thedrunkingpig

hi, ive read and read and read and read some more about the nitrogen cycle. my nitrites are 0, but my nitrates are high (off the chart)

ive a 60liter nano, with LR and skimmer running, ive also done a small water change.

the tank has been cycling for 2 months now. are no animals in the tank.

should i do a large water change? perhaps 50% - 60% maybe 40%

i never had this problem with my freshwater tank

sgould

Where are you with ammonia and nitrite? If you are still getting readings of either, I'd say hold off on a water change since there is no livestock in the tank. If both are 0 and cycle is complete, then I'd be more inclined to begin water changes to bring down the nitrates before beginning to stock.

thedrunkingpig

nitrite and ammonia are at 0. have been for about 4 weeks.

im thinking a 50% then fill to 70%, back down to 50% then to 100%

the rapid nitrate reduction technique.

locoyo386

Hi there,

First thing, what have you been diong to the tank in the four weeks that the ammonia and nitrites have been zero?

Second, if you are planing to keep corals than you should reduce the nitrates as you mentioned above. If you are not going to keep corals than a simple 50% water change should be ok.

By the way are is the nitrates reading?

thedrunkingpig

havent been doing anything other than testing the nitrates. might keep coral but not for a while. nitrate is 80+ or 100+. either way its too high

will do a bigish water change tomorrow or sunday and let you know what is happening

thanks for the info, its all greatly appreciated

thanks!

locoyo386

80+ or 100+ seems high, the tank just cycled right? Usually it takes a few months to reach that high with livestock and feeding the fish. Either way you can bring them down.

thedrunkingpig

whilst doing my water change (60%) i found the rotting remains of a dead crab which must have come with the LR. think this could have been the cause of high nitrate?

locoyo386

possibly, it would continue to decay and increase nitrates.

thedrunkingpig

thanks for the advice locoyo386. greatly appreciated. ive done 3 70% water changes, seems to have dropped the nitrate a fair bit. still between 25 - 12mg. whats an acceptable level for clowns? i know 0 would be ideal, but you know...

locoyo386

Well I beleive that fish are less stressed by nitrates than corals are, thus you should be ok with nitrates as far as fish are concerned. I do believe you said you are giong to go with corals, if so than you should have the nitrates as close to zero as possible.