Alk, nitrates, and phosphates up - help!

AliKat · 10/05/2007, 08:38 PM

I can't seem to get the levels right in one of my tanks. It's a 55 tall, and it's an established setup. It has 2 tangs, a flame angel, and a damsel, along with some zoas, a goniopora, xenia, and frogspawn.

The alkalinity is 14, and both nitrates and phosphates are high. Any suggestions? I've tried water changes and water supplements, but nothing seems to be working.

At least the calcium level is good...

Spuds725 · 10/05/2007, 09:35 PM

What supplements have you used??

Have you added anything to raise the alkalinity??? (ph buffer, baking soda, etc)... if not then your salt must be real high in it... what brand are you using???

how high are the nitrates & phosphates??

HOw long has the tank been up??

AliKat · 10/05/2007, 09:52 PM

The tank had been up for 15 years when I bought it, and I have all of the live rock and sand and most of the water.

I used sea water from Petco, and I'm using Ocean's Blend (2 bottles labeled 1 and 2) Calcium and Ph supplements.

I don't have the nitrate and phosphate tests with me right now, but they were on the higher end of the color charts.

bertoni · 10/05/2007, 10:36 PM

High alkalinity is often caused by pH buffers, which are just high-pH alkalinity supplements, basically. If dosing of the alkalinity part of the Ocean's Blend is stopped, alkalinity should fall on its own. Just keep dosing calcium in the mean time.

This article covers nitrate problems:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...t2003/chem.htm

Two common approaches to your general situation are adding a PhosBan reactor, and growing and harvesting a macroalga. Reducing feeding might be needed, as well.

Depending on the size of the fish, the tank might be very overstocked.

Spuds725 · 10/06/2007, 09:10 AM

Ditto the above- dosing only the calcium for a while will allow the alkalinity to come down-- when it gets down to your target then you can dose equal amounts of each half of the 2 part to maintain them.

THis might give you some insight.

http://web.archive.org/web/200211270...v2002/chem.htm

And this one gives some info on the water parameters you should monitor and some targets...

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.htm

And more info on the relationship between calcium, alkalinity, ph, & magnesium...

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-06/rhf/index.php

HTH...

AliKat · 10/07/2007, 01:19 AM

Thanks!

10/05/2007, 08:38 PM	#1
AliKat Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 590	Alk, nitrates, and phosphates up - help! I can't seem to get the levels right in one of my tanks. It's a 55 tall, and it's an established setup. It has 2 tangs, a flame angel, and a damsel, along with some zoas, a goniopora, xenia, and frogspawn. The alkalinity is 14, and both nitrates and phosphates are high. Any suggestions? I've tried water changes and water supplements, but nothing seems to be working. At least the calcium level is good...

10/05/2007, 09:35 PM	#2
Spuds725 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Toledo, Ohio USA Posts: 2,051	What supplements have you used?? Have you added anything to raise the alkalinity??? (ph buffer, baking soda, etc)... if not then your salt must be real high in it... what brand are you using??? how high are the nitrates & phosphates?? HOw long has the tank been up?? __________________ "I only have time to neglect one tank"-- Me "I don't want to achieve immortality through my work, I want to achieve immortality by not dying"-- Woody Allen Current Tank Info: 125G mixed reef with 135G Sump

10/05/2007, 10:36 PM	#4
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	High alkalinity is often caused by pH buffers, which are just high-pH alkalinity supplements, basically. If dosing of the alkalinity part of the Ocean's Blend is stopped, alkalinity should fall on its own. Just keep dosing calcium in the mean time. This article covers nitrate problems: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...t2003/chem.htm Two common approaches to your general situation are adding a PhosBan reactor, and growing and harvesting a macroalga. Reducing feeding might be needed, as well. Depending on the size of the fish, the tank might be very overstocked. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

10/06/2007, 09:10 AM	#5
Spuds725 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Toledo, Ohio USA Posts: 2,051	Ditto the above- dosing only the calcium for a while will allow the alkalinity to come down-- when it gets down to your target then you can dose equal amounts of each half of the 2 part to maintain them. THis might give you some insight. http://web.archive.org/web/200211270...v2002/chem.htm And this one gives some info on the water parameters you should monitor and some targets... http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.htm And more info on the relationship between calcium, alkalinity, ph, & magnesium... http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-06/rhf/index.php HTH... __________________ "I only have time to neglect one tank"-- Me "I don't want to achieve immortality through my work, I want to achieve immortality by not dying"-- Woody Allen Current Tank Info: 125G mixed reef with 135G Sump

10/05/2007, 09:52 PM	#3
AliKat Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 590	The tank had been up for 15 years when I bought it, and I have all of the live rock and sand and most of the water. I used sea water from Petco, and I'm using Ocean's Blend (2 bottles labeled 1 and 2) Calcium and Ph supplements. I don't have the nitrate and phosphate tests with me right now, but they were on the higher end of the color charts.

10/07/2007, 01:19 AM	#6
AliKat Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 590	Thanks!