850l reef nitrates

ChrisCartwright · 04/29/2015, 08:22 AM

Hi i have just setup my 850l Reef tank It has been running around 5-6 weeks I have tested all the way through the cycle ammonia is 0 nitrite is 0 nitrate is around 5ppm it did drop to near undetectable I am slowly removing my bio balls as advised on here I added some chaeto today also got some caluarpa coming soon.
Current live stock
5 hermits
5 turbos
2 shrimps
3 chromis
Added the chromis 4 days ago did a 10% water change last night.
Any other way to reduce nitrates as I'm planning on corals and need 0 nitrates.

toothybugs · 04/29/2015, 08:34 AM

You don't need 0 nitrates for corals. In fact you need at least a trace for growth.

Let your system break in with livestock (it will take a little time) but you could add some softies in to your system - they act like natural filters and will help polish your water for you. Just be sure you have good lighting for them.

ChrisCartwright · 04/29/2015, 09:12 AM

I've got 3 250w metel halides.
Shell I continue to remove all bio balls I've got about 20 left in overflow and 2 trays in my filter box

CStrickland · 04/29/2015, 09:51 AM

At 6 weeks your tank is still breaking in, I would see where it levels out to on its own. 5ppm is nothing to worry about at this point, and you can cause more issues messing around with it. Id go slow on corals until you get the tank stable, just cause they can get expensive and the new tank algae blooms can be rough on them. But some people start right away and don't have any trouble.
It also depends what kind of coral of course. What do you plan on keeping?

toothybugs · 04/29/2015, 10:55 AM

Halides, that much water... I'd throw a zoa rock in to an area with good flow and see how it does. I would expect you won't have much issue.

ChrisCartwright · 04/29/2015, 02:11 PM

I am planning on lps leathers maybe sps and thinking of an anemone in a years time as I now the tank need to me a mature systerm for anemone.
I was looking at the zoas I like the red and the Greens
I've got 2 mp40w so flow won't be an issue.

ChrisCartwright · 04/30/2015, 11:07 AM

I have been a brought a zoa but the company I brought it of has told me to add a product called reef flowers f colour should I add it or not

toothybugs · 04/30/2015, 11:31 AM

I wouldn't. Sounds like they're just trying to make a sale. Feed your fish reasonably well and it should take care of itself.

SPS and a nem, you're right, will need a stable tank. That will probably come 6 months or longer down the road, but softies zoas and leathers should be good in the near future for you. I have a neon green finger leather that was the first coral added to my tank, 3 weeks after it first got wet, and is considerably larger a year later. Given all your rock and water volume, if you added a new soft coral and fish or two every few weeks (after proper QT, of course

) you will be up and running nicely without shocking the system with bioload.

ChrisCartwright · 04/30/2015, 01:29 PM

Ok im not going to put that into the tank I thought I would ask anyway.
I have got the zoe about 1" of the sand on a rock how much flow do they need it is gently moving now and again is that ideal most of them are out at the moment

CStrickland · 04/30/2015, 02:07 PM

Its good theyre out, don't be sad if they close at random too. Mine were fussy at first so I gave them a dip in hydrogen peroxide, but idk enough to tell you how to do it and it sounds like yours are doing fine on their own. If these do well and you feel like getting more, maybe learn about dipping and QT'ing them.
I think if your lights are bright on that spot maybe dim them for a couple days, like compared to what they were getting at the store so the change is gradual. idk enough to say if your flow is good, it sounds like mine which is fine but maybe diff kinds need diff things? I don't think they care too much though.

I was reading up on zoa a couple weeks ago, these links helped me out:
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2003/2/inverts
http://www.zoaid.com/index.php?modul...2&g2_itemId=15

ChrisCartwright · 04/30/2015, 02:41 PM

Ok thats great thanks.
Some of the head are still closed up but seems they are opening slowly the night lights are on at the moment but they are due to go of in about 1 hour so will see how they react tomorrow when halides are on.
They have got a gentle flow.
Does it mean anything when they are closed?

toothybugs · 04/30/2015, 03:37 PM

They're new to the tank, most corals have an adjustment period so it's not unusual at all to have them close up when they are new. If they start looking like they have a haze on them or haven't opened up after 3-4 days, then we can start to worry. Most of my zoa frags open within 2-6 hours, almost certainly within 24. Regardless, I don't worry if they're closed for the first few days. And Strick is right, sometimes they'll just close up because it's Tuesday, or because you took the garbage out, or because the neighbor checked his mail. Watch your water chemistry, don't make any drastic changes, and you will be just fine. A tank your size will be wonderfully stable.

