Question about Nitrate levels....

J

jodinm

New member
We had a recent bout where we lost several fish in our tank. All of our levels are great except Nitrate. Everytime we test it we get a reading of about 80-160. Deep red. We have tried emptying half the tank and refilling. Deep red. The next day we did a 25% water change. Deep red. Today we did another 50% change and we use two Fluval404's and a Fluval204 and they all got new sponges carbon and anything else we could change. Everything is new and wonderful. So we test. Deep red.

What are we doing wrong?? I am anxious for help. Thanks in advance.

Specifics that might help :
Tank 240 gallons
Live rock, live sand
Fish include a variety of tang, Starfish, a little guy that looks like a lizard that we cannot find a name for and a weird looking octopus type thing. (Did I mention I'm new at this?!)
 
Nitrate isn't particularly toxic to most animals. Some corals might have issues, but fish won't. It's always worth getting a second test kit result, since test kits do give erroneous results from time to time.

This article talks about nitrate problems:

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

How much live rock is in the tank, and what kind of media do you have in the filters?
 
We have quite a bit of live rock. The tank is approx 7 feet long x 2 feet tall and the rock covers the whole back side. As far as "Media" this is a link to what we have because I am too new to be able to explain it well enough for you.

http://fishtankworld.com/product_info.php?name=FLUVAL+404&products_id=83


So if I'm understanding you, I shouldn't be overly concerned about the levels being too high. It shouldn't harm my fish.
I will work on getting the level down, I just want to make sure my fish will be ok.
 
If you have 240 lbs or so of live rock, you likely could gradually phase out the Fluval filters. They often seem to contribute to higher nitrate levels. Any sudden change could cause an ammonia spike, so perhaps remove 1/6 of the media each week.

Water changes probably won't help all that much since the nitrate level can rebound quite rapidly.
 
If I was you I would get rid of the two Fluval404's asap. Liverock is the best filtration system you can have.

I was using the Fluval a few years ago and had noyhing but algae issues. Since not using the Fluval the algae went away.
 
I dont think I have 240 punds of live rock. I have probably 35 peices and maybe a 100 punds of rock. I dont even know if it is all alive becuse only half of the rocks have purple growing on them. I just changed all our filters and the white stuff and carbon stuff in the fluvals. will that help???? I heard if you feed them too much that could make the nitrate go crazy. is that true? how often should I feel 10 tangs and a couple other fish? Thanks
 
One other thing. My blue hippo tang is rubbing up against the rocks and sand also. What does that mean? none of the other fish do that. If it was a sickness wouldnt all of them have it and be rubbing?
 
1st. What can I do to treat ich? and not kill my fish
2nd What tempature should i keep my saltwater fish tank at? thanks
 
tangs scratch up against rocks, Ive seen many do it. not always a sign of ick.

Are the fish eating are they happy, are they active.

The tang police on RC will tell you many things.... You have a 240g tank thats a big tank they have plenty of room. they are fine

Nitrates, yes overfeeding the fish will make the nitrates spike.
you said your new at this....

how new is the tank, how long did it cycle for, when did you add fish. do you have a protien skimmer?

Do you have a refugium with any macro algea ?? cheatomorpha? IF not then that would be a good thing. cheato eats up the nitrates in the water...

also... What kind of water are you using.??? TAP= Lots of nutrients, invest in a ro/di unit

Have you takin your water to a local store? test the water at a LFS, maybe ur kit is bad.
 
TO: NU2SW

K the tank is about 2 years old. Although I have only had it with fish in it and stable for about 8 months. I think it is a 180 gallon tank. I dont have a protein skimmer. Is that important? and what does it do? What kind should I buy?

I am using tap because like you people told me that it is healthier for the fish. I use a conditioner for the tap water from NUTRAFIN CYCLE .. and also AQUA PLUS tap water conditioner. Hopefully these are good?

The fish are very very active. sometimes the blue hippos lay on their sides but i suppose that is natural. not all rub up against the rocks. only a couple of the tangs are rubbing against rocks and the sand. I hope they are not sick? they look very very healthy. but they are rubbing ALOT. but are very active...

What is """refugium with any macro algea ?? cheatomorpha?""""" If I need it what is it? I have a green plant that the tangs like to eat a lot. it grows by its self and kind of looks like green vines with leaves.

I just added a couple new fish. Let me know with those answers thanks. Trevor
 
who said tap is healthier for the fish.. i really is not.. and your tap probabaly contains nitrates and more bad stuff in it. everyone here discourages people from using tap.. i filled my tank with tap and switched to distiled from walmart. have you ever tested your tap water.. what are the readings?
 
I live in Utah and I tested my tap the other day. It seemed to be very good. All the levels were next to none. Even my nitrate is almost non existant in my tap. But if distilled is better then I will buy distilled water?
 
Not distilled. Use Reverse osmosis water. You can get them on ebay for about a $100 bucks http://cgi.ebay.com/Reef-Aquarium-R...761178115QQcategoryZ20756QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Tap water has lots of nutrients in it that will feed algea and other issues. YOU want to use a RO/di unit it will take all the crap out and you wont regret it.

Protein skimmer takes the proteins out of the water,

* it has lots of little bubbles that takes the organic waste out of the water and makes better water quality... for a more indepth click the link. there are lots out there it just depends on what kind you want.

http://saltaquarium.about.com/cs/proteinskimmers/a/aa111097skim.htm

A refugium gives you more water and a place to add plant algea so it takes nutrients out of the water, check my gallery I have a pic its the tank on the upper left above my main tank.

it also acts as a safe haven for pods and little buddies to provide food for your tank. copepods and amphipods. The plant you have might be some sort, but it may be just an aquatic plant, but all plants take out some sort of nutrients from the water as its food source.

I catch my yellow tang scratch at rocks every day, WE have itches, im sure fish have itches also. he doesnt have ick so its not that... tangs just like to scratch on the rocks...
 
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