My nitrates will not go down.

[Aidanwolf]

Yes there are a few.

 

[Nano Reef Q]

I am following this. I have the same problem with my Fluval Evo 13.5. My nitrates are 20ppm, sometimes up to 40ppm. I did all the detective work, pump upgrade, etc & I am stumped. Even if I change 20-30% water weekly it tests high again within 4-5 days. And its frustrating to read some say do this and others are like no don't do that! Lol. I've also read others that say their tank has run at 40ppm for yrs -successfully so boom! That blows my mind too.

-My tank: 2 fish, 2 crabs, multiple inverts. Almost yr old. Upgraded pump. Use filter pad in 2nd chamber w/chemipure bag. Run skimmer 2-3 days a wk (I travel so don't run when not home, to difficult 4 pet sitter) usually pull ginger ale color when I do run), have added jebao wave controller for xtra flow, started w/wet live rock, when I vacuum fiji rock its white dust that comes up, even disturbed my rocks & cleaned under them....I am ordering a new test kit even tho my exp date is ok. I did try some Red Sea N03P0X but it did not do anything for me over a 2 wk period. Using RO water & LFS salt -tested both. My corals seem happy, my fish seem happy, all other parameters checked test in acceptable parameters. Maybe I should be happy with 40??!?!

 

[scoopsthedog]

Try BactoBalls by fauna marine

 

[Aidanwolf]

I am following this. I have the same problem with my Fluval Evo 13.5. My nitrates are 20ppm, sometimes up to 40ppm. I did all the detective work, pump upgrade, etc & I am stumped. Even if I change 20-30% water weekly it tests high again within 4-5 days. And its frustrating to read some say do this and others are like no don't do that! Lol. I've also read others that say their tank has run at 40ppm for yrs -successfully so boom! That blows my mind too.

-My tank: 2 fish, 2 crabs, multiple inverts. Almost yr old. Upgraded pump. Use filter pad in 2nd chamber w/chemipure bag. Run skimmer 2-3 days a wk (I travel so don't run when not home, to difficult 4 pet sitter) usually pull ginger ale color when I do run), have added jebao wave controller for xtra flow, started w/wet live rock, when I vacuum fiji rock its white dust that comes up, even disturbed my rocks & cleaned under them....I am ordering a new test kit even tho my exp date is ok. I did try some Red Sea N03P0X but it did not do anything for me over a 2 wk period. Using RO water & LFS salt -tested both. My corals seem happy, my fish seem happy, all other parameters checked test in acceptable parameters. Maybe I should be happy with 40??!?!

[/QUOTE
What kind of water do you use when you are doing a water change, if it is tap water that you are using that may be the issue.

 

[Nano Reef Q]

I buy both my RO water for topoff & weekly salt water from my LFS. I mean I tested both at one point now trusting every batch is good...not sure I want to run a test every week but maybe just to rule out everything.
For awhile I was running syphorax (sp?) bioballs in my tank as recommended by someone who works at a local marine aquarium-they use BIG balls of same brand in smaller quarantine in theirs-I ran them a month w/no variance-matter of fact my corals seemed more closed (water wasn't as dirty to their preference perhaps)....

 

[cmcoker]

I buy both my RO water for topoff & weekly salt water from my LFS. I mean I tested both at one point now trusting every batch is good...not sure I want to run a test every week but maybe just to rule out everything.
For awhile I was running syphorax (sp?) bioballs in my tank as recommended by someone who works at a local marine aquarium-they use BIG balls of same brand in smaller quarantine in theirs-I ran them a month w/no variance-matter of fact my corals seemed more closed (water wasn't as dirty to their preference perhaps)....

I have had issues with ammonia in my ro, might check that too. Cause even if your tank can cycle it, it's basically adding nitrates with every top off and water change. I discovered it when I was trying to lower ammonia in a quarantine tank..
This can be an issue from 2 sources, your rodi if your city uses chloramine and the di is exhausted or nearly.
People have reported cats in the house causing ammonia in ro water, from ammonia being released by litter box and ro water absorbing

 

[Nano Reef Q]

I went ahead & tested both 5 gal jugs (RO & salt) purchased from my LFS & zero for reading. Tested my tank & I am 10ppm so I am happy w/that actually. The jugs are in the garage & my litter box is on the 2nd fl of house so pretty far apart from each other.
I have been dosing Red Sea this week & I cut down on food given to pretty much a pea size frozen piece 1x a day so maybe that is my answer. I really don't want to dose anything daily though.