ChrisCartwright · 05/01/2015, 10:22 AM

I have just added some caulerpa taxifolia today I have put in high flow in my refugium and it's getting small white bits on the leafs what could that be?

ChrisCartwright · 05/03/2015, 06:39 AM

I have tested the water today my nitrates are a little below 5ppm so slowly dropping

Dkuhlmann · 05/03/2015, 08:10 AM

Caulerpa is not a good plant to have. Hopefully it's not going "sexual" on you.

You're better off with chaeto

Read this:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/nftt/index.php

Dkuhlmann · 05/03/2015, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisCartwright

I have tested the water today my nitrates are a little below 5ppm so slowly dropping

You will likely never get to 0 nitrates. Having >5 is actually a good thing. As stated earlier you are chasing something that really isn't an issue. It takes trace nitrates to help corals grow.

Stop worrying so much about it and enjoy your tank.

But Seriously, get rid of the caulerpa.

ChrisCartwright · 05/03/2015, 12:04 PM

I have also got a ball of chaeto in there with it.
The caluarpa hasn't gone sexual

ChrisCartwright · 05/03/2015, 12:31 PM

I have just removed the caluarpa.
Shell I buy another ball of chaeto?

Dkuhlmann · 05/03/2015, 02:41 PM

I wasn't say that it was going sexual, but it could be starting. Glad you removed it.

Chaeto grows like a weed. You can buy more if you wish but you'll either start selling it or throwing some away. It grows best with a normal light bulb, but any light in your sump will do. I run my light in the sump at night opposite of the tank lights, as I think many people do.

ChrisCartwright · 05/03/2015, 02:49 PM

I thought I was best to be safe than sorry I have got a 6500k 11w on my sump it's currently on 24/7 but I will do it opposite to the tank now caulerpa isn't in there
Also my chaeto is in the corner of my sump it's getting little flow I've tryed tumbling it but just started to fall apart so it got a bit on LR holding it in the corner

Dkuhlmann · 05/03/2015, 04:17 PM

Chaeto shouldn't fall apart. I'd get some new coming to you. Yes it sounds like the 24/7 is actually hurting your sump chaeto growth or actually the life of it. This stuff grows like weeds. I've got led's in my sump and like I said run them opposite of my tank. When I go to bed I turn them on and when I go to work I turn them off. Chaeto grows slower under the led's but it's still growing.

I'd leave the chaeto you have in there and just add some more.

So don't worry about the <10 nitrates you are completely fine. It's time to add some livestock to your tank.

CStrickland · 05/03/2015, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dkuhlmann

It's time to add some livestock to your tank.

I disagree. I think three fish and 12 cleaners at 6 weeks is enough for a little while. I would give the chromis more than a week to settle in, just relax and enjoy the new coral while things level out.
Just my $.02 I think I'm at the cautious end of the spectrum but I hate to see people get discouraged from going too quick and getting jacked up.

ChrisCartwright · 05/03/2015, 04:51 PM

The chaeto was only falling apart because of the current it is absolutely fine now since I have held it in one place with a small LR I will add another ball in the opposite corner of the sump.
In the tank so far I have got 5 hermits, 5 turbos 2 shrimps, 3 chromis 2 clowns 1 goby and the zoa all are doing great levels where back to 0 before I added the clown and goby.
Also the zoa Is all opening up slowly I just increased the flow and they started to open more.
But the tank is looking good.

04/29/2015, 08:22 AM	#1
ChrisCartwright Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 75	850l reef nitrates Hi i have just setup my 850l Reef tank It has been running around 5-6 weeks I have tested all the way through the cycle ammonia is 0 nitrite is 0 nitrate is around 5ppm it did drop to near undetectable I am slowly removing my bio balls as advised on here I added some chaeto today also got some caluarpa coming soon. Current live stock 5 hermits 5 turbos 2 shrimps 3 chromis Added the chromis 4 days ago did a 10% water change last night. Any other way to reduce nitrates as I'm planning on corals and need 0 nitrates.

