Declining Nitrates

[ReeferNoob4ever]

Hello,

I recently set up my aquarium. I seeded the tank and have been cycling with live rock. After week 1 my nitrites were 3ppm and nitrate 45ppm. Five days later my nitrites are 0ppm and nitrates 15ppm. The nitrates are dropping on there own. My question is; is this normal? I thought the only way to reduce nitrates was through water changes.

I currently have 2 turbo snails and a peppermint shrimp only. HOB filter, PH, and 100w heater.

Thanks!

 

[Dombake]

Whilst nitrite is present you'll get false readings in the nitrate. I'd ignore the original higher reading and monitor now that nitrite is not present.

 

[Stolireef]

Hello,

I recently set up my aquarium. I seeded the tank and have been cycling with live rock. After week 1 my nitrites were 3ppm and nitrate 45ppm. Five days later my nitrites are 0ppm and nitrates 15ppm. The nitrates are dropping on there own. My question is; is this normal? I thought the only way to reduce nitrates was through water changes.

I currently have 2 turbo snails and a peppermint shrimp only. HOB filter, PH, and 100w heater.

Thanks!

Actually, what you are experiencing is a very good sign. Nitrate export occurs in several ways including water changes. But, the primary export of nitrates occurs deep in your live rock where anaerobic bacteria reduce Nitrates to nitrogen gas that leaves your tank in bubbles. Basically, if your nitrates are going down, it means that the final stage of your cycle is occurring. Congrats and happy reefing.

 

[Potatohead]

Typically the bacteria that convert nitrate to nitrogen gas take quite a while to develop, somewhere in the 8-12 month range, so if that's actually happening already you have some good live rock.

 

[Stolireef]

BTW, if you've read about carbon dosing, it is a way of enhancing the above concept. Basically, you feed the anaerobic bacteria so that they use up even more nitrates.

 

[ReeferNoob4ever]

I have to admit, I tend to prefer dirty live rock. There is a leather coral hanging on for dear life at the moment on one piece. I'm hoping it might make it. I also put 30lbs in a 20g. The turbo snails have really cleaned up the chunky stuff.

I plan on putting in a brittle star next to get in the crevasses better. Also I'd like to put in some feather dusters. Do they also help clean the water in any noticeable manner?

Thanks for the replies!

 

[ReeferNoob4ever]

 

[Stolireef]

No problem with dirty live rock. That said, you need to watch out for unwanted hitchhikers like mantis shrimp (although, I had one in my reef for years and it was a model citizen). As far as anaerobic bacteria time for development varies pretty widely. I like to use mostly dry rock and seed the tank with a few nice pieces of live rock from another tank owned by somebody I trust. That can really accelerate the cycle.

Overall, you sound like your on the right track.

 

[ReeferNoob4ever]

Stolireef,

Is that a method where I can slowly add more decay and as the nitrates stay low mean I can have a larger bioload without spiking ammonia or nitrates in the future?

 

[ReeferNoob4ever]

In reference to carbon dosing....

 

[Stolireef]

Yep. Read this article. It's basically a recipe for carbon dosing.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-08/nftt/index.php

All carbon dosing does is increase the bacterial population in your tank. If done properly, you can either keep a higher bioload or feed more since the bacteria can handle the extra nitrates.

 

[ReeferNoob4ever]

I feel like using uncured live rock does that. By the time all the stinky decay has occurred the bioload should be substantial. I just made sure to seed the tank using water from my goldfish bowl.

Thanks for the input and article. I feel confident that I'm starting off in the rightop direction now.