Help Please!!! Nitrates out of control.

[Tortorigi]

I'v had my unit up and going since the first of the year, and controling my Nitrates has been a constant battle. I have about 7 fish, mushrooms, Frog Spawn and several other soft coral. My tank is 150gal and i have at least 140LB of live rock. I am using a sump filtration, Berlin protien skimmer, 130wat UV light. My ntrates got up to 80PPM about a month ago and I did a 90 gal water change and withen a week got it down to 20PPM. I had kept it at that level until last night when i did a 32gal water change. I checked my water tonight and I'm back up around 40PPM or more. I did add calcium lastnight but i wouldnt think that should have an effect on my Nitrates. I have also cut way back on feedings. I just dont know what to do. I am purchasing a RO/DI unit to see if that will help but i dont have it yet.

Thanks in advance for any help given!

[Samper]

Is that berlin big enough for that size tank? I'm not familiar with them. Cutting back on feedings will help but make sure your inhabitants stay healthy. The RO/DI will help your situation.

[zhenya]

Hi tortorigi,


I would have to agree with Samper that using tap water may be your biggest problem in this situation. When I started my first reef tank I too used tap water because I didn't want to wait for the RO/DI to arrive...long story short I had battled NO3 levels for at least a year untill I made sure I didn;t have any bio-balls in the sump or anything else that maay be manufacturing the Nitrates, like prefilter spoges and other similar objects. This items need constant cleaning and maintanance.
When you say you are using sump filtration do you mean that you have a chamber there filled with the bioballs? That may be the single fact why you cannot reduce NO3 levels beyond detection with the hobby test kits.
Anyways, let us know in little bit more detail as to what exactly this sump filtration consist of (components).

[Tortorigi]

Yes i do have bioballs in my sump. I clean my filter pads 1 to 2 times per week and my skimmer is in my sump also. I do have a few extra pieces of live rock that i have been keeping in my sump could that have an adverse affect? Thank you for the help!

[zhenya]

Yes i do have bioballs in my sump. I clean my filter pads 1 to 2 times per week and my skimmer is in my sump also. I do have a few extra pieces of live rock that i have been keeping in my sump could that have an adverse affect? Thank you for the help!

No, I don't think few pieces of LR in the sump would be detrimental. Those bioballs however should be slowly removed. This type of filtration is very effective in converting ammonia to nitrates but then this nitrates have no place to go, or be removed, so what you have is so-called Nitrate factory. I think your live rock inside the tank(providing you have enough of it) and powerfull skimmer should be enough to handle the filtration duties.

[Tortorigi]

Okay I have removed the bio balls and ordered a 100GPD RO/DI unit from Air Water and Ice. Lets hope for the best.

[Samper]

Bioballs are best removed slowly.

[scubadude]

Hi Tortorigi


Sounds like you have your hands full! I also will agree that the Berlin skimmer sounds a bit under-rated for that size of tank (I ran the same skimmer on a 75g and it had a hard time keeping up), I know that the manufacturer may rate it for up to that size of tank but it is comparible to their idea of a bio-load. I also totally understand that you might be on a budget and may not be able to purchase another skimmer right now, however I would definately clean the skimmer more often (the thick buildup, not just empty the collection cup) as this will aid you.