Nitrates too high??

Ab129 · 10/23/2018, 07:44 AM

Over the last couple months I’ve noticed green algae growing on my rocks. During this time I have also observed my nitrates rising from around 10 ppm to over 20 ppm.
I do 15% wc s every week.
The only conclusion I can come up with is that maybe I am overfeeding?
I have 6 fish
2 oscellaris clowns
2 wrasses
Royal gramma basslet
Valentini puffer
I feed one time per day and I alternate between one frozen cube of food or about a 1/2 inch square of reef frenzy which I chop up with a razor blade.
Should I cut back on the food or is there a better way of reducing my nitrates?
I would like to start adding coral but want to lower my nitrates first.

homer1475 · 10/23/2018, 07:48 AM

Once a day is plenty if not overfeeding a small bit. I have gone to every other day feeding and all my fish are still fat and happy. The only difference is I see them picking at the rocks more now, and they don't look like homeless people begging for feed every time I get near the tank.

Carbon dosing and more WC's are about the only ways I know to effectively get rid of high nitrates.

EDIT:
I have 7 fish in an 80 cube. 2 midnight clowns, starry blenny, yellow eye kole, flameback angel, yellow coris wrasse, warpaint goby, and green mandarin.

mcgyvr · 10/23/2018, 08:06 AM

How old is the tank?
For a fish only or soft coral tank those nitrate levels are not a problem..
It can help fuel nuisance algae growth and can be an issue for more demanding corals though..

If your nitrates are rising then input > output..plain and simple..
That might just be because the tank is newer and doesn't have a suitable bacterial population to take care of itself or because you are overfeeding slightly..

As stated carbon dosing is a good way to help with that if you don't want to increase water changes or decrease feeding..
All it takes is dropping some vinegar into the tank daily..

Ab129 · 10/23/2018, 08:23 AM

Tank cycled one year ago. First fish added last December.
Adding vinegar sounds easy! What are the drawbacks?
Where can I read up on that?

homer1475 · 10/23/2018, 08:26 AM

I found the info I needed here... But there are several threads here on clay-boa about the process.

http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index....arine-aquarium

Hopefully this link makes it through(never know what links will or won't).

homer1475 · 10/23/2018, 08:30 AM

hmm.... we change r 2 r to clay-boa now? Never typed clay-boa.

Kind of funny we censor that site, yet they do not censor this sites name in their forums. Afterall we are just reef junkies trying to get a fix or info for that fix.

mcgyvr · 10/23/2018, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by homer1475

hmm.... we change r 2 r to clay-boa now? Never typed clay-boa.

Kind of funny we censor that site, yet they do not censor this sites name in their forums. Afterall we are just reef junkies trying to get a fix or info for that fix.

That site has been "censored" for a long time now here..
The reefkeeping link/article is all one needs.. Just follow chart and enjoy...

**my thoughts on the matter have been self-censored here to protect the innocent and weak-willed***

hkgar · 10/23/2018, 02:11 PM

Good write up of Vodka dosing. For vinegar multiply the vodka dose by 8.

mcgyvr · 10/23/2018, 02:22 PM

Yes you can use Vinegar or Vodka or a combination of both..
From what I've seen/calculated,etc.. Vinegar seems to be less costly and there seems to be some evidence that you are less likely to have cyano problems from using Vinegar vs Vodka.. So pick up a $3/gallon distilled white vinegar bottle at the grocery store and start adding some to the tank each day and see how it goes..
Except a couple weeks to start to see results..

If you start to see clear bacterial "snot" in the tank back the dosage down and maintain it at that level..

