nitrates

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cally

New Member
I have a 12gal tank 9 lbs of live sand 12 lbs of live rock. nothing else in tank my nitrates ready seems to want to stay at 40 I have did many water changes and nothing seems to help.
nitrites 0
ammonia 0
alkis in normal range
ph 8.2
hydrometer reading 1.021
tank has beening running for a month :anxious
 
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toothadash

New Member
Hi Cally :)

Your SG should be higher than you have it, more like 1.025!

A refractometer would give you a better reading than the hydrometer in my experience and is a valued piece of equipment.

For your nitrate readings what brand test kit are you using?

Rich
 
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drnsee

New Member
SG of 1.025 is closer to natural sea water...inverts and corals tend to do better in that range. LFS usually keep fish at 1.021 because it is more cost effective to do so.

As for nitrates, do you have any back chambers? What are you keeping back there? Check your sponge/filter media...can be a nitrate trap. Usually recommend to remove bio balls, ceramic rings, etc. Make sure you have at least between 20 to 30 times the flow in your display, this will help keep any detritus or dead spots in check. What kind of water are you using? I have a polyfilter in my back chamber...it doesn't solve any direct issues but it can help the symptom. :)
 
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cally

New Member
no back chambers. My flow is 150 gph and all so have protien skimmer.
I my going to raise salt and turn temp back up it was at 72 going to run at 75. Going to do a 5 gallon water change again to night after work. I tested the water a got from lfs and the nitrates were 40. I am using ro water. when i tested it it was 0. Then add the salt at it was still 0. So hopefully this will help. I also changed the filter. Do I need to clean the sand even if I do not have anything in there. There are a few worms and that is it.
 
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drnsee

New Member
Skimmer will be helpful. 78-80 is actually an ideal temperature range unless you plan on keeping cooler temperature livestock...? 74 ish is usually too low, 84 ish is pushing the high end. The nitrates in your premix from your LFS was at 40 ppm nitrates? Yikes! I'd let them know that right away! I'd just lightly siphon the top of the sand, I never vacuum mine.
 
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funkngroovy

New Member
Confirm your readings with the LFS.

How deep is your sand. Sometimes sand beds between 2 and 5 inches can be detremental by not being able to complete the nitrate cycle.

How 'bout some tank shots? :oops:
 
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cally

New Member
just did another 5 gal water change my nitrates are now at 2.5 I willl do another test tomorrow and see where I am at
 
TimSchmidt

TimSchmidt

New Member
? Geoff I think she found the source of nitrates. But I do agree that maybe a different brand (once you finish this one) may be better suited. API is generally accurate and easy to use. Salifert is one recommended for accuracy but they are pricey.

Since you know your LFS has the water at 1.021 and you are raising yours, please make sure to properly acclimate anything you add to your tank.
 
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cally

New Member
did a test today and they are lower. Should I do about a 2 gal water change this weekend or more.now they read about 2
 
TimSchmidt

TimSchmidt

New Member
For a quick reduction in nitrates you can do a series of small water changes. Get about 3 gallons of change water ready and up to temperature. Do a 1 gallon water change and wait 10 minutes, then change another gallon, wait another 10 minutes, and then change the final gallon. This help reduce your nitrates a LOT and also let your critters accilimate to the *newer* water with minimal stress.
 
KoNP

KoNP

New Member
cally said:
what i meant is is thats its down to 20 not 2
Click to expand...
20 ppm is a whole lot better than what it was before. I agree with Tim, do a series of smaller changes.

Also, were you aware your husband is a Cylon :lol: :lol:

Hahah sorry couldn't resist :p
 
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davenia7

New Member
I will agree to disagree. Fewer larger wcs actually are more effective in nitrate reduction as ur removing them faster than they can rebuilt. However, if u don't know how to PERFECTLY match water stick with more smaller changes. I do 9 gal. Weekly on my 20L and my nitrates don't break 10ppm unless something dies. ( I had a heater go haywire last week ans jack my tank to 97 degrees) got 20ppm from that. Did 9 gal. Wc and back down to 5ppm.
 
KoNP

KoNP

New Member
TimSchmidt said:
KoNP said:
Also, were you aware your husband is a Cylon :lol: :lol:

Hahah sorry couldn't resist :p
Click to expand...
I had to research that one. Apparently you like Battlestar Galatica. :lol3:
Click to expand...
Hahahah yeah just a bit. There's a character on the show called Cally, her other half Galen turns out to be one of what're referred to as the "Final Five" cylons - came as a bit of a shock to him coz he thought he was human as did the other 4. Pretty compelling stuff :lol3:
 
TimSchmidt

TimSchmidt

New Member
davenia7 said:
I will agree to disagree. Fewer larger wcs actually are more effective in nitrate reduction as ur removing them faster than they can rebuilt. However, if u don't know how to PERFECTLY match water stick with more smaller changes. I do 9 gal. Weekly on my 20L and my nitrates don't break 10ppm unless something dies. ( I had a heater go haywire last week ans jack my tank to 97 degrees) got 20ppm from that. Did 9 gal. Wc and back down to 5ppm.
Click to expand...
Fair enough. :strip
 
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cally

New Member
I did the 3 gallon change and there is not a whloe lot of change. Then I did a 5 gallon change. Still need to be lower. So I did another 3 gallon change. I have come to think that my test I use is not true.I am now at 10. Is that going to be low enough to put fish and corals in?
 
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