hey bb owners

[J_Geisinger000]

Ive left my bb tank go unattended for about 2 months

just had a 10 gal water change done on it thursday.
when I ran some tests I found my nitrates to be up to 20 ppm
wich is deffinatly to high.

so this morning I did another water change of 12 gallons
and tested again there still at 20 ppm.

how long do you think it will take to come back down and how much more water should I change.

my tank is 90 gallons w/ 30gallon sump


2 months ago I did have them down to 0 ppm
need to get it back there

thanks for all the help

 

[steve the plumb]

It takes time my nitrates were at 50 ppm I went bb and removed my bioballs.It may take some time.Your rock is what will help and feeding.You may want to run a remote dsb or someplace where the nitrates can sttle and be consumed.I am running the nitrae spong medis in a phosban reactor but because I made so many changes I can't tell you 100% that it works.Other people have had no sucsess with this type of medis.Calerpa in the sump will help aswell.

 

[boxfishpooalot]

If you have nitrates in a bb tank there is dirt somwhere. Either its in the rocks or sitting on the bottom. Put some ditritus in a cup and wait till the next day. The nitrates will have risen along with phosphates

When dirt is presnent its based entirely on how much biological export you have (ie- corals, chaeto, skimmer, ect.)

 

[steve the plumb]

I do have some detrius that I can't get to but I have tried to put as many powerheads and sand sifters in the tank to keep it low.My nitrates are down to .3 ppm

 

[ACBlinky]

Re: hey bb owners

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8076134#post8076134 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by J_Geisinger000
Ive left my bb tank go unattended for about 2 months

I'm guessing that quite a bit of detritus built up in that time, which is why you're seeing high NO3. A 10g or 12g water change on a 120g system isn't going to do much for nitrates, you may want to up the volume and do a few water changes in a row. I'd blow off the rocks with a turkey baster prior to each change, and then siphon off as much detritus as you can. Once levels are down, if you can set up a weekly or biweekly water change schedule it should help keep nitrates under control