Help! NO3 at 12ppm

T206 · 11/28/2015, 04:19 PM

Just checked my nitrate levels and they are at 12ppm... Can I do a giant water change (60-75%) to reduce these? I don't know why but my 25-35% water changes don't seem to be making a difference. I did start my biopellets reactor and have been dosing Red Sea NO3:Phosphate X.

Any advice on where to go from here?

Buzz1329 · 11/28/2015, 05:52 PM

IMO, I would not lose any sleep about it. I run 2 1/2 year old heavily stocked SPS tank, and even when NO3 temporarily went as high as 80 ppm, I did not see any immediate problems. I brought it down with vinegar dosing over course of a few months, and SPS did fine throughout. (Although I suspect the high NO3 may have contributed to a subsequent algae bloom, which is now under control.) But we're talking 12 vs 80 so I would not get worked up about it. No experience with bio-pellets so don't feel I can comment on that as a means of decreasing NO3 or whether combination of bio-pellets and carbon dosing is good or bad.

Good luck,

Mike

Bogue Chitto · 11/28/2015, 08:20 PM

Make sure you aren't over feeding or putting a lot of liquid foods in the tank, they can raise the nitrates up too.

T206 · 11/28/2015, 08:30 PM

I freed very lightly every other day. I am running my kessils lights at very low intensity as I don't want an algae bloom. I haven't put any corals in my tank yet because of the nitrate level. I am going to do a large water change tonight. Is vinegar dosing a form of carbon dosing?

Reefman29 · 11/28/2015, 09:51 PM

Yes vinegar dosing is carbon dosing. Providing a few more details about your whole setup would be helpful. How old is your tank? What size, bioload, other parameters, etc? A few things about biopellets: 1) they require time for the bacteria to build up and work 2) They don't work well at reducing nitrates necessarily, but should be employed to keep nitrates low. You need to address the source of the nitrate issue.

bertoni · 11/28/2015, 11:36 PM

I think I answered your question in another post. I agree with not worrying all that much about 12 ppm of nitrate. You could look at a number of ideas to reduce the level over time. Better skimming, less feeding, and more live rock are common approaches. Carbon dosing (vodka or vinegar) can do a lot, too.

11/28/2015, 04:19 PM	#1
T206 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 88	Help! NO3 at 12ppm Just checked my nitrate levels and they are at 12ppm... Can I do a giant water change (60-75%) to reduce these? I don't know why but my 25-35% water changes don't seem to be making a difference. I did start my biopellets reactor and have been dosing Red Sea NO3:Phosphate X. Any advice on where to go from here?

11/28/2015, 11:36 PM	#6
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I think I answered your question in another post. I agree with not worrying all that much about 12 ppm of nitrate. You could look at a number of ideas to reduce the level over time. Better skimming, less feeding, and more live rock are common approaches. Carbon dosing (vodka or vinegar) can do a lot, too. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

11/28/2015, 05:52 PM	#2
Buzz1329 Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Staten Island Posts: 2,414	IMO, I would not lose any sleep about it. I run 2 1/2 year old heavily stocked SPS tank, and even when NO3 temporarily went as high as 80 ppm, I did not see any immediate problems. I brought it down with vinegar dosing over course of a few months, and SPS did fine throughout. (Although I suspect the high NO3 may have contributed to a subsequent algae bloom, which is now under control.) But we're talking 12 vs 80 so I would not get worked up about it. No experience with bio-pellets so don't feel I can comment on that as a means of decreasing NO3 or whether combination of bio-pellets and carbon dosing is good or bad. Good luck, Mike

11/28/2015, 08:20 PM	#3
Bogue Chitto Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 960	Make sure you aren't over feeding or putting a lot of liquid foods in the tank, they can raise the nitrates up too.

11/28/2015, 08:30 PM	#4
T206 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 88	I freed very lightly every other day. I am running my kessils lights at very low intensity as I don't want an algae bloom. I haven't put any corals in my tank yet because of the nitrate level. I am going to do a large water change tonight. Is vinegar dosing a form of carbon dosing?

11/28/2015, 09:51 PM	#5
Reefman29 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 610	Yes vinegar dosing is carbon dosing. Providing a few more details about your whole setup would be helpful. How old is your tank? What size, bioload, other parameters, etc? A few things about biopellets: 1) they require time for the bacteria to build up and work 2) They don't work well at reducing nitrates necessarily, but should be employed to keep nitrates low. You need to address the source of the nitrate issue.