Why Stress Nitrates

scout · 12-17-2002, 07:03 PM

I know we are all striving to achieve 0 ppm, but I guess I'm trying to understand what is the danger in high readings. I've read a couple of posts that say it could have long term health risks to fish. Does it affect corals or inverts too? Are there any short term dangers?
I'm wanting to move some softies (corals) into a tank that the readings are currently at 80-100 ppm. The DSB is just starting to develop bubbles, so I'm sure I'll eventually get down to "acceptable" levels.
Any thoughts?

Mike

reefhead · 12-17-2002, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by scout
I Does it affect corals or inverts too? Are there any short term dangers?

Nitrate are very toxic to snails, shrimp and many other invertebrates

Quote:

I'm wanting to move some softies (corals) into a tank that the readings are currently at 80-100 ppm. The DSB is just starting to develop bubbles, so I'm sure I'll eventually get down to "acceptable" levels. Any thoughts?

thats very high. first off , are you sure your test kits are reliable?

some corals and clams can handle small amounts of nitrate.

Skunk Clown · 12-18-2002, 01:00 AM

Dont clams prefer higher nitrates, as they are a filter feeder... im not sure of the whole debate, but i thought that clams were said to do better in some cases with higher nitrates?

naser · 12-18-2002, 01:10 AM

higher nitrates usually means more waste & food matter floating around. clams eat.. however. nitrates can just about kill anything except for fish.. for fish its wanted.

**kevinpo** · 12-18-2002, 08:10 AM

High Nitrates are thought to be one of the causes of lateral line disease in fish. IME Tridacna sp. will utilize nitrates at about 10 ppm level. Higher than that and you would need to have a lot of clams. In a reef tank we are striving to copy or recreate the natural environment. The readings in healthy reef zones are zero.

When nitrate levels are high there are often other water quality issues we don't test for such as dissolved organic compounds (DOC's). IME for the home reef if you keep the nitrate level below 10 ppm all the other water parameters will also be at acceptable levels. The best way to reduce the nitrate concentration is by water changes. I recommend 20% wait 2 weeks then change another 20%.

Sometimes a DSB is not enough to reduce the nitrates to acceptable levels. There are some things that can be done to help.

A good skimmer. It does not remove nitrates but will remove compounds before they have a chance to be turned into nitrates.

A refugium with macro algae growing in it. If you select the proper (ones that don't go sexual and melt) types of algae this can be a super way to export nitrates.

HTH,
Kevin
PS: IMO we should strive to provide an environment that our animals thrive in not just survive!

scout · 12-18-2002, 07:51 PM

I realize this is too high and am working to get it down (skimmer 24-7 and water changes). This tank is a former FO (3 yrs) which just became a FOWLRDSB. The rock (appartently not fully cured) was placed in the tank and this resulted in a nitrite spike. Reading now 0. While the nitrate readings are high, there are many members on this board with FO that also have high readings.
So far I'm hearing that high nitrates could cause lld in fish. It might also be toxic to shrimp and snails (mine SEEM to be doing fine).

Does anybody know of any links/research on this subject? Again I'm not arguing that high nitrates aren't bad, but just because it's not in nsw doesn't make it deadly. I just am wondering if it's all that!

Mike

12-17-2002, 07:03 PM	#1
scout Council Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Bear, DE, USA Posts: 292	Why Stress Nitrates I know we are all striving to achieve 0 ppm, but I guess I'm trying to understand what is the danger in high readings. I've read a couple of posts that say it could have long term health risks to fish. Does it affect corals or inverts too? Are there any short term dangers? I'm wanting to move some softies (corals) into a tank that the readings are currently at 80-100 ppm. The DSB is just starting to develop bubbles, so I'm sure I'll eventually get down to "acceptable" levels. Any thoughts? Mike

12-18-2002, 08:10 AM	#5
kevinpo Moderator Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Spokane Valley WA Posts: 2,425	High Nitrates are thought to be one of the causes of lateral line disease in fish. IME Tridacna sp. will utilize nitrates at about 10 ppm level. Higher than that and you would need to have a lot of clams. In a reef tank we are striving to copy or recreate the natural environment. The readings in healthy reef zones are zero. When nitrate levels are high there are often other water quality issues we don't test for such as dissolved organic compounds (DOC's). IME for the home reef if you keep the nitrate level below 10 ppm all the other water parameters will also be at acceptable levels. The best way to reduce the nitrate concentration is by water changes. I recommend 20% wait 2 weeks then change another 20%. Sometimes a DSB is not enough to reduce the nitrates to acceptable levels. There are some things that can be done to help. A good skimmer. It does not remove nitrates but will remove compounds before they have a chance to be turned into nitrates. A refugium with macro algae growing in it. If you select the proper (ones that don't go sexual and melt) types of algae this can be a super way to export nitrates. HTH, Kevin PS: IMO we should strive to provide an environment that our animals thrive in not just survive! __________________ SPSguy On - On

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12-18-2002, 01:00 AM	#3
Skunk Clown Tenant Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: This Giant World Posts: 89	Dont clams prefer higher nitrates, as they are a filter feeder... im not sure of the whole debate, but i thought that clams were said to do better in some cases with higher nitrates?

12-18-2002, 01:10 AM	#4
naser super-reefer Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: SAN DIEGO, CA Posts: 1,908	higher nitrates usually means more waste & food matter floating around. clams eat.. however. nitrates can just about kill anything except for fish.. for fish its wanted.

12-18-2002, 07:51 PM	#6
scout Council Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Bear, DE, USA Posts: 292	I realize this is too high and am working to get it down (skimmer 24-7 and water changes). This tank is a former FO (3 yrs) which just became a FOWLRDSB. The rock (appartently not fully cured) was placed in the tank and this resulted in a nitrite spike. Reading now 0. While the nitrate readings are high, there are many members on this board with FO that also have high readings. So far I'm hearing that high nitrates could cause lld in fish. It might also be toxic to shrimp and snails (mine SEEM to be doing fine). Does anybody know of any links/research on this subject? Again I'm not arguing that high nitrates aren't bad, but just because it's not in nsw doesn't make it deadly. I just am wondering if it's all that! Mike

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