Nitrate problem

Discussion in 'Water Chemistry' started by Landolakes, Jun 25, 2015.

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  1. Landolakes

    Landolakes Plankton

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    hello all! Recently I did a water change and my nitrate levels still won't go down!
    Ammonia-0.00
    Nitrite-0.00
    Ph-8.2
    Salinity-1.023
    Phosphates and calcium I currently don't have tests for yet but getting soon.

    Scared the nitrates will effect my corals..
     
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  3. Landolakes

    Landolakes Plankton

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    Forgot the mention that the level of nitrate is 20ppm
     
  4. mdbostwick

    mdbostwick Vlamingii Tang

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    20 ppm shouldn't hurt your corals. What size tank? What % WC? What nutrient export do you have?
     
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  5. Landolakes

    Landolakes Plankton

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    20g long
    30% water change every 2 weeks
     
  6. Billme

    Billme Eyelash Blennie

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    How many and what size fish? They are what will add most nitrate and phosphate. Also, how much do you feed?
     
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  7. Landolakes

    Landolakes Plankton

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    Pair of clown fish
    1 Bangaii Cardinal
    1 yellow watchman goby
     
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  9. Billme

    Billme Eyelash Blennie

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    Doesn't seem like too many fish. How big is the tank? You can probably get away with some soft corals. Others here would be able to give more details on which ones would be ok with higher nitrates.
    You can probably assume that phosphate is high too. If they stay high you'll probably have an algae problem down the line.
     
  10. mdbostwick

    mdbostwick Vlamingii Tang

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    Do you have a skimmer? a sump? how long has the tank been running? How much rock?
     
  11. Swisswiss

    Swisswiss Caribbean Reef Squid

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    Do you use ro/di water or tap? How much and how often do you feed?
     
  12. zesty

    zesty Sailfin Tang

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    I would just say, don't freak out over a higher nitrate. I've battled nitrates ever since that one water change with tap water.

    Look at this guy blame his tap water for his bad habits! :p

    I checked my nitrates a month or so ago... I was at 10, I think. I went WTF? (I used to get all up in arms about a high nitrate.) Then I checked my PO4 and it was super low.... confuse me some more, please! :confused:
    My answer to that, make sure I stay steady on my water changes... It's about finding your balance and working with it. The tank will grow/evolve/change, the fish will get old, the corals will grow, the uptake changes and you can chase it all or just keep up on your husbandry or do a hybrid of both. I won't find myself without a test kit for Nitrates or Phosphates, I just don't concern myself with the number.

    Don't ask me how often I check my nitrate and phosphate. The answer is not often. :oops:
     
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