Very high nitrates
- Thread starter SSLVRNBLK
- Start date
Your sandbed may well be an issue, but algae doesn't "burn" nitrates - it only uses it in growth. So, if you have a huge ball of chaeto that isn't growing larger, it isn't helping you control nitrates. Reduce the size of the chaeto and see how fast it grows back to it's large size (then reduce it again
).Kevin
Are you using RO/DI water or at least RO water? Tap water around my area has high concentration of nitrate and PO4.
If everything you have tried failed you could use the following option as carbon dosing.
1. Bio pellets - Cheap and effective of removing nitrate and PO4
2. Zeovit basic 4
3. Prodibio - We have successful with this in our office tank, it was covered in algae and over few months the Prodibio has brought the nutrients down to a low range. (this stuff works)
If you are using any of the 3 make sure you are not double carbon dosing or you will have a bacteria bloom.
If everything you have tried failed you could use the following option as carbon dosing.
1. Bio pellets - Cheap and effective of removing nitrate and PO4
2. Zeovit basic 4
3. Prodibio - We have successful with this in our office tank, it was covered in algae and over few months the Prodibio has brought the nutrients down to a low range. (this stuff works)
If you are using any of the 3 make sure you are not double carbon dosing or you will have a bacteria bloom.
You should be seeing something on the order of .3 to .5 increase in nitrates a day if you were doing nothing for denitrification. I don't want to put too much emphasis on this because is is only minimal given the size, are you running a 24 hour light on your algal system? Many of the benefits of an algal system are lost at night when it reverses most of what it was doing during the day. Though it won't release nitrates unless it is consumed or decays.
Water changes will help a little, but the effect does not last long even in a system that is functioning correctly. I am afraid you will have to address the underlying issue.
I have seen results of one test vs another test where the results are predictably 4 to 5 times the readings on others because of the method of testing, but none of the methods are 10 to 20 times off normal, nor will you see massive increases regularly because of the test.
You seem to have a very efficient process happening for nitrification, but something is driving it very hard. You will need to do some major house cleaning to rectify the issue of rotting material in your system. The rotting stuff is producing ammonia which is leading to your nitrate issue.
Water changes will help a little, but the effect does not last long even in a system that is functioning correctly. I am afraid you will have to address the underlying issue.
I have seen results of one test vs another test where the results are predictably 4 to 5 times the readings on others because of the method of testing, but none of the methods are 10 to 20 times off normal, nor will you see massive increases regularly because of the test.
You seem to have a very efficient process happening for nitrification, but something is driving it very hard. You will need to do some major house cleaning to rectify the issue of rotting material in your system. The rotting stuff is producing ammonia which is leading to your nitrate issue.
This is not true unless you are running a heterotrophic dominated system with no substrates. It is a popular misconception so I can understand why some people think this. The bacteria that most of us rely on are on the surfaces of everything in the system and only very minuscule amounts are ever in the water column, again with exception for roving bands of heterotrophs.
I will post a picture today of my tank.. I have ZERO algea and everything looks good.. As a matter of fact my flowerpot has started to open again.. But I do think my test results are accurate because as I stated I tested my virgin salt water and it had zero Nitrates and phosphates... So I do think I have nitrate issues.. I do run bio balls in my sump.. Could these be the issue? I have also never cleaned out my sump.. The lights are on 24/7 in my Refuguim.. Do you think by me changing 10 gallons every day along with vodka dosing I will get my nitrates in check?
But I do think my test results are accurate because as I stated I tested my virgin salt water and it had zero Nitrates and phosphates... So I do think I have nitrate issues.. I do run bio balls in my sump.. Could these be the issue? I have also never cleaned out my sump.. The lights are on 24/7 in my Refuguim.. Do you think by me changing 10 gallons every day along with vodka dosing I will get my nitrates in check?I will post a picture today of my tank.. I have ZERO algea and everything looks good.. As a matter of fact my flowerpot has started to open again..
I would figure out what is causing these very high nitrates. In addition to all the other types of filtration possible, I also have bioballs. They need to be cleaned regularly or they will cause higher nitrates. Detritus collects in sumps so cleaning that out will help. In both cases a well placed pump turned on once a week will flush all of this out, but you will need something to catch it in and that should not be the sand in your tank.
Carbon dosing which I also do with sugar will bring down the nitrates, but you will ultimately have to do a lot.. a lot less of that if you clean everything first. It took be about 6 weeks of carbon dosing to go from 50ppm of nitrate to 1ppm of nitrate in a steady state. With the amount you are generating, you may never actually get there before the amount of carbon needed starts generating unwanted things like clouds of bacteria or types of bacteria you don't want becoming dominate in tank.
kissman
Active member
I had NO3 that high once, I started doing 50% water chnages every 2 days until it hit 20ppm at that point I started Vodka dosing and it brought it down to zero, creeped back uo after I stopped Vodka dosing and I started Vinegar dosing with better results. There is a great write up in Reefkeeper Magazine but the site is down or i would link it
Well it could be to that im impatience to.. After all its just been over a week of dosing and I want to see zero for nitrates.. lol So maybe I should just let it play itself out and do some maintenance to see if I can help the process along.. I should give it at least three weeks of vodka dosing before I make a call on it.. Dont you think?
I think im going to do just that.. Change 10 gallons a day until it drops to 15-20 PPM and then just keep vodka dosing until it gets to 1 ppm.. Do some house keeping to help it maybe get some purigen in my sump? Do you think that would help?
kissman
Active member
it will take longer than 3 weeks, maybe 3 months, but it will be longer than 3 weeks. Oh I remember when I wanted to see zero Nitrates in my tank, now that I have them I am trying to raise them to 1-2ppm to keep more SPS from starving. I remember when I tested one time, the tube was so red looked like I gave blood. Good luck!
LMAO!!! Thats where im at... What I would do to see yellow today... lol