04/30/2015, 02:07 PM	#10
CStrickland Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New England, U.S. Posts: 4,595	Its good theyre out, don't be sad if they close at random too. Mine were fussy at first so I gave them a dip in hydrogen peroxide, but idk enough to tell you how to do it and it sounds like yours are doing fine on their own. If these do well and you feel like getting more, maybe learn about dipping and QT'ing them. I think if your lights are bright on that spot maybe dim them for a couple days, like compared to what they were getting at the store so the change is gradual. idk enough to say if your flow is good, it sounds like mine which is fine but maybe diff kinds need diff things? I don't think they care too much though. I was reading up on zoa a couple weeks ago, these links helped me out: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2003/2/inverts http://www.zoaid.com/index.php?modul...2&g2_itemId=15 Last edited by CStrickland; 04/30/2015 at 02:13 PM. Reason: fix links

05/03/2015, 08:10 AM	#15
Dkuhlmann Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,823	Caulerpa is not a good plant to have. Hopefully it's not going "sexual" on you. You're better off with chaeto Read this: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/nftt/index.php __________________ Previous tanks: 200 gal fowlr 9" Emperor Angel and many different butterfly fish 4" maroon clown and several other fish, 50 gal sump, 40 gal mixed reef/fish mostly softies and LPS. Current Tank Info: 40b 750 gph 45 lbs lr, 2"-3" sand, 165w full spectrum dimable LED, 20 gal sump/refugium 30 lbs lr, Bak Pak 2 skimmer, 4" sock temp 79-80, sg 1.026, NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 <10, ph 8.2, calc 400, mag 1300

05/03/2015, 02:41 PM	#19
Dkuhlmann Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,823	I wasn't say that it was going sexual, but it could be starting. Glad you removed it. Chaeto grows like a weed. You can buy more if you wish but you'll either start selling it or throwing some away. It grows best with a normal light bulb, but any light in your sump will do. I run my light in the sump at night opposite of the tank lights, as I think many people do. __________________ Previous tanks: 200 gal fowlr 9" Emperor Angel and many different butterfly fish 4" maroon clown and several other fish, 50 gal sump, 40 gal mixed reef/fish mostly softies and LPS. Current Tank Info: 40b 750 gph 45 lbs lr, 2"-3" sand, 165w full spectrum dimable LED, 20 gal sump/refugium 30 lbs lr, Bak Pak 2 skimmer, 4" sock temp 79-80, sg 1.026, NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 <10, ph 8.2, calc 400, mag 1300

05/03/2015, 04:17 PM	#21
Dkuhlmann Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,823	Chaeto shouldn't fall apart. I'd get some new coming to you. Yes it sounds like the 24/7 is actually hurting your sump chaeto growth or actually the life of it. This stuff grows like weeds. I've got led's in my sump and like I said run them opposite of my tank. When I go to bed I turn them on and when I go to work I turn them off. Chaeto grows slower under the led's but it's still growing. I'd leave the chaeto you have in there and just add some more. So don't worry about the <10 nitrates you are completely fine. It's time to add some livestock to your tank. __________________ Previous tanks: 200 gal fowlr 9" Emperor Angel and many different butterfly fish 4" maroon clown and several other fish, 50 gal sump, 40 gal mixed reef/fish mostly softies and LPS. Current Tank Info: 40b 750 gph 45 lbs lr, 2"-3" sand, 165w full spectrum dimable LED, 20 gal sump/refugium 30 lbs lr, Bak Pak 2 skimmer, 4" sock temp 79-80, sg 1.026, NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 <10, ph 8.2, calc 400, mag 1300

04/29/2015, 08:34 AM	#2
toothybugs In Memoriam Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: The smallest county in Illinois Posts: 1,986	You don't need 0 nitrates for corals. In fact you need at least a trace for growth. Let your system break in with livestock (it will take a little time) but you could add some softies in to your system - they act like natural filters and will help polish your water for you. Just be sure you have good lighting for them.

04/29/2015, 09:12 AM	#3
ChrisCartwright Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 75	I've got 3 250w metel halides. Shell I continue to remove all bio balls I've got about 20 left in overflow and 2 trays in my filter box

04/29/2015, 09:51 AM	#4
CStrickland Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New England, U.S. Posts: 4,595	At 6 weeks your tank is still breaking in, I would see where it levels out to on its own. 5ppm is nothing to worry about at this point, and you can cause more issues messing around with it. Id go slow on corals until you get the tank stable, just cause they can get expensive and the new tank algae blooms can be rough on them. But some people start right away and don't have any trouble. It also depends what kind of coral of course. What do you plan on keeping?

