HELP! Nitrates!

Discussion in 'Water Chemistry' started by reeftankgirl, Mar 12, 2009.

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  1. lunatik_69

    lunatik_69 Giant Squid

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    Which LFS are you going to? Luna
     
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  3. reeftankgirl

    reeftankgirl Astrea Snail

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    I feed once a day very little and water falls in the floor the crabs usually get to it.

    Corals are fed everyday between oyster eggs and plankton.
     
  4. reeftankgirl

    reeftankgirl Astrea Snail

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    sorry feed once a day and WHATEVER falls on the floor the crabs get to it
     
  5. reeftankgirl

    reeftankgirl Astrea Snail

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  6. lunatik_69

    lunatik_69 Giant Squid

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    I dont like using any kinds of chemicals to "fix" a problem. I try to pin-point whats causing it and then go from there. IMO, 40ppm of No3 isnt to die for. I had 20ppm for yrs with no ill effects to my system. I think that your problem is probably something silly like over-feeding, cleaning out your filter system more often, regular WC to include cleaning the sand bed. Luna
     
  7. lunatik_69

    lunatik_69 Giant Squid

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    I've been going there since 1986, love them, great group of ppl. Luna
     
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  9. reeftankgirl

    reeftankgirl Astrea Snail

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    Oh wow!! So you live in Miami??

    Wow the world wide web and then yet you are in my backyard....lol
     
  10. JasonSquared

    JasonSquared Spaghetti Worm

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    Much of the bacteria you add is pretty much unnecessary... An analysis by Eric Borneman has shown that some of it actually contains human pathogens! And that by and large, anything you'd like to accomplish is already being done with present bacterium. Without getting into limiting environmental factors, the amount of bacterium already in your system, are in balance (hopefully) with the amount of habitat (surface capable of growing them), and food that exists in your tank (nitrate for Nitrobacter). Adding more bacterium won't change either of these, and the limiting agent will sitll be the limiting agent. So basically any bacterium you add will perish, and not do the job that you purchased them to do! that is of course unless you have an unseeded tank that you keep pristine, or have no rock, or sand.
     
    Last edited: Mar 12, 2009
  11. lunatik_69

    lunatik_69 Giant Squid

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    I thought that you had already realized that when I said "welcome my fellow Floridian, Miamian." I guess I was wrong.........lol

    [SCROLL]Luna[/SCROLL]
     
  12. reeftankgirl

    reeftankgirl Astrea Snail

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    Ive must have missed it sorry lunatik.....thanks foryour help....

    As an update yesturday I added some bacteria to the water and removed the front wheel from the filter. this morning nitrates were slightly lower. Still trying to figure out what is causing them to be so high but I think that my water needs to cycle a bit more and the bacteria is helping it. I am going to go to my LFS today and find out if there is anything else I can do and if I should do another water change or just let it be.

    Thanks again to everyone for all the suggestions and help...