Nitrate H*ll Pleaz help!

[asd123]

OK. I just got my sailfert Nitrate Box. I tested it via water from the sump and the results came back 25 PPM.

I have no Idea why their are so much nitrates; I have a 29 gallon tank with three small fish, I dont Feed, I use RO water mixed with Instant ocean salt, And clean my bioballs weekly. I also have a HUGe problem with diatom/ red / green cyno algae.
Do water changes twice a week. with 3Gal 2x while cleaning the SSB
Whats goingon, pleaz help

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

Here's your problem: you're cleaning the bioballs weekly. Do you have a good prefilter so detritus doesn't accumulate in the bioballs? If not, get one.
Better yet, if you have live rock and/or a DSB yank the bioballs entirely. They produce an excess of nitrates. (They are deliberately designed to break down ammonia and nitrites into nitrates very quickly.)
Sell the bioballs and purchase a good protein skimmer. A lit sump that grows macroalgae in it will also benefit your system in many ways.

 

[masterqaz]

ya that sounds like what would be doing it. though if they are being cleaned weekly they shouldent be breaking down much nitrates as they would have to re-establish the bacteria over again each time.

 

[theop]

Cleaning the bioballs or not, you have no way to break down nitrates in your tank. Nitrates get metabolized to nitrogen gas by denitrifying bacteria, which are anaerobic (require a low oxygen environment).

The good thing about bio-balls is that they have high surface area for aerobic bacteria, which convert ammonia -> nitrite and nitrite -> nitrate. As was mentioned, go get an effective anaerobic area, you need to use live rock or a deep sand bed.

You can reduce nitrates by increasing your water changes or adding a protein skimmer. But this won't get them down to zero.

Your fish should be able to tolerate nitrates of 25 without a problem, but corals won't do as well. The cyano/algae problem is likely also due to the high nitrates.

Do you really not feed your fish? That is a bad idea.

 

[dastratt]

Is your tank recently set up (within 6 mo) I wouldn't worry too much about the algae.

I agree with what others have said. In order to get much help you will have to describe more about your set up, including how you are attempting to export nitrates.

Here's a good article about nitrates

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/august2003/chem.htm

Phosphates also can be a culprit

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/sept2002/chem.htm

If you're not using RO/DI water you may be importing nitrates.

Are you testing Ca and Alk levels? I have had a tank with low alk and some algae problems before I started maintaining Alk and Ca.

 

[Marinemom]

Get rid of the bio-balls gradually and PLEASE feed your fish. They must be hungry.

Marinemom