High nitrates

[reefsurfer1]

My tank has been running about 20ppm nitrates for about 6-8 months. I have tried everything I could think of to reduce them but nothing is working. There is a film on the top of the water of my tank and algie is growing. I have been doing 25gal water changes weekly for 3 weeks and I started making some headway. But when I went back to 15 gal a week last week it started regressing. Im not sure if my lights are to close. They are about 2 inches from the top of the water. Two of my bulbs I bought last month and two of them I bought 4 months ago. I am using wavepro t5 lights. two daylight one acintic and one coral growth. My tank is 125 gal with a 30 gal sump. I clean my skimmer collection cup 2-3 times a week and the whole thing monthly. I dont use any mechanical filters or sponges and I dont see any weird build ups. I have a uv sterilizer that says its good for up to 120 gal and was working fine. I did move about 3 months ago and didnt take care of my tank for about a month which made my problem worse. I rearranged the rock in my tank about 2 months ago and cleaned everything up. I only have four fish a hippo tang, a six line wrasse, a clown fish, and a mandarin. I feed them once a day and rotate between flake, pellets, and mysis. I strain the mysis after I thaw them. I only have a few coral to speak of some ricordia mushroom, and I dont know the names of the others they are filter feeders and one other mushroom. Please if you have any idea why my nitrates are so high I would appreciate it. my tank runs about 80-82 degrees, 0 nitrites, 0 ammonia, 20ppm nitrates, 7.8 ph, 480-500 mg/l calcium. If you know the name of my coral I would appreciate the information as well. Thank you

[chrisfont23]

First off, 20 ppm is not "terribly terrible." I see a lot of tanks functional at this level with coral and livestock that you have. If you were SPS dominant, it's a different story. I know we aim for 0 but that's not always possible.

Some ques:

My tank has been running about 20ppm nitrates for about 6-8 months.

How long has it been up, what type of skimmer are you using and do you dose supplements?

I have tried everything I could think of to reduce them but nothing is working.

Can you list what you tried? I am almost positive there are those w/ remedies you probably did not try.

There is a film on the top of the water of my tank and algie is growing.

Powerheads? Placement? Do you measure phosphates?

I have been doing 25gal water changes weekly for 3 weeks and I started making some headway. But when I went back to 15 gal a week last week it started regressing.

Have you tested your water supply for nitrates? What kind of water filtration (RO, RO/DI etc., system do you use)? Or do you use TAP or something else not listed.

I feed them once a day and rotate between flake, pellets, and mysis. I strain the mysis after I thaw them.

Eh...I have read the flake and pellets can lead to phosphate and algae faster than frozen foods, but am no expert on why. Leebca may be able to expand on this (bad) answer.

I only have a few coral to speak of some ricordia mushroom, and I dont know the names of the others

The other looks like a colt, of which, will probably grow in toilet water, so don't kill yourself ;) if that NO3 isn't that low.

my tank runs about 80-82 degrees, 0 nitrites, 0 ammonia, 20ppm nitrates, 7.8 ph, 480-500 mg/l calcium. I

Irrelevant to your nitrate problem, though, that PH is on the low end you know. What about DKH? Do you measure that? Finally - what is your phosphate level?

If you know the name of my coral I would appreciate the information as well. Thank you

Looks like a Kenya Tree or Colt Coral.

[Reefing Madness]

Phosphates are up, you can tell by the cyano growing in the mid front of the tank.
Colt Coral
Saltwater Aquarium Fish for Marine Aquariums: Cauliflower Colt Coral
Starburst Polyp
Saltwater Aquarium Corals for Marine Reef Aquariums: Starburst Polyp'
Try feeding every other day.
or
Vodka Dosing by 'Genetics' and 'Stony_Corals' - Reefkeeping.com

[reefsurfer1]

Where to start. I don't measure my phosphates or dkh. sounds like I should though. I have tested my source water for the things I listed. Ph, nitrites, nitrates, and ammonia. everything was 0 and ph was 7.8. I tested it recently about a month ago. I get my water from a water store that uses rodi and I have a under the counter rodi that has a3gal tank.outuses 4 filters and that water tested all zeros as well. The ph was really low though. I will do a better job fishing out any food after they eat. I do slack a little on that. I have 2 power head s one on each side and my 2 over flows that are connected to a mag driver 9.5. I have moved one of the powerheads close to the surface but it didnt help so I moved it back. I also have a fran that blows on the top of the water. I think my water flow its ok. The other things Ive done are extra water changes, cleaning my skimmer which is a swc 120 cone skimmer.i stopped adding any chemicals such as ph buffer and stopped using reef snow. I changed my bulbs because it was time and I siphon out algie when I do water changes. I haven't used any chemicals to kill the algie but last month I did use flat worm exit to get rid of flat worms. I've had my tank for a year and a half. I started with a 85 gal tank and upgraded to a120 gal in may and moved houses in the end of june. I didn't take proper care off it for a month and now I am paying for it. I also lost a lot of my clean up crew. I imply he two turbo snails four nassil(can't remember name) snails and over hermit crab. Thanks for telling me the name of my colt coral. And it will not stop growing. How do phosphates affect my tank? Thanks agaiOoo

[Reefing Madness]

High phospahtes will grow bad algae, and sponges and can grow a paste like nasty looking stuff on your live rock. Basically it can make your tank look hidious.
To ge your Nitrates under control, if your sure your not adding to the problem, what you can do is water changes every third day. If this doesn't knock them down, it won't. You'll have to resort to something else.

[reefsurfer1]

How much water should I change every third day?

[Reefing Madness]

How much water should I change every third day?

1/4

[reefsurfer1]

thanks I will try that

[chrisfont23]

thanks I will try that

Just a word of caution...make sure you test and match the water you are putting in. Following such a vigorous schedule, like 1/4 a day, can throw params like CA,DKH and MAG out of whack fast.