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08-28-2006, 05:48 AM
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#1 (permalink)
| | Plankton
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 10
Karma: 1
 |  Is 30 PPM, to high for Nitrates
Hello, I have a 110 Gallon, I got the tank from a friend, saved about 35 gallons, made the rest fresh salt. I have been battling brown algae for about 3 weeks, i have had the tank now for 5 weeks. I have cut down on the feedings and the lights, brown algae is minimal, however, i have noticed my nitrates are at30 ppm and holding..
IIS THIS TOO HIGH. I have only a few small fish and 1 anemone... | 
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08-28-2006, 06:05 AM
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#2 (permalink)
| | 3reef Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Wethersfield, CT Age: 39
Posts: 6,371
  
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Yes, I would take steps to get rid of those nitrates as soon as possible. | |
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08-28-2006, 06:16 AM
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#3 (permalink)
| | Whip-Lash Squid
Join Date: May 2004 Location: PhillySuburbs, Pennsylvania Age: 42
Posts: 2,947
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How much Live rock do you have? What are the rest of the water parameters? Calcium, Alkalinity , ammonia, and nitrites? Temp and lighting?
I generally find, that when most of these numbers are in line, the algae will go away on its own....  _________ http://www.3reef.com/uploads/BirdSig3.jpgI Love My Sig By John Hawkins!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Date Started 9/04 58 gallon Oceanic Tank, 20 gal DIY sump/fuge w/ Kent Marine Auto top-off, Air Water Ice RO/DI, 10,000 K 175 W MH, 2 VHO 03's 96W each, AquaC EV 120 Skimmer
80 lbs LR, DSB in FUGE, 1 - 2 " LS in tank
Black Brittle Star, Chevron Tang, Crocea Clam, red & green Lobophyllia, Frogspawn, Porites Frag, Caulastrea Frag, Green Ricordia, Asst. Zoas, hermits, astreas, stomatellas, fighting conch  | |
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08-28-2006, 06:26 AM
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#4 (permalink)
| | Plankton
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 10
Karma: 1
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My ammonia tested 0 and my nitites tested 0...as far as calcium, i havent got a test kit for it, although i do add purple up to the tank. My P.H. is around 8.3 and the temp is 76-78 and my lighting is minimal, i have a 24 inch and 48 inch setup, which is 65watts and 10,000k Daylight & 460 nm Actinic.
I have around 65-75 lbs of the live rock.. My brown algae has decreased greatly. I did a water change (around 30 gallons worth) and the nitrates did not drop. I have a pwerhead in the tank that has a filter attachment and i have a large sump....
I was thinking about placing some of that cheato macro algae in the sump... | |
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08-28-2006, 07:15 AM
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#5 (permalink)
| | Whip-Lash Squid
Join Date: May 2004 Location: PhillySuburbs, Pennsylvania Age: 42
Posts: 2,947
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Sounds all OK then. Are you using RO/DI water? Some municipal waters have nitrates in them right from the faucet. Chaeto should help !
I would get both Calcium and Alkalinity test kits. How do you know if you are adding too much of the purple up? or not enough? | |
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08-28-2006, 07:28 AM
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#6 (permalink)
| | Plankton
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 10
Karma: 1
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you are absolutley right. I do not not know if i am adding too much or too little. Is alk, the same as PH.? and yes i am going to get the test kit next for calcium, and tonite i am testing my water. I do not have any special filters as of yet, straight from the tap at this point.... | |
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08-28-2006, 07:59 AM
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#7 (permalink)
| | 3reef Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Wethersfield, CT Age: 39
Posts: 6,371
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Have you tested your tap water for ammonia/nitrites/nitrates as well? Alk is not the same as ph but it does affect ph. | |
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08-28-2006, 08:05 AM
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#8 (permalink)
| | Plankton
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 10
Karma: 1
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no not yet, i am going to test them tonight and see. My ammonia levels as well as nitrites seem ok. when i first tested my tank, i went out and got 20 snails and 20 hermits, to add to the few i already had, thinking i needed a larger clean up crew, like i said, i have only had the tank for 5 weeks and its a work in progress. i do plan to get maybe 15 more snails and about 15 scarlet hermits and cuople of starfish and a cucumber, as far as a clean up crew is goes. | |
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08-28-2006, 08:20 AM
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#9 (permalink)
| | 3reef Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Wethersfield, CT Age: 39
Posts: 6,371
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The water in your tank will test differently than the water from your tap so don't use the tank test results as a barometer for the quality of your tap water. That being said, it sounds like your tank is experiencing a mini-cycle which is normal when you move a tank. Your best bet at this point is to just let the tank finish cycling and invest in an r.o. unit. | |
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08-28-2006, 08:31 AM
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#10 (permalink)
| | Whip-Lash Squid
Join Date: May 2004 Location: PhillySuburbs, Pennsylvania Age: 42
Posts: 2,947
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I agree....5 weeks is well within cycling time. I would not add anything else until those nitrates go down, indicating a working nitrogen cycle  | |
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