NItrates too high

[obring]

Okay! Now I am really baffled! I have been noticing a "brownish" growth on my subs for a while now...which I took as an indication of rising phosphate. I have not takne measures in tank for about five weeks. This were the results

PO4 = 0.15
Ca = 450
PH = 7.8 (measures taken early in the morning)
Temp = 78
ALK = 2.2
KH = 80
dKH = 8.4 (I take these last three measures with three diff kits...dont ask me why?)

and NO3 was 50-100 I have never seen it so high!!!! HELP!

I am thinking that maybe I have too many fish... especially since i brought in "Reina" the longhorned cow. It is a 90 gallon and I have the following in it:

two tomatoe clowns (five months)
one dwarf lionfish (eight and a half months)
one goby (kinda looks like an eel it is always hiding...i forgot his real name) (six months)
two neon gobies (seven months)
one grenn chromie (eight months)
one blue damsel (i call him "Fisty" cause he was from the original cycling bunch and i never could catch him) (ten months)
two "coral catfish" (but i am thinking that is not the name of these... the are long and greenish in color with yellow vertical stripes) (three months)
one toby puffer (four months)
and the longhorned... (two months)

The tank has about 90 lbs of life rock by now...and the tank looks pretty settled... nice coraline growth all over... which now that i mentioned is sprouting some white spots which is what prompted me to take the measures....

As always I will appreciate any help!
:eek3:

[kevinpo]

Obring,
I noticed on your home page you say you don't have a protein skimmer. If you
still do not have one I would strongly recommend one. If you have a sump the
type that goes in there is the best (for cosmetic reasons not performance)
or one that hangs on the back of the tank (HOB). A skimmer is very good at
removing small uneaten food particles and fish waste before they have time
to go through the nitrogen cycle. Most of use overfeed our fish (I am guilty
of this also) and as a result nutrients build up in the tank and need to be
exported. Protein skimming is one way to help accomplish this. Growing macro
algae is another way as are partial water changes, live rock, deep sand bed.
IMO for long term success (5+ years) a combination of ways works best.

Regards,
Kevin

[saltjunkie]

I would think that a heavy load and over feeding may be the main factors.
Rick

[obring]

Thanks... now that brings me to another question and i dont know if i should post it on separate.... but anyway,,, what would be the appropriate feeding for the tank? Currently I feed flakes (Omega One) once a day (morning), and a combination of frozen brine and Formula One (gel-like small cubes-i use about a quarter of a cube) once a day (evening). I feed the lionfish frozen silver fish twice a week (was feeding him every other day but he got too fat!-stopped about a month ago.). For the longhorned a give her some Seaweed Select once a day, which she dispenses with "pronto"...that hog!

Also... does what i have in the tank considered a "heavy load"?

[organicreefer]

youre feeding amount/schedule sounds pretty good to me.
yes you do have a heavy load ,12 fish in a 90,and a cowfish.
the cowfish is not really suited to youre tank,they get large(12+ inches)and when they are attacked and sometimes when they are dying,they emit a toxic substance ,that kills not only themselves ,but everyhting else in the aquarium in a very short time.
honestly,if it was my tank i would get rid of half the fish ,keeping the ones i reallly liked.

[kevinpo]

IMO your feeding could be cut back slightly just skip 2-3 mornings or evenings out of 7. If the fish start to look skinny add them back or better yet keep the same schedule (it's easy to remember) but just reduce the amount slightly. Your fish load is boarderline but you could get away with it (IMO) if you put on a powerful skimmer and 15% water changes every 2-3 weeks.

Hope this helps,
Kevin

[Aragorn]

I noticed in your profile that you have a W/D filter. These systems tend to be "nitrate factories" from the bacteria(nitrobacters) that grow within it. Have you considered a protien skimmer? These skimmers will help eliminate waste BEFORE it is broken down into nitrites/nitrates. Additionally, how often do you do water changes? This helps as well. JMO

[obring]

I am looking into the skimmer... since to be honest...i dont think i could part with any of the fish... i am planning on doing a second tank just for the longhorn... thanks for all the help though... I did add about 4 1/2 pounds of macroalgue (i believe the LFS called it "chalupa" but again, i dont know... he did tell me that the longhorn would not eat it... we will see about that) and i do 10 gal w/c about every five weeks so far....

Once agaion guys....THANKS! ;)

[jwtrojan44]

Hi obring,
I'd definitely increase the frequency/amount of your water changes. I was doing 5 gal a week on both my tanks (55 and56 gal) but recently removed my fluidized bed filter because my nitrates were running around 40. I too have a "heavy" load, but run dsb's and LR in both my tanks. I'm now starting a regimen of 15 gal. water changes every two weeks in both tanks. I was told this was better than a small change every week. I'm looking forward to positive results. I also don't run a skimmer yet. Hoping Santa (aka Mrs. JWT) will come through for me this year, but either way, water changes are still essential. Good luck. JWT