varder

I need help lowering my nitrates, I have tried lowering them by doing water changes which was the only thing I could think of but it just seems to keep coming back up again!! I tested the water and it came up to be:

pH:8.3-8.4
ammonia:0
nitrite:0
nitrate:40-80

I really need some help though I dont see anything wrong with the fish I am afraid that later on something will happen to them because of this. I try not to over feed as much, I only feed them what they can eat in a couple of mins once a day. As for the fish I have:
125 gallon:
1 yellow tang
1 blue tang
1 Lawnmower Blenny
1 Ocellaris Clownfish
1 green chromis
1 damsel

I have tried adding some macro algea in the refugium, but it just stays the same. thanks!!!

witt0018

Hi Varder.

I noticed the high ph, that would worry me more than a nitrate level of 40-80, concentrate on that first, perhaps a PH down treatment or equivilent.

Test the nitrate level in a glass of tap water, you may find that the nitrate level in there is quite high, so water changes will make very little difference.

If the tap water has a high nitrate level, the best course of action is to use distilled water, or even bottled minerall water during a water change.

Hope this helps.

Trev

sgould

Your pH does not concern me...8.1-8.4 is about right for SW. I do agree it would be worth looking into your tap water nitrate level. It could be shooting you in the foot. Next thing to look at with nitrates is how much and how often you are feeding, although it sounds like you have a good handle on it. You can try putting some macroalgae in either the tank, or the sump if you have one. The macroalgae will feed off of the nitrates and thereby bring them down. I know you said you have been trying water changes. How big and how often?

varder

Hello!!

I use RO water which I have tested and everything is fine with it. AS for feeding I will reduce it to a minimum just enough for them to eat( not going to starve them ) I have a refugium will it be good to put it there? or would it be good just in the tank?

The water changes are made each week 10-15% of the water.

witt0018

try larger water changes, I have fresh water, and change 30% a week using tap water that has been stood for a few days, and my levels always around 25, which is the same as our water supply.

sgould

Refugium would be a great place for some macroalgae. Try cheatomorpha. Keep in mind that it needs light, so if your fuge is under a dark cabinet that could be a problem.

blossom112

my rates shot up and i used bio-clean and bio-support ,it worked within 24 hours.

witt0018

aren't there filter media availble that are supposed to help with nitrates, I know Fluval do a big range, I just bought an amonia filter for my 205, but they do pete media, Activeated Charcoal, Ceramic, Biomax plus more, the list goes on.

The biomax is supposed to be good, it has a large surface area for the bacteria to live on, that is after all what helps with the nitrate and nitrite level, isn't it?