Nitrate Exporter

I've been doing 18% water changes every week for over 2 months, and nitrates still at 30ppm. It's frustrating so at this point I'm willing to try anything. Apparently I need to get a better skimmer, but can't afford it at the moment.

James, how was Bay to Breakers?
 
Hmm that's strange. I remember you telling me about your nitrate issues. i would suggest only having a thin layer of Aragonite for your substrate. i think you said you had something like 3 or 4" sand bed? correct me if I'm wrong. I like to mainly use the substrate as Decoration and a little buffering. Not a big fan of deep sand beds.
 
You mentioned that before, but I've read that a deep sand bed plays a big part in the biological filtration. You've been at this much longer than I, so I respect your knowledge, but I like my sand bed! lol Do you really think that could be it?

Does anyone else have problems with keeping a deep sand bed?
 
The concept of deep sand beds simplified is to use anaerobic bacteria to break down nitrates. Its obviously not working so I bet if you remove the sand your nitrates will drop. Ive seen it a hundred times.
 
From what i read...

The main concern of taking out a well developed DSB is there is hydrogen sulfide gas pockets (one of a few possible nitrogen breakdown paths). This "rotten egg" smell is what gets into your main water column and can change your water parameters significantly to cause pH drops and other changes.

That is why only take out a bit at a time. That is also why people also use sand sifters as it helps release the gases a bit at a time. Also some sandbed microfauna actually seek out those pockets (worms) for nutrients (?).

Maybe you are
-overstocked?
-over feeding?
-nutrient trap somewhere?
-too short of a DSB (typically 5-6" is needed for anaerobic region to reduce nitrate). Anything less usually is a nitrate factory (only aerobic regions digest ammonia to nitrites and nitrates). No conversion of nitrates to Nitrogen gas (N2).
 
I had a not too deep sand bed in my BioCube before I broke it down. Once I cleaned out the tank, it was unbelievable how basty and smally the sand was. Mostly a clay-like sludge. I've got a very thin layer of larger aragonite sand in my new tank.
 
H2S, among other things, is in fact a weak acid when in solution. That said, it's not nearly strong enough to substantially mess with extremely well buffered saltwater.

If you're going to do it, H2S should be a concern, but I wouldn't worry about taking 3 months or anything like that, I'd just take it out over the course of a few weeks with a siphon and small water change.
 
Thank you guys for the good advise. I was only getting a full cup full of sludge in my skimmer like every 2-3 weeks, so yesterday I adjusted the valve. In less than 24 hours I pulled out almost a full cup of sludge, and my nitrates went down like 15ppm!!! Do you think all of this is may be because I didn't have the flow adjusted correctly on my skimmer? I only have a 2-3 inch sand bed, and my sifting star seems to keep it pretty clean (along with the routine vacuum). Would you guys still suggest pulling out more sand if my levels stabilize? It's all Oceanic live sand I purchased new.
 
Yeah, you are definitely not skimming enough. You should get like maybe a cup every 2-3 days depending on size of ur skimmer cup and ur feeding level.

2-3 weeks is wayy too long for just one cup (unless ur slimmer cup is like 10 coffe mug cups). ;)
 
Usually it is a combination of issues that expresses elevated nitrates. Was the tank newly set up or if it was a used system. Was it a fish only system before a reef tank?
 
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