Nitrates still high with ATS

[rog2961]

Started my scrubber when I setup my tank so since it was cycling this has been running. I originally had two 10x10 screens each lit on one side and was informed that was way too much for what I need. I have since knocked it down to one 10x10 screen lit on one side with two bulbs. I feed probably one cube a day. I am currently on week 6 now and have not cleaned the screen yet. I have some growth of bright green algae that I can see is starting to turn slightly yellow. I leave the lights on for about 12-15 hours a day. Should I clean now or continue to let the screen fill in a bit? It's currently a bit spotty on the screen and not fully covered. Nitrates shot up to 80ppm after cycling and has been staying there since then. Have performed one water change after cycling and now that its been a week will perform another.

Its a 155g with 50g sump filled halfway. Total volume is about 170 or so.

 

[jimlin]

do you have any algae in your display? what is your phosphate level? are you using gfo? i would probably leave it until it fills up.

 

[ska d]

So from my calculations your tank isnt even two months old, minus cycling.

 

[rog2961]

I barely have any algae in the display. I have very little brown algae growing on some of the dry rock in the display. I am currently running a bag of carbon in the sump. Its probably closer to 5-6 weeks with the cycling. My cycle happened relatively quickly at 3 weeks. I have 0 ammonia 0 nitrite but 80ppm nitrates.

 

[_shorty_]

What water did you use to start your tank? What rock did you use? What sand? If set up correctly, an ATS will eat up your NO3, but at that level it'll take a while. Is it increasing?

I would also suggest lighting on both sides if possible. Also are you cleaning the screen on regular basis when it forms light blocking growth?

 

[rog2961]

What water did you use to start your tank? What rock did you use? What sand? If set up correctly, an ATS will eat up your NO3, but at that level it'll take a while. Is it increasing?

I would also suggest lighting on both sides if possible. Also are you cleaning the screen on regular basis when it forms light blocking growth?

ROdi water, 150;lbs of dry rock with 10lbs of live, argonite sand, about 150-200lbs worth. The tank is brand new, I started the screen since cycling and its now at 6 weeks but the growth isn't covering the whole screen. I haven't cleaned it yet because of this. I tried lighting from both sides but its difficult due to space issues. I thought since I am only starting out two on one 10x10 side should be enough.

 

[_shorty_]

Your screen size should be fine for now. Undesrtood about space issues. It is a bit large after this initial NO3 is gone. Single sided - 24 square inch screen should support 1 cube of feeding/day. Yours is 100 square inches. You could probably get away with doubling the sizing guidlines, though. And until your NO3 is down, I probably wouldn't worry about it (after that obviously - consider future growth in feeding needs here trying to stay -in general - within that x2 sizing guideline).

But it can take at least 6 weeks for a screen to mature to where it gets good growth that will support your bio load. Also make sure your screen is very roughed up.

Also - make sure your lighting (if CFL is the red/warm spectrum) and that you have enough wattage.

I ask about the source water because I've taken that for granted, and used RO water from stores that I later tested at very high NO3 levels. Also my own RO/DI system, when the membrane went out on me produced high NO3 level water as well. So if NO3 levels are going up instead of coming down with 0 NH3, I'd suggest a test of your source/top-off water.

Also i've heard and read PO4 leaching from dry rock. and un-cured - you never know what has died off in the dry-rock which could add a lot of NO3 and PO4 to your system until it is cured.

If your sand is new - that shouldn't be a problem.

Ultimately - my suggestion is patience. It'll come down. a water change here or there doesn't hurt either.

 

[rog2961]

The lights are the 23w 2700k variety. I doubt its the ROdi as I've had it for about the same time period this tank has been running. Going to do a water change this weekend and see if it affects it.

 

[ca1ore]

The 'bright green' algae you describe, is it turf algae? Kind of sounds like it is slime algae of some kind. It may be that you have just not yet developed the right kind of algae?

 

[rog2961]

Its hairy and stringy

 

[jimlin]

you probably just need more time for it to work. scrubbers usually takes six weeks to start working, but since your tank is only six weeks old, it may take longer time for it to kick in.

 

[mess7777]

Mine took a few months to get everything down, and once it did it never went back up, at least so far! Hang in there, as long as you aren't going up it should be fine. don't be afraid to leave the screen more than 1 week if you don't have a full sheet of growth.