Can't lower my nitrates. Help needed

[kevindv001]

Hello all,

In december I finally bought my first saltwater tank, A red sea nano g2 peninsula (29G / 100litre).
Cycled for 2 months and then added a pair of clows, another month later a goby and pistol shrimp, and last month a blenny .
I put some soft coral in, and a few zoah frags.

Now since a month i'm battling a red cyano outbreak, my nitrates are also very high (75ppm+).
What can i do to get rid of the cyano and lowering my nitrates to my preffered value (10ppm).

First, here are all my water parameters :

Salinity : 1.025
Ph : 8.25
dKh = 9.1
Mg = 1330
Ca = 430
NO3 = 75
Po4 = 0.009
NH3 = 0
NO2 = 0

I am dosing NoPOX for around 2weeks now (3ml/day) and doing 15% waterchanges twice a week.
Also dosing Lyox Cyano Control to try to get rid of the cyano. but it doens't make a difference atm.
I was thinking about upping my Po4, would dosing P help to balance NO3/P04 and then lower my nitrate?

When i do my water changes , i also vacuum the sand, but the cyano is back the next day.
an hour after the water change, my NO3 is around 68-71 , but the next day back at 75+
I have no dead spots for flow, i have a Tunze 6020 nano in the back for flow, and in the front i have a AI Nero 3 .
Since last week, my zoahs are also not fully opening, so i really want to get my parameters right.
Attached you can see a picture of the cyano in my tank .

Hopefully you guys can help me out, I really like the reef tank, and would really love to make it the best environment for my fish and corals.

Thanks !!!

(the glass inside the tank is to let my red mushroom coral attack to a rock )

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

What test kit are you using? How much are you feeding? Do you use a filter pad or sock and how often do you change it? Do you have a protein skimmer? Just looking for a bit more info... thanks

 

[liddojunior]

What do you have for flow settings? And for lights? Do you know your par?

I’m not seeing any algae, so I’m thinking your lights are set really low and you might not have enough flow that encourages the cyano to take hold.

 

[jeffmr4]

Chemiclean (blue box) always worked well for me in getting rid of cyanobacteria.

 

[kevindv001]

What test kit are you using? How much are you feeding? Do you use a filter pad or sock and how often do you change it? Do you have a protein skimmer? Just looking for a bit more info... thanks

Using salifert test kit, but since then bought Hanna. Both same result.

Feeding once a dag minimal. I read that you need to feed as much as the eyeball size.

I have a red sea nanomat and the in build skimmer. Skimming a lot, need to empty every 2/3 days

 

[kevindv001]

What do you have for flow settings? And for lights? Do you know your par?

I’m not seeing any algae, so I’m thinking your lights are set really low and you might not have enough flow that encourages the cyano to take hold.

I have enough flow I think. 1 Ai nero 3 5000l/h. One tunze nanostream 3000l/h and the red sea return pump.

Not tested my par but I have the red sea light 50 and using 65% blue and 10% white

 

[liddojunior]

I have enough flow I think. 1 Ai nero 3 5000l/h. One tunze nanostream 3000l/h and the red sea return pump.

Not tested my par but I have the red sea light 50 and using 65% blue and 10% white

I would rent a par meter to check. And meant to ask what the settings are for the pumps, like do you have pulsing at what percent, or random.

I ask because the lack of algae suggest low light and the possible low flow could be the root cause for the cyano.

 

[liddojunior]

Using salifert test kit, but since then bought Hanna. Both same result.

Feeding once a dag minimal. I read that you need to feed as much as the eyeball size.

I have a red sea nanomat and the in build skimmer. Skimming a lot, need to empty every 2/3 days

For the feeding, the eyeball size is a myth. Depending on the age, you need small but frequent feedings so they grow. But sounds like you arent overfeeding, BUT it could be getting caught in the filter and decomposing instead of being eaten. Do you turn down the flow for feeding? And see where the food goes?

As for the skimmer, do you have a photo of the skimmer and skimmate. If you are wet skimming aggresively, you might be having salinity swinging.

 

[kevindv001]

I would rent a par meter to check. And meant to ask what the settings are for the pumps, like do you have pulsing at what percent, or random.

I ask because the lack of algae suggest low light and the possible low flow could be the root cause for the cyano.

AT night I have it 45%. Then morning 2 hour pulse waves, then 8 hour random 45%-75% then 2 hour waves again and then 45% at night again. Would show you my template but can only see that if im close to the aquarium.

Great tip for the par meter, will ask my lfs if I can rent it there

 

[kevindv001]

For the feeding, the eyeball size is a myth. Depending on the age, you need small but frequent feedings so they grow. But sounds like you arent overfeeding, BUT it could be getting caught in the filter and decomposing instead of being eaten. Do you turn down the flow for feeding? And see where the food goes?

As for the skimmer, do you have a photo of the skimmer and skimmate. If you are wet skimming aggresively, you might be having salinity swinging.

I do no turn the flow down for feeding. And I see them eating it all.

Wil post a picture of my skimmer tomorrow, I'm not home for the rest of the day

 

[liddojunior]

AT night I have it 45%. Then morning 2 hour pulse waves, then 8 hour random 45%-75% then 2 hour waves again and then 45% at night again. Would show you my template but can only see that if im close to the aquarium.

Great tip for the par meter, will ask my lfs if I can rent it there

I do no turn the flow down for feeding. And I see them eating it all.

Wil post a picture of my skimmer tomorrow, I'm not home for the rest of the day

Most wavemakers do have a feed mode button so you can quickly hit that before feeding, could help make sure the food gets eaten. Its not uncommon for them to eat 35% of the food and the rest gets into filter if the flow is going. Think about eating food while its on a conveyor belt, you will get a good amount but the crumbs and not all of it will get eaten in time for it to run into the filter. Vitalis pellets could be a good option over flakes since youre in EU.

Also depends on what form the food is, pellets or flakes.

All LFS basically let you rent one out for a weekend, a few local ones charge just 20$ for a weekend.

 

[legionofdoon]

https://www.aquamaxxaquariums.com/ts-3-sulfur-denitrator This if used right will definitely work. It's what I use. I tried everything else, carbon dosing, ats, refugium, bio pellets and massive water changes. This is by far the easiest and most set and forget you will ever find. Polo reef and Parkers reef in YT use them. Mine is set up to turn over my water every 3 days and it keeps my nitrates between 7.6-10. I also feed very heavy. Pellets( about 5 times a day)frozen twice a day and one sheet of nori. It will drop your alk and maybe increase your calcium (mine did both) so you need to keep an eye on that til it settles in which is about 3-4 weeks and you'll need a needle valve to regulate the effluent. My starting nitrates were 75+ as well. You also don't have to worry about bacterial slime or imbalances. I do dose microbe lift special blend once a day. If you have any questions feel free to DM me.