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puffer21
04/02/2006, 10:14 AM
well i have had my tank for a year and im starting to get nitrates i have been doing water changes but that does not help. i know there is a lot of post about this but i was wondering if using bio wheels would cause the problem. im also useing well water but it is purified well water.i did test the well water and the nitrates came back to be 2 and i used the selfirate test kit. could this be the issue.
thanks for anyhelp puffer21
Spuds725
04/02/2006, 10:20 AM
Yes-- adding water with nitrate will raise your nitrates as you will be slowly concentrating them as you add make up for evaporation-- you algae (hair and/or macro) could have been using it up until now-- and keeping it at 0, but your snails/crab could be eating the hair algae and releasing the trates back to the water-- which is why you are seeing them now.... any recent changes to your setup or livestock????

I have well water too and would not be without my RO/DI unit...
puffer21
04/02/2006, 10:29 AM
i dont have any hair algea
Spuds725
04/02/2006, 10:36 AM
I imagine you wouldn't with that many snails in that tank

Perhaps i misunderstood you-- more tank history details please-- including nitrate numbers and when you had them-- and when/if you HAD any algaes... no fish/coral in the tank??
puffer21
04/02/2006, 10:49 AM
well i have had my tank for a year. i do have some brown algea but no poshates. my nitrate is 0, ph 8.2, sg 1.025, tem 79, amina is .25 but i think there is a problem with that test cause yesterday it was 0, but the nitrates were still in the 50 range. i have 20# live rock and 20# live sand. i also have one fish in a QT. im buying today a CSS65 and my dad just said i can buy a RO unit. also is this a good RO/Di unit it is the first one in the list.
thanks for any help puffer21

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=12093
Craig Lambert
04/02/2006, 10:50 AM
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/august2003/chem.htm
puffer21
04/02/2006, 10:56 AM
ok thanks but is that unit i picked for RO/Di good
Spuds725
04/02/2006, 11:09 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7094856#post7094856 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by puffer21
my nitrate is 0,

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7094856#post7094856 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by puffer21
but the nitrates were still in the 50 range.

Which one??? :confused:

regarding the RO/DI
That unit is ok, there are better ones ot there for about the same price, and a ton of threads on them in the equipment section--- really depends on how bad your water is, and the amount of water you are going to use..
puffer21
04/02/2006, 11:14 AM
sorry the first one is supposed to be nitite not nitrate sorry
ChickenCannoneer
04/02/2006, 11:20 AM
If you are looking to get an RO/DI unit check out www.airwaterice.com they have good units at better prices than those. HTH, TIm
puffer21
04/02/2006, 11:21 AM
ok thanks
Spuds725
04/02/2006, 11:26 AM
Craig linked you to a very detailed description of nitrate sources and ways to reduce-- alot more then I could give you... give it a read and if you have any questions on ways to combat them, I'd ask... plumbing up some type of simple reverse lighted (reversed to help stabilize pH) refugium and growing/harvesting macros is the most popular method for most... it need not be elaborate nor expensive to add on...
puffer21
04/02/2006, 11:40 AM
but it did not say i dont think what level would start to kill my fish
puffer21
04/02/2006, 01:25 PM
http://www.melevsreef.com/ro_di.html

is this one good does it come with everything
davocean
04/02/2006, 01:32 PM
You may want to get rid of the biowheel as well.
Start water change with RO ASAP
50 is high, don't stress yourself, but don't take your time either.
guitar_lord
04/02/2006, 01:39 PM
There is a great ebay store online where I bought my filter from called Filter Direct

http://cgi.ebay.com/USA-110GPD-RO-DI-REVERSE-OSMOSIS-water-purification_W0QQitemZ7756010810QQcategoryZ20756QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

They ship in great time, have great prices.
This one is 110 gallons/day andcomes with a 3 gallon holding tank as well....

Happy hunting...
puffer21
04/02/2006, 01:56 PM
well i dont have RO water that is why i was wonderng if what melve sales is good. also im 15 and my mom does not want me to buy from ebay it is one of here rules
davocean
04/02/2006, 05:30 PM
RO water will make a world of difference.
If you don't have a unit yet you can get some from your LFS.
You'll notice a difference right away.
AND DO SOMETHIN" NICE FOR YOUR FOLKS FOR HELPIN" YOU OUT! LOL
puffer21
04/02/2006, 05:52 PM
ok i will get a RO/Di units