Constantly High Nitrates - Please Help!

[EmmaKB]

I have a 105 Gallon FOWLR tank with a 35 Gallon sump, it has been running for approximately 4 years. I have a fairly deep sand bed (2-3") and lots of live rock. I have always run a skimmer, previously a Red Sea Berlin, and I switched to an ASM G1X approximately 3 months ago, due to the finicky nature of the Berlin. The ASM is working much much better than the Berlin ever did. I have a 55 watt UV Sterilizer which has been running for about 6 months.
I use filter media to prefilter the water from the display tank as it flows into the sump. I have been changing this weekly for about 3 weeks.
I have been doing weekly water changes for nearly a month, and cannot get my nitrates below 40 (on the Nutrafin test kit).
I feed: Mysis, Krill and prawn. However I feed very lightly, the fish just about jump out of the water come feeding time.

Current Inhabitants include:
1 XL Regal Tang
1 L Pink Tail Trigger
1 M Picasso Trigger
1 M Tomatoe Clown
1 M Green Wrasse
1 M Zebra Moray Eel

I'm all ears for any suggestions, Please and Thank you!

 

[bertoni]

That level of nitrate won't harm the fish at all, so you could just ignore it. If you want to reduce the level, though, this article might help:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/august2003/chem.htm

In general, the issue is more nutrients going into the tank than can be processed out of it.

Reducing input is one point to consider. So reducing feeding or using cleaner water for topoff, etc, are the major steps there. From your description, the feeding level might be fine, but if you quantified it, that might help. A RO-DI unit might help some if you're using tapwater.

Exporting nutrients is the other side of the coin. That skimmer might be fine, but there might be a better one. Unfortunately, there's no objective data on skimmers, so it's hard to say much. Growing and harvesting a macroalga is the other popular approach, if your system has room for a lighted refugium.

The article discusses other ideas as well.

 

[EmmaKB]

Thank you Bertoni,
I think I may give the refugium a try.

Thanks for the quick response!

 

[bertoni]

You're welcome! Good luck!

 

[Billybeau1]

Emma, Believe it or not you have a lot of fish in an 85 gallon.

In my FO, my nitrates have been between 50 and 70 for years.

I don't sweat it anymore.

FWIW, you might want to try a different brand test kit.

 

[WaterKeeper]

You might also consider rejuvenating the sandbed. Over time the population of organisms in the bed declines and the result is a less effective DSB. Adding about 20 pounds of new LS or a detrivore kit can help restore it.

 

[Paradi]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9534021#post9534021 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bertoni
That level of nitrate won't harm the fish at all, so you could just ignore it. If you want to reduce the level, though, this article might help:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/august2003/chem.htm

In general, the issue is more nutrients going into the tank than can be processed out of it.

Reducing input is one point to consider. So reducing feeding or using cleaner water for topoff, etc, are the major steps there. From your description, the feeding level might be fine, but if you quantified it, that might help. A RO-DI unit might help some if you're using tapwater.

Exporting nutrients is the other side of the coin. That skimmer might be fine, but there might be a better one. Unfortunately, there's no objective data on skimmers, so it's hard to say much. Growing and harvesting a macroalga is the other popular approach, if your system has room for a lighted refugium.

The article discusses other ideas as well.

umm, iam new, ive always been scared of the ''nitrate/nitrite/ammonia' thingies, and how they can kill my system, am i not wrong ? thank you

 

[bertoni]

Ammonia is toxic to animals. Nitrite and nitrate generally aren't, although they can cause problems with stony corals.

 

[melev]

<b>I use filter media to prefilter the water from the display tank as it flows into the sump. </b>

I suggest you try rinsing this out every 3 days instead of weekly. It'll help significantly. Do you have bioballs, biowheels, sponges, pads, etc? Does your tank have substrate? What kind? Do you have an under gravel filter (I know - that's unlikely but I thought I should ask)?