Nitrate and phosphate help!

[Steelerfan101]

So my phosphates are at .25 and nitrates are 40ppm. I have a thin layer around my whole tank of green algae and now red algae. Its a 30 gallon tank with live rock, hydor nano skimmer, brs biopellet reactor. Why are they so high? And is this causing my algae? Also can i just change the biopellets to carbon and gfo or does it have to be the carbon reactor?

 

[kissman]

yep thats causing it. are you using RO/DI water? Big water changes to bring down NO3 and GFO in a reactor to bring down PO4. Tell us more about the tank. Live stock etc...

 

[Steelerfan101]

1 true clown, 1 six line wrasse, 2nassarius, 2 peppermint shrimp, 1 emerald crap, (planning on buying more clean up crew) and have a sump with filter sock and the skimmer and the biopellets and heater. So your saying i should do more water changes (bc i rarely do them. maybe once a month or two) and change the biopellets for gfo?

 

[Steelerfan101]

and yes ro/di

 

[fishman1069]

You should do 10% water changes every week Yo get the nitrates in check

 

[kissman]

When my nitrates were high i did 50% water changes every few days till i got them down. If nitrates are for example 40 and u do a 10% water change they will be at 36 then rise and you will not get them down. Do big water changes feed less. Once down then do 5-10% water changes as maintenance. Make sure make up water is same salinity, temp etc. GFO is for reducing PO4. I did have any luck with biopellets. I used Brightwells MB7 along with Vinegar dosing.

 

[Reefin' Dude]

do you siphon the tank of detritus when you do water changes. if not, then you are not going to get your phosphates or nitrates down. all of the things you are trying all go after the nutrients after the fact. they are not going after the source, the rotting detritus.

doing water changes to get rid of nitrates and phosphates is like using the fan in the bathroom to get rid of the smell instead of just flushing the used toilet. the tank water is not the source of the nutrients. it is just a medium in which to equalize into.

think about how all of those devices work. how are they going after nutrients? how do the nutrients get into the water and how do those devices actually get the nutrients to them.

G~

 

[Steelerfan101]

ok cool thanks. Is there invertebrates that eat detrius to add to siphoning during water changes?

 

[Reefin' Dude]

unfortunately not. all organisms poo. at some point nothing wants to eat another critters poo. we are left with just bacteria, but they need resources also, but sometimes the resources are not there. detritus will build up. unfortunately no way around it. how you want to deal with the detritus is up to every individual aquarist. some prefer to sweep it under a substrate until it becomes full, others prefer to get it out as fast as possible and not have to deal with it later.

G~