High nitrates

[JCnflies]

I don;t know if this belongs here, but due to family obligations over the last 6 months, I have not been able to care for my tank as much as I should have (it was looking awesome for quite awhile!). Anyway, I now have the time to care for the tank as I should and have found that the tank has nitrates at about 30 (my zoos are not opening like they used to if at all!)

Is there a safe quick way to reduce nitrates? In a 75 gallon tank, I plan on doing a 20 gallon water change tomorrow. Is there a commercial product that can lend a quick fix? Right now I have a refugium, some xenia, a bunch of chaeto and a skimmer that wasn't taking much out of the water column, but I just increased its ability to take in waste. Thx.

 

[Justjoe]

I used a product by Acquamarine years ago with good success on reef tanks, I can't find a direct lead to it, but here is the product:

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/thestore/prods/AQUAM-NITRATE.html

I have never seen 30ppm nitrate be a problem with corals, but they are easy to test for and easy to lay blame to. The lower the better though for sure.

Are you able to accurately test for PO4's?

 

[JCnflies]

I have a salifert for PO4 that reads about 0.3 now. I tested yesterday and it said 0.5 and I put in some Phosban.

 

[seldin]

I had a nitrate problem and could not get it down lower than 30, no matter what I did.

I then tested my tap water that I used for water changes.

Guess what? My source tap water has nitrates of 20, so it's very difficult to lower from 30 in the fish tank, if my source is already at 20.

So what fixed my problem? I bought an RO unit and my nitrate problem dropped like a rock. I went down to Zero in a very short time.

In addition, I noticed a drop in algae. My RO unit seems to have fixed many problems.

Just make sure you get a powerful flow. I really like my SprectraPure, which is 100 GPD, I say this, because it takes a good time to produce water.

Hope this helps.

- larryTAK [email]OUT@seldin.net[/email]

 

[JCnflies]

Thx I have an RODI, but it had become too clogged and was not working right. Since I replaced the filter cartridges, my nitrates are as low as thew chip reads

 

[DgenR8]

seldin,
[welcome]

I have a little tip for you. Posting your email address that way makes you a target for spam mail. Many companies use bots to search the net for postings of valid email addresses to send their garbage to.
I broke the link, so you don't fall victim this time. If you prefer that I put it back, just say the word.

 

[seldin]

DgenR8,

Thank you for looking out for me. My address is the one posted without the word "TAKEOUT" so if a live person wants to pull it, they can, however, I think with the 'TAKEOUT" I should have no problems.

Am I correct?

Thanks much,

- Larry

 

[seldin]

JCnflies,

I was not sure I understand your answer. So are you saying that you are using good RO water and your nitrates are still high?

Does your source water have zero nitrates. If it does, then I would suggest the water changes.

Think of it like this. Your fishtank water is at 30, your source water is at 0. Do water changes and you should quickly reduce nitrates. However, please be careful so that you make sure water changes are done very slowly, temperature matches, etc.

- Larry

 

[JCnflies]

I mean that since I went back to RODI water, my nitrates are doing well again . only when my pads needed changing did the RO water quality suffer.

Now, with new filters, my nitrates come out undetectable and my tank level is below 10

 

[DgenR8]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10434791#post10434791 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by seldin
DgenR8,

Thank you for looking out for me. My address is the one posted without the word "TAKEOUT" so if a live person wants to pull it, they can, however, I think with the 'TAKEOUT" I should have no problems.

Am I correct?

Thanks much,

- Larry

I didn't realize you were already protecting yourself. I feel like a mook.
Folks could also just click the email link in your post, any of your posts. RC will send their message to you, without anyone seeing your email addy.

 

[seldin]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10436811#post10436811 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DgenR8
I didn't realize you were already protecting yourself. I feel like a mook.

DgenR8,

I took your help as a very nice gesture. I appreciate when people look out for each other.

Much appreciated.

- Larry

 

[seldin]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10434891#post10434891 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JCnflies
since I went back to RODI water, my nitrates are doing well again [snip] Now, with new filters, my nitrates come out undetectable and my tank level is below 10

JCnflies,

Glad to hear it.

- Larry