Recently, i have a problem with nitrate level in my 20 gallon tank i don't what happen as i alway do a weekly water change, maybe there are a something wrong with a test kit or something as i use a API nitrate test kit, but always use seachem prime to detoxifier that nitrate after water change, this only lasting for 2 day and the test show the same, while other lfs claim too much nitrate detoxifier will stresses and will lead a tank inihabitant death and they recommend me to use nitrate remover like red sea no3-po4 or aquaforest pro bio s to remove them instead of keep the nitrate detoxified, so which is good? removing/ reduce it or just detoxified and let biofiltration do their job?
remove nitrate vs detoxified nitrate?, which is safe and good?
- Thread starter waynefort
- Start date
Weekly water changes on a 20g tank should be fine for handling any possible nitrate "issues" you have.
What are your actual nitrate levels? Maybe you think you have a problem but don't... give us specifics. A 20g is very easy to manage and should not require any chemical additives.
What are your actual nitrate levels? Maybe you think you have a problem but don't... give us specifics. A 20g is very easy to manage and should not require any chemical additives.
My nitrate level is around 40 ppm but sometime higher as 80 ppm, this is crazy, because i already do a water change in 5 day ago and i only feed fish less than half pinch per day, i use ATI nitrate to test a water but the result is always same, maybe the inaccurated test kit or something? I using 4.5 kg of fresh live rock as biofiltration with coral sand and c4 HOB fluval filter with seachem matrix, 1 seachem purigen and activated carbon as media
ReefsandGeeks
New member
how old is your tank? have you always had these issues? If you have rock that's added in, it could be curing or have some die off in it that will contribute to nitrate for some time.
If you tank is relatively new, you'll also have more nitrate as it takes a while for the denitrifying bacteria to grow.
With a canister filter, you may need to clean it more often as a form of nutrient export. I assume with a 20 gallon tank you don't have a skimmer, so your canister would be your only nutrient export. When you do clean it, you should shake the matrix in saltwater to get rid of the loose detritus as part of your canister cleaning.
I'd recommend starting No-Pox, or carbon dosing, but a good skimmer is mandatory for these, so if you don't have one it will not work ,and can cause harm to your tank due to bacterial growth and lack of oxygen.
If you tank is relatively new, you'll also have more nitrate as it takes a while for the denitrifying bacteria to grow.
With a canister filter, you may need to clean it more often as a form of nutrient export. I assume with a 20 gallon tank you don't have a skimmer, so your canister would be your only nutrient export. When you do clean it, you should shake the matrix in saltwater to get rid of the loose detritus as part of your canister cleaning.
I'd recommend starting No-Pox, or carbon dosing, but a good skimmer is mandatory for these, so if you don't have one it will not work ,and can cause harm to your tank due to bacterial growth and lack of oxygen.
I start my tank 5 month ago, at nov 2016 year ago, of course i using a mini skimmer, that was a local brand designed for smaller system, i using only fresh live rock which purchased from local lfs, who sold in the tank along with few fish roaming in it, and there are live critter live in that rock like micro bristle worm, aiptasia and feather duster till now, but the coralline seem to bleached over time, leave a white, chalky crust on it
ReefsandGeeks
New member
What livestock do you have in the tank, and how much do you feed daily? have you noticed any fish or large snails missing lately? You could either be over stocked for that size tank and current filtration, or possibly had a death in the tank which is causing a nutrient spike.
Also, have you made any additions to your tank recently? adding a new fish, even a small one on your size tank, can push the bio filtration past it's limit and cause never ending problems with nitrate and phosphate. If this is the case, either you'd have to re-home one of your fish, or add more matrix or similar in hopes that the extra filtration will be enough.
Also, have you made any additions to your tank recently? adding a new fish, even a small one on your size tank, can push the bio filtration past it's limit and cause never ending problems with nitrate and phosphate. If this is the case, either you'd have to re-home one of your fish, or add more matrix or similar in hopes that the extra filtration will be enough.
You say a few fish but what kind of fish and size?
