Nitrate issue

SaltyKoi · Feb 8, 2017

So I am at a loss here with my nitrate. I currently have a 280 gallon frag system. Kole tang, Atlantic tang, yellow tang, sixline wrasse, two clowns, snails and hermits. The rest is all coral. I have about 60 pounds of rock total and bare bottom. I'm running filter sock that gets changed every 2 days, 33ml nopox a day via doser, 2 marine bio blocks and mangroves. I just did 40 gallons water change last week. I cannot get my nitrate below 80. It's seriously affecting the corals and I am at a loss.

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Zoarder · Feb 8, 2017

SaltyKoi said:

Ditch the Mangroves (add chaeto instead or culurpa if you can find some), add more bio blocks, (I have 6 in my 150) Keep doing small water changes during the week till you start bringing down the nutrients. What skimmer you have on that system? Also ditch the no pox and add a bio pellet reactor. (I did this and my nitrates actually started to go down, was at 40ppm now at 10ppm).

Zoarder · Feb 8, 2017

Get this reactor: http://www.marinedepot.com/Accel_Aq...ctors-Accel_Aquatics-6H94582-FIFRISBP-vi.html
Its the best one I've owned. Forgot to mention lower your nitrated with water changes and start slow on the biopellets.

joseserrano · Feb 8, 2017

also, a 40g water change on a system that big will barley scratch the surface. If you did a 150g water change, that would bring them down to 40ppm. I would do at least 2 large water changes and add more blocks if you are against adding more rock. May not have to add bio pellets if you tackle this now and keep an eye on your levels, don't overfeed, ....

SaltyKoi · Feb 8, 2017

I did the mangroves cause the Chaeto doesn't work in the sump we have. It's not designed well. We are using a bubble magus curve 9. We might try a pellet reactor.

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Zoarder · Feb 8, 2017

SaltyKoi said:

Get a chaeto reactor I been seeing a lot of good reviews. Mangroves don't really remove nutrients that fast like the other macro. I think you at one point didn't do many water changes that why your nutrients went up that high, it doesn't seem like a huge bioload but I think it just added up. Is there skimmer working properly?
How high are your phosphates??

newtothis · Feb 8, 2017

how's your PO4? reason i ask is that a few month ago, i was having NO3 issue (100ppm) and my PO4 (0.00) with Salifert. From my understanding, NO3 and PO4 balance each other out. Took GFO off line and notice no3 to slowly drop, but not were i want it to be. However, i have since switched to ZEO (3 month), NO3 is hovering around 0.05-0.10. it could be better.

im pretty sure other will chime in with other conclusions with TDS or its coming from your LR or something else you are not disclosing.

SaltyKoi · Feb 8, 2017

I do water changes about every two weeks. I'll test my phosphate when I get home. I heard that about the phosphate and nitrate so I took my gfo off-line about a month ago

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SaltyKoi · Feb 8, 2017

My TDs is zero coming off the six stage

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SaltyKoi · Feb 8, 2017

I don't think the rocks would be much of an issue and the tank is blasted with powerheads

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BeanMachine · Feb 8, 2017

I would do a large water change (make sure to match your parameters and salinity to your system), and reduce your feedings for a while. Use a turkey baster on your rock work before you do the water change. Also confirm your test kits with someone. Good advice above as well. Just don't make too many changes at once.

newtothis said:

Bacteria consumes nitrate and phosphate in a certain ratio. So that would make sense to let your p04 climb a little and see a small reduction in nitrate.

SaltyKoi · Feb 8, 2017

BeanMachine said:

I confirmed my nitrate reading with three different test kits

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BeanMachine · Feb 8, 2017

Are you feeding your corals a lot? Might want to back off on that also if so.

SaltyKoi · Feb 8, 2017

BeanMachine said:

I feed the sps corals maybe once a weekbut I hand feed the LPS every couple of days and all of the food is reef rides once a week maybe if not longer and all the Lps and fish food is pre-rinsed

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SaltyKoi · Feb 8, 2017

I'll try to start feeding the fish every other day to see if that possibly helps

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Emac909 · Feb 8, 2017

Zoarder said:

Um I "NEVER" do water changes and my nitrates all ways read undetectable with my test kits. But by your logic I shouldn't have any life in my tank.

Zoarder · Feb 8, 2017

Emac909 said:

You have a good amount of rock, read the original post, he doesn't have much to go with 60 lbs for a 280 gallon system?? . The biological filtration is not keeping up. I see it all the time even in my case, when I go minimalistic. Each tank is different, you know where your levels are at he has to check his phosphates because he doesn't know. So my logic applies to this case and not in general because like I mentioned each tank is different. It's my personal opinion from my experience with high nutrient tanks which I have and just shared what works for me. Its all about how you export your nutrients.

BeanMachine · Feb 8, 2017

SaltyKoi said:

You are still adding nutrients to the tank even if your rinsing the food. I personally think you are over doing it on your coral feedings and that could be a lot of your problem.

SaltyKoi · Feb 8, 2017

BeanMachine said:

Copy that

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BeanMachine · Feb 8, 2017

SaltyKoi said:

Or you need to do what others have suggested and increase your nutirent export methods if you want to continue to feed that often.

Nitrate issue

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