High Nitrate please help want to save my kenya tree

[Ariellemcc]

Best way to deal with nitrate other than water changes. I do water changes every week and a large water change once a month. Change/clean filter media as instructed. And i can’t get the dang nitrate down. Im at a loss. i know the test sucks but i currently use a api drops test and it look likes is 80s.
I was gifted a rock with some kenya tree on it a few days ago from a fellow keeper (their tank is clean and they have lots of thriving corals, anemones ext) (including this kenya tree that was doing well in their tank) and i don’t know what its doing now (ps i haven't been able to keep anemones alive I've tried a few times and i really don't want this to die)

125 gallon
Fx4 filter
125 gallon rated skimmer
125 gallon rated uv light
Rabbitfish, 2 foxface , 4 tangs, pair of clowns, hawkfish, 1 damsel, 4 chromis
Feed flakes or pellets in morning and night and sometimes (maybe once a week) frozen food midday

 

[bryanfuel1]

Cut down your feeding to once a day or every other day for starters.

Nitrates are a bit tricky to manage in newer tanks. Water changes are a solid option but time consuming and expensive. You can also look into a refugium or algae scrubber for exporting nitrates. I wouldn’t recommend a deep sand bed.

 

[PPBlimpy]

How often do you clean the fx4?

I ran a fx6 for a while on an 75g and if I went more then 8 days nitrates would climb.

the filters need to be cleaned often. Always rinsed in the old water that I pulled from the tank.

I did 5g swaps weekly on the 75.

And Definetly reduce feeding. Once a day the tangs are going to be pigs and always eat but they need to do their job and help clean the tank by eating stuff on the rocks etc

 

[Dragen Fiend]

Three ways to lower nutrients:

1. Feed less
2. water change
3. add more corals or macro algae to consume it

Can we get a full tank shot? We can get a better idea of the full tank. API can be widely inaccurate.

 

[FUNGI]

Its a new tree in your system. It will bounce back once it acclimates to its new environment....NOTE: Medium indirect flow.....sand looks too clean...how old is your tank?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

What do you have for flow in the tank, anything besides the filter flow? It looks a little low flow, more flow will push more water into the filtration system

The tank doesn't seem overloaded and seems to be good filtration, I don't believe that 2 feedings per day are too much, unless you're dumping food into the tank.

I also think you should upgrade the test kit, API is a good guide at best, but I wouldn't bet my tank on it.

 

[Science/G]

All good advice given above!!!

 

[Ariellemcc]

Cut down your feeding to once a day or every other day for starters.

Nitrates are a bit tricky to manage in newer tanks. Water changes are a solid option but time consuming and expensive. You can also look into a refugium or algae scrubber for exporting nitrates. I wouldn’t recommend a deep sand bed.

Its not a new tank per say ive had it since may of 2023 but we just upgraded from the 75 to a 125

 

[Ariellemcc]

How often do you clean the fx4?

I ran a fx6 for a while on an 75g and if I went more then 8 days nitrates would climb.

the filters need to be cleaned often. Always rinsed in the old water that I pulled from the tank.

I did 5g swaps weekly on the 75.

And Definetly reduce feeding. Once a day the tangs are going to be pigs and always eat but they need to do their job and help clean the tank by eating stuff on the rocks etc

I try to clean it when i do water changes and clean the media at least every other week and change for the media as recommended

 

[Ariellemcc]

Three ways to lower nutrients:

1. Feed less
2. water change
3. add more corals or macro algae to consume it

Can we get a full tank shot? We can get a better idea of the full tank. API can be widely inaccurate.

 

[Ariellemcc]

Its a new tree in your system. It will bounce back once it acclimates to its new environment....NOTE: Medium indirect flow.....sand looks too clean...how old is your tank?

Its a new tree in your system. It will bounce back once it acclimates to its new environment....NOTE: Medium indirect flow.....sand looks too clean...how old is your tank?

Had a 75 since May 2023 but recently upgraded to the 125 but used the same sand and rock and most of the same water

 

[Ariellemcc]

What do you have for flow in the tank, anything besides the filter flow? It looks a little low flow, more flow will push more water into the filtration system

The tank doesn't seem overloaded and seems to be good filtration, I don't believe that 2 feedings per day are too much, unless you're dumping food into the tank.

I also think you should upgrade the test kit, API is a good guide at best, but I wouldn't bet my tank on it.

Working on getting a hanna checker and i am very careful with feedings and i have a wave make opposite of the filter

 

[PPBlimpy]

My opinion after seeing the tank pictures. You need way more rock. more rock = more good bacteria.

I have approx 150lbs in my 125.

Maybe look into carbon dosing, vodka or vinegar.

 

[PPBlimpy]

Had a 75 since May 2023 but recently upgraded to the 125 but used the same sand and rock and most of the same water

How did you go about cleaning the sand between transfer?

Back to the Kenya tree, light may be a culprit also.

Looks like a marine land strip or something similar. On my 75 I had to run 3 front to back to get anything to grow down low. Without a rock mound to raise it up you may not have enough light

 

[Spare time]

You need a better light

 

[Ariellemcc]

My opinion after seeing the tank pictures. You need way more rock. more rock = more good bacteria.

I have approx 150lbs in my 125.

Maybe look into carbon dosing, vodka or vinegar.

I just started vodka today and working on getting more rock used all we had at the time

 

[Ariellemcc]

How did you go about cleaning the sand between transfer?

Back to the Kenya tree, light may be a culprit also.

Looks like a marine land strip or something similar. On my 75 I had to run 3 front to back to get anything to grow down low. Without a rock mound to raise it up you may not have enough light

Used a buck of water from the 75 to try to rinse the sand a bit but didnt want to wash it to much and i will try to raise the kenya tree up. What kinda light should i get for it

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I would not assume nitrate at 80 ppm is harming that coral. Some great tanks have had higher levels.

 

[Ariellemcc]

I would not assume nitrate at 80 ppm is harming that coral. Some great tanks have had higher levels.

Im kind guessing at 80s its the api drops test

 

[I never finish anythi]

Personally I don't think you have enough live rock in the system. I'd get twice as much live rock and I think you will notice a big difference.