Very high nitrates

casethekid · #1 04/06/2006, 01:03 AM

I have a strange issue with my nitrate levels in my tank. They are way above 50mg/l. The test kit that I have goes almost purple when it should be reading very light yellow to clear. I have been doing 25-50% water changes weekly, changed all the filters, taken all the sand and rock out for 2 months everything that I can possibly think of. It is still way out of proportion.

This is the first time that I have experienced anything like this in any of my tanks, anyone have any ideas?

richfavinger · #2 04/06/2006, 01:23 AM

Just for kicks, have you checked your RO/DI? (Test the water)
Have you tried another kit / another lot?
What food are you feeding / how much?

casethekid · #3 04/06/2006, 01:30 AM

I have checked my RO/DI and nitrates don't register anything. I am using the Salifert (sp?) test kits as recommended on Reef Central, and I have taken a water sample to my LFS, and they get the same readings. I feed my fish 1 cube of mysis shrimp 3 times weekly and then one time a month I put 2 cubes in for 1 feeding. I have a second aquarium that I could setup as a sump, but I don't have the resources to get that working. My 2x55w pc bulbs are a little old at 8 months and I have a cpr bakpak skimmer that I put a 255 lph water pump on. If I missed something let me know.

llewoh05 · #4 04/06/2006, 06:17 AM

all of your livestock accounted for? sounds like something is rotten.

Randy Holmes-Farley · #5 04/06/2006, 09:21 AM

Water changes are not usually a very effective way of maintaining low nitrate, but they may be useful to help bring it down initially.

I prefer skimming and growing macroalgae to keep nitrate and phosphate in check, but there are many other methods, some of which are outlined in this article:

Nitrate in the Reef Aquarium
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...t2003/chem.htm

richfavinger · #6 04/06/2006, 11:32 AM

I to am dealing with Nitrates at the moment, but will be adding a CPR AquaFuge to my 75g (there large one). If you can't setup a sump, I'd highly recommend one to grow your macro algae, as Randy says, it's really the only way to keep them preeminently in check.

I will also be getting the Salifert kits for Phosphate, and Nitrate, along with that order, so this could be an interesting weekend. My LaMotte kit is very old, and my guess is not too accurate any more, so I hope it's a nice replacement. I just wish they made a DO ALL "Master" Kit.

Something I did forget, yes is all of your livestock accounted for? The death of even one large snail can spike your levels... You may also want to consider a larger skimmer, I run the CSS 220 on my tank.