10/23/2018, 07:44 AM	#1
Ab129 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 367	Nitrates too high?? Over the last couple months I’ve noticed green algae growing on my rocks. During this time I have also observed my nitrates rising from around 10 ppm to over 20 ppm. I do 15% wc s every week. The only conclusion I can come up with is that maybe I am overfeeding? I have 6 fish 2 oscellaris clowns 2 wrasses Royal gramma basslet Valentini puffer I feed one time per day and I alternate between one frozen cube of food or about a 1/2 inch square of reef frenzy which I chop up with a razor blade. Should I cut back on the food or is there a better way of reducing my nitrates? I would like to start adding coral but want to lower my nitrates first. __________________ 75 gal, TriggerRuby30 sump, Reef Octo 150 sss skimmer and Varios 6 return pump, Icecap gyre 3k, (2) Radion xr15 4 gen, Icecap ATO, Spectrapure RO/DI NO3-0, Mag-1385, Ca-430, Alk-9.1, pH-8.1 Current Tank Info: nitrates 0 SG 1.026, pH 8.1

10/23/2018, 07:48 AM	#2
homer1475 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 5,313	Once a day is plenty if not overfeeding a small bit. I have gone to every other day feeding and all my fish are still fat and happy. The only difference is I see them picking at the rocks more now, and they don't look like homeless people begging for feed every time I get near the tank. Carbon dosing and more WC's are about the only ways I know to effectively get rid of high nitrates. EDIT: I have 7 fish in an 80 cube. 2 midnight clowns, starry blenny, yellow eye kole, flameback angel, yellow coris wrasse, warpaint goby, and green mandarin. __________________ 80G SCA Build: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2560256 Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht: "He's just taking his lunch to work"

10/23/2018, 08:06 AM	#3
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	How old is the tank? For a fish only or soft coral tank those nitrate levels are not a problem.. It can help fuel nuisance algae growth and can be an issue for more demanding corals though.. If your nitrates are rising then input > output..plain and simple.. That might just be because the tank is newer and doesn't have a suitable bacterial population to take care of itself or because you are overfeeding slightly.. As stated carbon dosing is a good way to help with that if you don't want to increase water changes or decrease feeding.. All it takes is dropping some vinegar into the tank daily.. __________________ Who me?

10/23/2018, 08:23 AM	#4
Ab129 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 367	Tank cycled one year ago. First fish added last December. Adding vinegar sounds easy! What are the drawbacks? Where can I read up on that? __________________ 75 gal, TriggerRuby30 sump, Reef Octo 150 sss skimmer and Varios 6 return pump, Icecap gyre 3k, (2) Radion xr15 4 gen, Icecap ATO, Spectrapure RO/DI NO3-0, Mag-1385, Ca-430, Alk-9.1, pH-8.1 Current Tank Info: nitrates 0 SG 1.026, pH 8.1

10/23/2018, 08:26 AM	#5
homer1475 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 5,313	I found the info I needed here... But there are several threads here on clay-boa about the process. http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index....arine-aquarium Hopefully this link makes it through(never know what links will or won't). __________________ 80G SCA Build: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2560256 Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht: "He's just taking his lunch to work"

10/23/2018, 08:30 AM	#6
homer1475 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 5,313	hmm.... we change r 2 r to clay-boa now? Never typed clay-boa. Kind of funny we censor that site, yet they do not censor this sites name in their forums. Afterall we are just reef junkies trying to get a fix or info for that fix. __________________ 80G SCA Build: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2560256 Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht: "He's just taking his lunch to work"

10/23/2018, 02:11 PM	#8
hkgar Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dewitt MI Posts: 5,051	Good write up of Vodka dosing. For vinegar multiply the vodka dose by 8. __________________ Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels

10/23/2018, 02:22 PM	#9
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Yes you can use Vinegar or Vodka or a combination of both.. From what I've seen/calculated,etc.. Vinegar seems to be less costly and there seems to be some evidence that you are less likely to have cyano problems from using Vinegar vs Vodka.. So pick up a $3/gallon distilled white vinegar bottle at the grocery store and start adding some to the tank each day and see how it goes.. Except a couple weeks to start to see results.. If you start to see clear bacterial "snot" in the tank back the dosage down and maintain it at that level.. __________________ Who me?