High nitrate problem, please HELP!!!

[NanoCube-boy]

Well over one and a half of month, I been trying to get rid of my nitrate problem in my nanocube 12 gall. I been doing water changes up to 20-30percent every other day and there are not any good results all at.

My current paremeter are:
pH 8.1ppm
Ammonia oppm
Nitrite 0ppm
Nitrate 15-20ppm :eek2:

I try adding carbon, also has a refugium there as well and there are no good sign at all. What else can I do???

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Water changes are not especially effective at reducing nitrate. Skimming and growing macroalgae are my preferred ways, although there are many more.

This article details them:

Nitrate in the Reef Aquarium
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/august2003/chem.htm

 

[NanoCube-boy]

Well, There is nothing I can do, but to do water changes. There are not any skimmers out there that can fit an OG yet so I' am in tough luck.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Some of the treatments in my article can be done on a nano.

I show the effectiveness of water changes in this article:

Water Changes in Reef Aquaria
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-10/rhf/index.php

 

[Danster]

I have had this problem but worse. my Nitrates were at 100PPM and now they are at 40 ppm's with a lot of water changes. My tank is much bigger though at ... 125. Even with a very LARGE refugium with alot of macroalgae.. I still can't get it down. I would check your bioload and how much you feed because I'm begining to think that is my biggest problem. Let me know if anything else works for you.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

How large is your refugium?

 

[NanoCube-boy]

not that bigg, it;s a nanocube sump that I convert into a ref.

Very nice article...

I'm not even feeding the tank, there is nothing in the tank. Just live rocks, chaetomorpha and one ounce feathers calaupra.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Sorry, I meant that question on the refugium to Danster.

 

[Danster]

Randy,
I had my refugium custom done just so I could have alot of extra room for my macro to grow, if I needed to. The area is probably 4 feet long X 2 feet wide and 2 feet deep. The macro algae has probably totally consumed 2X2 area and is begining to reach toward the top (probably 6 inches from the top.) It quite abit and I would think it would do the job. But my nitrates are still on the high side. Any thoughts?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

What species? Is it rapidly growing?

Ever add iron?

 

[NanoCube-boy]

My Feather Calaupra and Chaetomorpha are growing like crazy in the refugium.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Apparently, it just is not adequate to reduce the nitrate. More macroalgae may help. Your options are limited without being able to use skimming as an export method.

Maybe set up a sump...

 

[NanoCube-boy]

Well I can find a skimmer that can fit an OG so I do not know what else option. I also try using Amquel + to lower the nitrate so I hope it will be lower.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Something like AZ-NO3 might be suitable, although I do not usually recommend it not knowing exactly what it is. I doubt the Amquel Plus is useful. Even if it reacts with nitrate, it is not obvious to me that the product is less toxic than is nitrate (which itself has low toxicity).

 

[NanoCube-boy]

yea, true thanks. I thinking of restarting my system anyway. I going to flush 8 gallon out and replace it with fresh new see water.

There are nothing in the tank now because all my live stock are in the Q.T. So makes it more safe which I believe to do a system redue. What do you think?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

It is a good time to do a 100% water change, and possibly blow off the rocks.

 

[NanoCube-boy]

Blow off the rocks? What do you mean?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Some people call it turkey basting. Blasting water on them to dislodge detritus.

 

[NanoCube-boy]

I see, thanks...

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

You're welcome.

Good luck.