Nitrates spike

[denis1946]

Hi there,

In a 55gal, almost 1 year old tank. Coralife SuperSkimmer 3004 running 24/7. No refugium on this tank.

What can cause such nitrates spike, i've got nothing dead in there. It is at the moment at 35.

This problem has been running in this tank for 3 weeks. I've done major water changes (25 gal / week). All in the tank looks OK...........but 35 of nitrates and it's not dropping down. Bought new tests (2 different brands) and got the same results. Water is crystal clear. No cyano at all.

Can my 70 pounds of LR be dead ?

I know many people don't like crush coral but i just have an inch in there and i vacuum it a lot when it's time for water changes.

What i'm i doing wrong?

Thanks for your help

Denis

[denis1946]

Yes i use RO/DI water, test all parameters everytime i do water changes.

[dcombs44]

Have you tested the TDS on your RO/DI?

Is there any type of filter media, bio-balls, etc. being used in the system?

Do you possibly overfeed or have too a high bio-load?

Are the two test kits you are using the same brand? If so, try one that's a different brand?

[bertoni]

Water changes tend not to help with nitrate problems in established tanks. I agree with doublechecking the test kit. This article covers a lot of ideas for nitrate reduction:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/august2003/chem.htm

[kevin2000]

Depending on what you have in the tank a nitrate that nitrate level isn't going to harm anything.

Nitrates are arguably the no. 1 posts on the this forum .. but they are arguable simplest function within the tank - just the end product of decomposition.

The three main things that reduce nitrates are 1) water changes with RO water 2) live rock and 3) Deep Sand Bed. Most aquarist don't have a DSB so they are stuck with LR and water changes.

The main contributor to nitrates are food and fish. Most aquarist tend to overfeed their fish - new aquarist almost always way overfeed their fish. Fish themselves are a major contributor to nitrates .. all that fish food (eaten or not) comes out in the end and contributes to nitrates.

In short .. if your overfeeding .. stop.

If you are overstocking .. return some fish.

If your not doing sufficient water change .. do so .. and if you think you are .. do some more.

Lastly .. clean your filters on a regular basis.

[Young Frankenstein]

4) fudge, 5) a good skimmer 6) no bio balls 7)only 1 filter pad 8) clan fish tank.

[kau_cinta_ku]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10463696#post10463696 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 0 Agios
4) fudge, 5) a good skimmer 6) no bio balls 7)only 1 filter pad 8) clan fish tank.

#4 darn i only have choclate do you think that will work just as good? lol

BTW he ment fuge with macro alage

[Young Frankenstein]

:) lol

[denis1946]

Yeah i got it,

But the thing is i can think of a refugium for this tank at the moment.

Right now the tank looks good and coraline is growing like i've never seen it in the tank.

Corals and fishes are all doing good also.

As i said, my tests are of 2 different brands..........and i get around the same results.

Would adding more LR help?

Thanks again

Denis

[meco65]

I would change out the CC for sand.

[blenny100]

Have you tried a Nitrate sponge?

[Malenurse]

Denis - how many pounds of live rock do you have and how many fish? What type of skimmer do you have?

[Jrmass]

He already said 70 lbs... to answer one of Malenurse's questions.. And, you said you don't have anything dead in the tank? Do you have any inverts that may have died? Snails are notorious for fouling tanks. I'm not sure if this is the case in your tank or not?

[denis1946]

Hi there,

can 22" of fish be tto much for a 55G tank?

Can my live rocks be dead?

If so, is there a product that i can add in my tank to help regenerate the LR?

I hav Biozyme at home, is that good?

Thanks again.

Denis

[denis1946]

Forgot, i have a Coralife SuperSkimmer 3004 on the tank.

[bertoni]

What fish are in the tank? Total length doesn't help much.