso]

Let me ask this. I have 2 tanks. My other tank is a 10 gallon that I am growing a wartskin angler in. I do a 50% change every 2 weeks (because that's the salt to water ratio I know best). If I test the nitrates in that tank, they are 0. Could my test kit still be suspect? If it was bad, wouldn't all tests show up bad?

 

[Digger]

Not near as much bio-load in the 10 as the 150.
And you are doing a 50% change in the 10 vs 8.33% in the 150 (must add the sump water in the calculation).

My money is still on the test kit. Get a Salifert and compare.

 

[1998golfer]

I have a suggestion... when you change water just a little at a time it doesn't do much. One 50% water change does a ton more good than 5x10% waterchanges. Instead of changing 15g a day, save the water and do a huge w/c.. just a suggestion

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Aquarium Advice mobile app

 

[Jasonrusso]

This isn't practical. I have no way to keep 75 gallons heated to 78 degrees.

 

[dmolavi]

I understand your predicament w.r.t. the storage of the water, but if you look at the numbers, it's pretty compelling to make the biggest water change you can:

At 80 ppm, a single 50% change gets you to 40. Another 50% drops you to 20.

With a sequence of back to back 10% changes, you get to 72, 65, 58, 52, 47, 43, 38, 34, 31, 28, 25, 23, and then finally 20. Even just to get to the 40-range, it takes 6 PWCs at 10%.

Again, I completely empathize with you w.r.t. the logistics. If you have an LFS that might be able to work with you on it, or a local club with some members that could lend a hand, I'm sure they would all be willing to help.