Nitrate

[JasonSquared]

First off Nitrates don't really affect fish until the levels get REALLY high (>150 ppm) so I wouldn't worry about that. (The reason FOWLR tanks are easier and require less attention)

Secondly the most effective means of nitrate removal is water changes, and for a tank your size, I would not hesitate to get aggressive with it as it is relatively inexpensive. I would do a 5 gallon water change every other day until your levels get below 5 ppm. The try a 2.5-3 gal WC once a week. This should clear up the problem along with slightly decreasing your feedings...

Your tank should be cycled at this point, so unless you have another problem, that shouldn't be the source. (Which can sometimes be the case)

Overall though more info is needed:

Type of sandbed
Skimmer?
Bioload
Amount of feeding
Source of replacement water
amount of Live Rock
All sources of filtration
sump?
Refugium?

Nitrates are tricky and the stuff they sell to get rid of them doesn't work so don't pay for it. But give that a try and let us know how it works out. Hope that helps!

[Xenia123]

over crowding and over feeding is the source of high nitrate.

3 gallons water change every other day until nitrate less than 20ppm. try seachem denitrate. It works for my sister's 29g tank. keep the nitrate level less than 10ppm.

[JasonSquared]

Originally Posted by Xenia123

over crowding and over feeding is the source of high nitrate.

3 gallons water change every other day until nitrate less than 20ppm. try seachem denitrate. It works for my sister's 29g tank. keep the nitrate level less than 10ppm.

Not necessarily... A tank filled with tapwater containing even undetectable levels of NO3 will build up over time to toxic levels as water evaporates, and is replenished with more nitrate containing water. You could only have one fish in there and it will build up. Also a single fish in a tank will build up toxic levels over time if the filtration is not adequate, or doesn't remove NO3.

Also something else it what is working in your sisters tank... Not the seachem product. I've been in high NO3 situations and used that EXACT product and it had no effect. Ask around you'll find the same.

[Xenia123]

the bigger the bioload the faster the buildup of nitrate and toxic level. tap water will add to the problem. I have one clown fish in my 10g tank and the nitrate level been around 20ppm. I do 10% water weekly plus denitrate and it has been around 10ppm since. If your nitrate is high like around 40ppm it may has no effect of bringing it down.
yes something else is working on my sister tank. I told her to do weekly water change now because she has like 5 or 6 fishes in her 29g tank and she change her water every 3 or 4 weeks so the nitrate level been around 30-40ppm. I told her to do water change until nitrate level fall to 20ppm. add nenitrate and do weekly water change plus less feeding and the nitrate been around 10ppm since.

[lunatik_69]

Originally Posted by JasonSquared

Not the seachem product. I've been in high NO3 situations and used that EXACT product and it had no effect. Ask around you'll find the same.

I agree, I have used that and to no avail, wasted money.

[Xenia123]

Luna I am sorry to hear it didn't workout for ya. The reason I think it doesn't work is because you have a bigger tank and a bigger filter (flow rate). The label said "...for best result..flow rate should not exceed 50 gallons per hour."
I would say seachem denitrate is ineffective but I wouldn't say it's completely worthless like pieces of little rocks pick up on the side of the street.
In this case here I think small prequent water change would do the trick. adding denitrate is an option. Not the best option because If I have the knowledge, tech, time, space and money, I would go for bigger tank, sump, refugium, mangroove, chaeto and get one aquaripure denitrator.(talking about wasting money). Since I dont have those things so the things I could do is keep less fish, less feeding, more prequent water change and SEACHEM DENITRATE.. YES SEACHEM DENITRAE , wasted me 9 dollars but it's the least I could do about them damn nitrate unless somebody has better success with better product please recommend I will be happy to try.

[lunatik_69]

Originally Posted by Xenia123

Luna I am sorry to hear it didn't workout for ya. The reason I think it doesn't work is because you have a bigger tank and a bigger filter (flow rate). The label said "...for best result..flow rate should not exceed 50 gallons per hour."
I would say seachem denitrate is ineffective but I wouldn't say it's completely worthless like pieces of little rocks pick up on the side of the street.
In this case here I think small prequent water change would do the trick. adding denitrate is an option. Not the best option because If I have the knowledge, tech, time, space and money, I would go for bigger tank, sump, refugium, mangroove, chaeto and get one aquaripure denitrator.(talking about wasting money). Since I dont have those things so the things I could do is keep less fish, less feeding, more prequent water change and SEACHEM DENITRATE.. YES SEACHEM DENITRAE , wasted me 9 dollars but it's the least I could do about them damn nitrate unless somebody has better success with better product please recommend I will be happy to try.

Well, in all fareness, I did read the 50gph and I must admit that my flow is WAY over that. I'm going to try one more thing thou(with Seachem Denitrate), I have a finsihed coil denitrater(sp) that I will cut down to size to fit the little rocks and incorporate a small flow. Lets see want happens with that. In essence, using a coil denitrator(sp) using seachem denitrate rocks instead of the bio balls. Luna