First time post! I also need help with Nitrates

[ZachariahBeanzz]

Hello, this is my first time on Reef2Reef, and I’m excited to use it! However I do need help with a problem. I have a 20g AIO tank that’s been set up and running for about a month to two months. I only have fish right now. No light, or CUC yet. I’ve been dealing with very very high nitrates lately, and I don’t know the issue. I feed frozen food once a day, and I do a weekly 10% water change, but my nitrates are up around 50ppm. I’m also stating to get what looks like a white hair algae on my rocks, and glass. If you have any solutions, that would be appreciated!

 

[Science/G]

Your tank is cycling. The white film is probably bacteria. Check ammonia and nitrite, and if they are close to zero you are good. Perform a 25% to 50% water change then slowly turn your light up. Some aquarists recommend the addition of some sort of macro algae to combat the ugly stage of microalgae growth that is next

 

[Rjukan]

Welcome to R2R!

Can you post a picture of your tank with white lights on? It will help others help you with more detailed advice.

 

[ZachariahBeanzz]

Your tank is cycling. The white film is probably bacteria. Check ammonia and nitrite, and if they are close to zero you are good. Perform a 25% to 50% water change then slowly turn your light up. Some aquarists recommend the addition of some sort of macro algae to combat the ugly stage of microalgae growth that is next

Sorry, I didn’t mention, but my tank has been cycled. My ammonia and nitrite have been at 0ppm for around a month and a half. And I don’t know why my nitrate would be as high as they are. Like you said, you need to do a 25%-50% water change once cycled, and I did do that.

 

[Rhetoric]

If it was me I'd start feeding less. You will be surprised how much it can reduce Nitrates.

Couples ideas.

Try skipping a day or two a week.

Cut the overall amount by 1/3 (to start, watch fish health and adjust +/-)

Look at the type of food (maybe different brands kind of thing)

Some people rinse frozen by thawing it in a water cup then straining. This avoids adding the liquid to the display.

All of these can be added to any other prevention (water changes/socks/skimming ect)
 
Good luck

 

[ZachariahBeanzz]

If it was me I'd start feeding less. You will be surprised how much it can reduce Nitrates.

Couples ideas.

Try skipping a day or two a week.

Cut the overall amount by 1/3 (to start, watch fish health and adjust +/-)

Look at the type of food (maybe different brands kind of thing)

Some people rinse frozen by thawing it in a water cup then straining. This avoids adding the liquid to the display.

All of these can be added to any other prevention (water changes/socks/skimming ect)
 
Good luck

Thanks, I was already not feeding 2 days a week, but I’ll try the straining method!

 

[ZachariahBeanzz]

I know less than a week won’t really change anything, but I just tested my tank, and the nitrates actually seemed higher? I’ve been feeding less, and doing some research. I think my problem is my filtration. Backstory to how I ended up with this tank:
I went to my LFS, and I saw that this 20G AIO was only going for $150 with the stand. I was really wanting another tank at the time, so I just spontaneously bought it. This was bad idea seeing as I didn’t do research on the model, and it doesn’t seem to be a very good one. The filtration seems to be the wort part of it, and I think the lack of it is causing my high nitrates.

Looking back, it was a bit of a dumb idea to set it up this way, what should I change?

 

[Dkmoo]

Nitrate can only be truly removed in the following ways so your options are pretty limited if you have fish only and no lights. Something to think about on what direction you want to take your tank to next

1) anaerobic bacteria - need deep sandbed and large volume.- not very effective or fast in my experience

2) coral or algae, will need grow light, and a lot more research to do it right, esp with coral

3) water change - only effective for what you % take out and how much of the actual solid waste (detritus) you suck out.

4) mechanical filtration (socks) but only if you clean out the filter every few days to remove the waste before they rot and turn into amonia/nitrite/nitrate.

Not overfeeding only slows down the rate of NO3 accumulation. It does nothing to reduce nitrate.

 

[WvAquatics]

Above is great info. Water changes are the only way to remove nitrates minus corals and macroalgea. Maybe you can add cheato to the heater compartment and add some light for it.

 

[ZachariahBeanzz]

Above is great info. Water changes are the only way to remove nitrates minus corals and macroalgea. Maybe you can add cheato to the heater compartment and add some light for it.

Yeah, I’ve been looking into some way of adding some algae, and I found some HOB refugiums. Are those any good?

 

[ZachariahBeanzz]

Yeah, I’ve been looking into some way of adding some algae, and I found some HOB refugiums. Are those any good?

Actually, after measuring, I don’t think a HOB fuge would work. I was looking at some articles, about filtration. Do you think the biopellets I’m using are doing anything? Or should I change it to something else?