Desperate for Advise

[Big Rev]

Fellow reefers, I've recently transitioned from a FOWLR tank to Reef Tank in January. I've struggled with high nitrates and now that I've invested considerably in corals, LPS mostly, my nitrates are still high despite carbon dosing, Nitrate Reactor (i had on FOWLR). I'm asking for some clarification about my SUPER HIGH nitrates and why the corals seem to be doing great...to me...but I want them to last and be the best they can be. My April Fauna Marin ICP: Nitrate:434, Phos:11, Cal:678, Alk:10.5, MAg:1260, PH:7.9 and my ORP via Apex was 264. As of this message, my ORP has now tanked to 40! During this time I've switched from filter socks to Fleece Roller Filter and upgraded my skimmer to Octo 200ext. Question: Am I just being paranoid or what suggestions (I've done multiple water changes 265g tank) and I've been pouring money into this for months now (5 figures!) and I need help advise, talking off the ledge! I wish I had a local "buddy to help, but I don't, so I'm relying on youtube videos (I know...) or LFSs that are little help other than selling me more stuff. I'm turning to this group of experienced reefer for advise. Appreciate your responses!

 

[Big Rev]

Also, I purchased test frags prior to investing in larger colonies and they did well.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

What percentage of water changes are you doing and how often?
Your phosphates are 11 or .11?
.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

Agree with @ Gumbies R US! Tell us about your water change habits, please. That is ultimately how you get nitrates down.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

nitrate at 434 and phosphate at 11? What test kit can even test that high? Did you only start testing in January when you transitioned to reef? Tank pictures really help a lot, need a visual idea. Thanks.

 

[Big Rev]

11!

 

[Big Rev]

40 gallon water change 3 times since January.

 

[Big Rev]

I just purchased a new Apex DOS and will be setting up auto water change system this week to facilitate regular water change scheduling hoping to reduce nutrients over time.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I just purchased a new Apex DOS and will be setting up auto water change system this week to facilitate regular water change scheduling hoping to reduce nutrients over time.

Good idea with the Apex DOS, I would start doing weekly 10-15% water changes and see if that reduces your nitrates and phosphates.

 

[Big Rev]

Its a poor pic, but a general idea of setup.

 

[Big Rev]

nitrate at 434 and phosphate at 11? What test kit can even test that high? Did you only start testing in January when you transitioned to reef? Tank pictures really help a lot, need a visual idea. Thanks.

This was an ICP test. My Hanna test kits...I bought all of them, would max out. I've been testing over the years. The tank is @9 years old.

 

[Big Rev]

I'm also considering biopellet reactor purchase.

 

[Big Rev]

However, my rational self is telling that just dumping more money into the tank won't help. I'm reaching out to hear if I'm going to spend the money, put here vs there or better yet, STOP! I also have Ozone and CO2 setups on the way. My idea is to setup all this "Stuff" up then leave the tank be....besides maintenance and feeding.

 

[Big Rev]

I'll also add that I must be doing something right. I contacted Hanna about the blinking 75 reading on nitrate HR checker. Was told to dilute sample to get a valid reading. Diluting to 1 part tank water and 9 parts RO/DI I got results of 688! I did water change and waited 2-days and retested to get 678! That's when I got ICP test done because these results seemed unbelievable. The ICP came back in April at 434. New Hanna reagents are arriving today and I'll test again. My last test 5/17 resulted in blinking 75, but I ran out of reagent to perform test with diluted sample.

 

[Dread Pirate Dave]

I'd hold off on spending more money and start doing more consistent water changes as @Gumbies R Us suggested above. Three 40 gallon water changes over the course of 5 months is obviously not enough. How much/often do you feed your fish? It just seems like a heavy in and not so heavy out issue. Do you have an algae scrubber or refugium with chaeto in use?

 

[Big Rev]

I'd hold off on spending more money and start doing more consistent water changes as @Gumbies R Us suggested above. Three 40 gallon water changes over the course of 5 months is obviously not enough. How much/often do you feed your fish? It just seems like a heavy in and not so heavy out issue. Do you have an algae scrubber or refugium with chaeto in use?

I'm debating between the biopellets or a dedicated Algae reactor/chaeto. Hoping for some pro/con advise on either.

 

[aray]

What percentage of water changes are you doing and how often?
Your phosphates are 11 or .11?
You can always try using Neo nitrate or Neo phosphate to help reduce your phosphate and nitrate levels.

Just making sure Im not missing something, but isn't NeoNitro and NeoPhos used to increase your nitrate and phosphate. So in this case the OP wouldn't want to use that

 

[Uncle99]

I am just lost.

You have a 9 year old FOWLR tank in which you added corals 5 months ago and your nitrate is 434ppm? Do I understand that correctly.

In 9 years I would have expected very seasoned mature rock with great processing abilities.

Even north of 100ppm, That would kill my system. Fish ok, but corals?

Maybe I’m missing something.

If some test gave me that number I’d just laugh.

 

[Dom]

40 gallon water change 3 times since January.

40 gallon water changes 3 times since January on a 265 gallon tank isn't enough.

Water changes typically are 20% of the total water volume. In your case, that would be 53 gallons. If your facility only allows for 40 gallons at a time, increase the frequency of the changes.

 

[arcangelreef32]

Those small water changes are not going to do jack.
You have years of built up waste decaying in your system. Even if you did 50% changes it will take massive amounts of them to get your levels down, and thats not even taking into account the input still coming into the water. You could just end up spinning your wheels, going nowhere.
It seems you are getting zero anerobic activity.
What is the flow like in your tank?
Do you have a sand bed?
Sump system?
Fish load?
This is something that wont be fixed overnight, its going to take serious work and effort and maybe even some drastic measures to correct. Such as just removing rock and sand, cleaning or just outright replacing.