nitrates

[ibjmg]

well my 180gal recycling for about 4 months my nitrates are at 100+
and been that way nfor about a month dont seem to want to come down
Ive been doing 10 gallon water changes every week ?

Is there some thing im missing or what
any advice would be great
thanks agian
Jerrod

[marxsman]

whats in the tank?

also you might want to get a different test kit. I had one from SeaLab that read way too high. I went to LFS and got the water tested and my nitrates,ammonia, and nitrites are all at 0ppm. I threw the test kit away.

[Peterock]

I would might do more than a 10 gallon if you have a 180 I would do at least 50gallons after doing a new water test. Salifert is a good test kit pricey but it is worth it to me. How much LR and LS do you have inthere? Keep us posted

[ibjmg]

I have 200lbs of LR and 250 LS The tank has been cycling for about 4 months since I moved. I have all salifert tests. all other test I took are fine.I did do a 50 gal change about a month ago.but if its time for another 50 thats fine.

[ibjmg]

Idid a 50 gallon water change on th 19th of april, and yet nitrates are still 100+
should I do another 50 or wait a while ? every other test is perfect only nitrates are skyrocket . I only have fish in my tank right now want to wait till water is perf before I start stocking it.Its been almost 5 months the tank has been cycling...................


thanks Jerrod

[zhenya]

Hi Jerrod,

Can you describe a bit what you use for filtration besides live rock and live sand?Are you using wet/dry by any chance? Refugium? It would help to narrow down possibilities if knew a bit more about the system.
I would, like others suggested, compare your results with another test kit, just in case.
Also, can you describe exactly how you using this particular test kit, perhaps you making simple mistake somewhere in the process?

[ibjmg]

Hi Jerrod,

Can you describe a bit what you use for filtration besides live rock and live sand?Are you using wet/dry by any chance? Refugium? It would help to narrow down possibilities if knew a bit more about the system.
I would, like others suggested, compare your results with another test kit, just in case.
Also, can you describe exactly how you using this particular test kit, perhaps you making simple mistake somewhere in the process?

not using a wet/dry . wish I had a refugium going (what do I need to get that started)water comes down over flow threw some filters in overflow down to my filtration bags in my sump then into my protien skimmer ,out of my sump to a filter canister called(ocean clear water) then back into my tank.

I did take water to lfs and they got the same results .



thanks Gene
Jerrod

[zhenya]

not using a wet/dry . wish I had a refugium going (what do I need to get that started)water comes down over flow threw some filters in overflow down to my filtration bags in my sump then into my protien skimmer ,out of my sump to a filter canister called(ocean clear water) then back into my tank.

I did take water to lfs and they got the same results .



thanks Gene
Jerrod

Jerrod,

What do you have in those filtration bags( what kind of media) and what is in that "ocean clear water" canister (filter?). I'm thinking that perhaps you have way too many bags and filters with the media that requires constant cleaning.
Do you feed your tank at all at this time? I would try disconnecting that canister filter for a few days and see if NO3 levels start droping.
My thinking is that one of the components of your nutrient export system is producing Nitrates and you need to determine which part it is.

[ick sucks]

Do you have anything to export nitrate? I would set up a refugium or algae turf scrubber to suck it up! Nitrates will naturally build up over time if there is nothing in your tank to use it.

[ibjmg]

Jerrod,

What do you have in those filtration bags( what kind of media) and what is in that "ocean clear water" canister (filter?). I'm thinking that perhaps you have way too many bags and filters with the media that requires constant cleaning.
Do you feed your tank at all at this time? I would try disconnecting that canister filter for a few days and see if NO3 levels start droping.
My thinking is that one of the components of your nutrient export system is producing Nitrates and you need to determine which part it is.

The bag has no media in it .Only one bag that the water flows through. should I have media in it? The canister Filter is really in the way, so If I unhook it and my nitrates go down should I not hook it back up? Im feeding my tank phytoplankton.not much Just trying to get my tank used to it.At what point should I start to check my cal.. alk.? thanks



Leaving as I type taking My girls to Disneyland for a few days.about 5 hour drive.RAIN maybe 6


thanks agian

[ibjmg]

Ive done a water change once a week took out my canister filter, about 2 weeks ago and also put a refugium into my sump tank still just checked my water and nitrates are still 100 +. please help me this is killing me!!!

