!!nitrate high!!!!!!! H.e.l.p!

Discussion in 'ASAP' started by colcol79, Nov 7, 2009.

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  1. colcol79

    colcol79 Feather Duster

    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2008
    Messages:
    204
    Location:
    GLASGOW,SCOTLAND,U.K.
    Hi,

    I cant get my nitrate levels to come down from 50 mgl!

    Recently i have been doing 20% water changes weekly and still it stays high!

    my params are as follows,

    S.G= 1.025
    TEMP= 25C
    PH= 8.2
    AMMONIA= 0
    NITRITE= 0
    PHOSPHATE=0
    NITRATE= AROUND 50 MG/L!!!!!
    My tank is 130 litres or 35 gallon- red sea max 130 d.
    I use R/O water with a tds of 001.
    I am running rowaphos phosphate remover, and seachems purigen to help lower nitrate (doesnt seem to be helping!)
    I use a protien skimmer, and have 25 kg of live rock in the tank.

    LIVESTOCK- 2 common clowns, bangaii cardinal, and a small regal tang (i am planning on removing him once he gets too big!).
    10 hermit crabs, 1 emerald crab, 1 cleaner shrimp.
    1 moon coral, 1 finger coral.

    I really am going insane with this! I really dont know what else to try!
    It is a constant battle with algae and its really getting me down.
    I really am trying my best but feel im fighting a losing battle.

    Please help. :cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry:
     
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  3. catz

    catz Fire Shrimp

    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2009
    Messages:
    327
    Location:
    Katy, Texas
    IMO you might need to do a larger water change. In my freshwater when I couldnt get them down, I had to do a huge water change and finally got it under control. When my levels got high in my reef tank, I did about 40% change and it never went that high again. Just my opinion. I am sure someone with more experience will chime in here soon. Good luck and keep us posted
     
  4. Da_Gopherboy

    Da_Gopherboy Fire Shrimp

    Joined:
    Apr 12, 2009
    Messages:
    311
    Location:
    Morgan Hill, CA
    Or, you could do a 20% water change ever other day for a week and see how much it drops.
     
  5. colcol79

    colcol79 Feather Duster

    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2008
    Messages:
    204
    Location:
    GLASGOW,SCOTLAND,U.K.
    Im running my R/O water as we speak, gonna do a 40% water change tomorrow or monday!
    I dont know how doing such a big water change will help, as ive been doing a 20% every week for past 3 weeks.
    Wont it just rise again?
    Its not really telling me whats causing it to be high in the first place!!??
     
  6. unclejed

    unclejed Whip-Lash Squid

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2008
    Messages:
    2,964
    Location:
    Clinton Township, Michigan
    Hello, usually excess nutrients are the culprit. Over feeding a tad will spike the available nutrients and cause Nitrate to rise. Water changes to controll Nitrate is ill-advised. You risk throwing everything out of balance by doing excessive water changes. In an emergency (Nitrate of 60-100 ppm) a 50% water change would be in order. This is not you however. I don't see any coral so don't fret, the fish will handle it for now although if any inverts are present they may suffer. If you can't employ Macro algae i.e. Caetomorpha, Halimeda etc. then Algone (http://www.algone.com/) may be your option or Az-No3 (AZ-NO3 (for effective nitrate reduction)
     
  7. blumoon reefers

    blumoon reefers Millepora

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2009
    Messages:
    942
    Location:
    Richmond, VA
    +1 on the macro algae and reducing feedings.
     
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  9. pgreef

    pgreef Fire Goby

    Joined:
    Dec 6, 2008
    Messages:
    1,344
    Location:
    Algonquin, IL
    Start a fuge and fill it with chaeto. Got mine down to 0.
     
  10. PierceEye

    PierceEye Aiptasia Anemone

    Joined:
    Aug 31, 2009
    Messages:
    582
    Location:
    Tampa Florida
    Sounds like nutrient overload to me. Is your filtration system clean?