Bio balls and nitrates?

[Mickie]

So I.posted an earlier discussion about my nitrates skyrocketiing to 40-50ppm. I haven't changed anything.

However,

2 weeks ago I did a 30% water change and cleaned out everything...including my bioballs (swished them in the old tank water).

Are my nitrates caused by a mini cycle? Like I washed the bioballs too well?

I run an aquaclear, sponge>filter floss>carbon>purigen>bioballs.

 

[tankstudy]

After looking at your last post, I don't think its that.

This assuming nothing really big has indeed died off in your tank.

A lot of tanks out there actually don't produce enough of the correct environment that causes bacteria to consume nitrates. If your tank was 20 ppm last week, its highly likely that your nitrates are being produced at a rate in which exceeds what your tank inhabitants (Bacteria/coral/algaes) can consume. So if your producing 20 ppm nitrates a week but your tank is only consuming or removing 10 ppm nitrates a week, your going to start seeing a build up.

I would recommend looking in to methods that remove nitrates. There are many out there but macro algaes and carbon sources are some of the more common methods to remove nitrates.

 

[Mickie]

After looking at your last post, I don't think its that.

This assuming nothing really big has indeed died off in your tank.

A lot of tanks out there actually don't produce enough of the correct environment that causes bacteria to consume nitrates. If your tank was 20 ppm last week, its highly likely that your nitrates are being produced at a rate in which exceeds what your tank inhabitants (Bacteria/coral/algaes) can consume. So if your producing 20 ppm nitrates a week but your tank is only consuming or removing 10 ppm nitrates a week, your going to start seeing a build up.

I would recommend looking in to methods that remove nitrates. There are many out there but macro algaes and carbon sources are some of the more common methods to remove nitrates.

Thanks!

 

[lauderdalestunner]

Just pulled my bio balls and put in a block of marine pure. Still have some ceramic above getting trickled water but hope to start seeing some nitrate reduction. I have a ton of live rock and don't think the bio balls did much but take up space. Was a 15 year run but something's gotta change.