04/29/2015, 10:55 AM	#5
toothybugs In Memoriam Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: The smallest county in Illinois Posts: 1,986	Halides, that much water... I'd throw a zoa rock in to an area with good flow and see how it does. I would expect you won't have much issue.

04/29/2015, 02:11 PM	#6
ChrisCartwright Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 75	I am planning on lps leathers maybe sps and thinking of an anemone in a years time as I now the tank need to me a mature systerm for anemone. I was looking at the zoas I like the red and the Greens I've got 2 mp40w so flow won't be an issue.

04/30/2015, 11:07 AM	#7
ChrisCartwright Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 75	I have been a brought a zoa but the company I brought it of has told me to add a product called reef flowers f colour should I add it or not

04/30/2015, 11:31 AM	#8
toothybugs In Memoriam Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: The smallest county in Illinois Posts: 1,986	I wouldn't. Sounds like they're just trying to make a sale. Feed your fish reasonably well and it should take care of itself. SPS and a nem, you're right, will need a stable tank. That will probably come 6 months or longer down the road, but softies zoas and leathers should be good in the near future for you. I have a neon green finger leather that was the first coral added to my tank, 3 weeks after it first got wet, and is considerably larger a year later. Given all your rock and water volume, if you added a new soft coral and fish or two every few weeks (after proper QT, of course ) you will be up and running nicely without shocking the system with bioload.

04/30/2015, 01:29 PM	#9
ChrisCartwright Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 75	Ok im not going to put that into the tank I thought I would ask anyway. I have got the zoe about 1" of the sand on a rock how much flow do they need it is gently moving now and again is that ideal most of them are out at the moment

04/30/2015, 02:41 PM	#11
ChrisCartwright Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 75	Ok thats great thanks. Some of the head are still closed up but seems they are opening slowly the night lights are on at the moment but they are due to go of in about 1 hour so will see how they react tomorrow when halides are on. They have got a gentle flow. Does it mean anything when they are closed?

04/30/2015, 03:37 PM	#12
toothybugs In Memoriam Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: The smallest county in Illinois Posts: 1,986	They're new to the tank, most corals have an adjustment period so it's not unusual at all to have them close up when they are new. If they start looking like they have a haze on them or haven't opened up after 3-4 days, then we can start to worry. Most of my zoa frags open within 2-6 hours, almost certainly within 24. Regardless, I don't worry if they're closed for the first few days. And Strick is right, sometimes they'll just close up because it's Tuesday, or because you took the garbage out, or because the neighbor checked his mail. Watch your water chemistry, don't make any drastic changes, and you will be just fine. A tank your size will be wonderfully stable.

05/01/2015, 10:22 AM	#13
ChrisCartwright Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 75	I have just added some caulerpa taxifolia today I have put in high flow in my refugium and it's getting small white bits on the leafs what could that be?

05/03/2015, 06:39 AM	#14
ChrisCartwright Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 75	I have tested the water today my nitrates are a little below 5ppm so slowly dropping

05/03/2015, 12:04 PM	#17
ChrisCartwright Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 75	I have also got a ball of chaeto in there with it. The caluarpa hasn't gone sexual

05/03/2015, 12:31 PM	#18
ChrisCartwright Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 75	I have just removed the caluarpa. Shell I buy another ball of chaeto?

05/03/2015, 02:49 PM	#20
ChrisCartwright Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 75	I thought I was best to be safe than sorry I have got a 6500k 11w on my sump it's currently on 24/7 but I will do it opposite to the tank now caulerpa isn't in there Also my chaeto is in the corner of my sump it's getting little flow I've tryed tumbling it but just started to fall apart so it got a bit on LR holding it in the corner

05/03/2015, 04:51 PM	#23
ChrisCartwright Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 75	The chaeto was only falling apart because of the current it is absolutely fine now since I have held it in one place with a small LR I will add another ball in the opposite corner of the sump. In the tank so far I have got 5 hermits, 5 turbos 2 shrimps, 3 chromis 2 clowns 1 goby and the zoa all are doing great levels where back to 0 before I added the clown and goby. Also the zoa Is all opening up slowly I just increased the flow and they started to open more. But the tank is looking good.