[zhenya]

Hi Jerrod,

Sorry I didn't get back to this thread sooner.

Anyhow, you said that you have just fish in your tank right now.Correct? How much do you feed them and are you using proteing skimmer in your system? If yes, which one?

I know that you said that you added refugium but you'll have to wait a bit for it to show some results, ie. the algae has to grow and you will remove some of it and so on. It takes couple of month or more sometimes to show significant reduction in nutrients.
I forgot to ask you if you are using RO/DI water for your w/changes or tap water, sometimes municipal water is loaded with NO3 and if you use tap water it will be a loosing battle untill you get the filtered water.
I would definately check your source water before you do anymore water changes. If you do use RO/DI water, perhaps its time to change your cartridges and maybe membrane as well.

The reason that leads to me to believe that your water maybe the culprit is that your NO3 levels don't change at all after water change( you take some out and you put them right back in, you know what I mean?)

[ibjmg]

Hi Jerrod,

Sorry I didn't get back to this thread sooner.

Anyhow, you said that you have just fish in your tank right now.Correct? How much do you feed them and are you using proteing skimmer in your system? If yes, which one?

I know that you said that you added refugium but you'll have to wait a bit for it to show some results, ie. the algae has to grow and you will remove some of it and so on. It takes couple of month or more sometimes to show significant reduction in nutrients.
I forgot to ask you if you are using RO/DI water for your w/changes or tap water, sometimes municipal water is loaded with NO3 and if you use tap water it will be a loosing battle untill you get the filtered water.
I would definately check your source water before you do anymore water changes. If you do use RO/DI water, perhaps its time to change your cartridges and maybe membrane as well.

The reason that leads to me to believe that your water maybe the culprit is that your NO3 levels don't change at all after water change( you take some out and you put them right back in, you know what I mean?)

thanks Gene

I do only have fish in my in my tank, I'm running 5 stage ro/di and I just bought it about 2 months ago. Before that Iwas running to LFS for water which cost me a hundreds. So my ro/di was a great investment.I was also reading up on an old threads about the containers for the water. right now I have a rubbermaid garbage can 44 gallon .My water does not stay in there for very long.also I'm running a eruo reef protein skimmer.now what? dont want to really put chemicals in my tank.

thanks agian
Jerrod this pics from back in febuary.

[charlie]

I noticed that you are using a rubbermaid container. When I used one of them, I found it to leach tds back into the water that was in there. I am now using a rubbermaid "brute" container, that is considered food safe. Don't know if this will help or not, just a thought.

[zhenya]

thanks Gene

I do only have fish in my in my tank, I'm running 5 stage ro/di and I just bought it about 2 months ago. Before that Iwas running to LFS for water which cost me a hundreds. So my ro/di was a great investment.I was also reading up on an old threads about the containers for the water. right now I have a rubbermaid garbage can 44 gallon .My water does not stay in there for very long.also I'm running a eruo reef protein skimmer.now what? dont want to really put chemicals in my tank.

thanks agian
Jerrod this pics from back in febuary.

Hmmm, I'm not sure what to tell you, Jerrod. Like Charlie mentioned, check your stored water with TDS meter and maybe a NO3 fresh water test kit( some kits can be used for both,salt and fresh water). When you bought water from your LFS, have you ever checked it ?

[ibjmg]

Hmmm, I'm not sure what to tell you, Jerrod. Like Charlie mentioned, check your stored water with TDS meter and maybe a NO3 fresh water test kit( some kits can be used for both,salt and fresh water). When you bought water from your LFS, have you ever checked it ?

WELL, I broke down went to lfs this a reef only fish store very nice(not the ones where they say stuff just to sell things) Anyways there serivce man was there so I talked to him about coming over my house to take a look. so he says jump in his van,I did he took me on a journey,3 resturants and a office building were there in the process of making 3000 gallon reef tank.No kidding this thing was huge. After seeing all that I knew that this guy knew what he was doing.and I was paying close attention for BS and not much.so to make a long story short he saw my tank and said alls he needs is two months service and everything will be Perfect.Ive deicided this is what I need instead of chasing my tail .I'm going to send pictures of my the process of the tank.


thanks you guys
Jerrod