High nitrate problem

[ZachariahBeanzz]

I have a bit of an unusual situation with my 20g tank. When I was cycling it, life got busy, so I mostly just let it run. To test if it was ready, I would occasionally add ammonia and check if it dropped the next day. Doing this a few times has resulted in really high nitrates. After adding a fish and some clean-up crew, I unfortunately lost the fish. My nitrates are still quite high, above 50 ppm. I’m feeding 2 to 3 times a week just to give the clean-up crew something to eat, but I wouldn’t think that would cause such high nitrates. Is there a way to lower these levels without doing large, frequent water changes? Any advice would be much appreciated!

 

[DarthRaiderBob]

I mean, if you're make the water just do a big water change. 15 gallons is 75%. I'd start there.

 

[Uncle99]

Water changes are the easiest and most accurate.
A Fuge can mop up nitrates, buts that’s a bit expensive.
You can carbon dose like no pox but that’s slow, maybe 3-4 months to go from 50 to 5ppm.

Very normal in a new system.

 

[Dread Pirate Dave]

I have a bit of an unusual situation with my 20g tank. When I was cycling it, life got busy, so I mostly just let it run. To test if it was ready, I would occasionally add ammonia and check if it dropped the next day. Doing this a few times has resulted in really high nitrates. After adding a fish and some clean-up crew, I unfortunately lost the fish. My nitrates are still quite high, above 50 ppm. I’m feeding 2 to 3 times a week just to give the clean-up crew something to eat, but I wouldn’t think that would cause such high nitrates. Is there a way to lower these levels without doing large, frequent water changes? Any advice would be much appreciated!

How many and what kind of fish? An algea scrubber should help but water changes should be done too.

 

[ZachariahBeanzz]

How many and what kind of fish? An algea scrubber should help but water changes should be done too.

I added just a tailspot blenny, and yeah, I do a 15-20% water change every Saturday, but it doesn’t seem to do anything.

 

[ZachariahBeanzz]

I mean, if you're make the water just do a big water change. 15 gallons is 75%. I'd start there.

I wish I could! I sadly don’t make my own water, and so I have to save for this tank, and my others until I go back to my LFS once a month.

 

[Damage12]

You’re getting your saltwater for water changes from your LFS? If so, have you tested that water first to see if that water has high nitrates?

 

[Dread Pirate Dave]

I added just a tailspot blenny, and yeah, I do a 15-20% water change every Saturday, but it doesn’t seem to do anything.

20 gallons of water with 20% weekly water changes will have about 60% new water in a month. What are your nitrates running at? Maybe feed less?

Effective Water Change Calculator

Aquarium calculator; Estimate the effective water change amount of several combined smaller water changes.

www.hamzasreef.com

 

[DarthRaiderBob]

I wish I could! I sadly don’t make my own water, and so I have to save for this tank, and my others until I go back to my LFS once a month.

You would be way better off to save for an rodi setup and a box of salt. You've probably spent enough to have purchased one already and you will save money in the long run.

 

[BoaConservationist]

i think its possible to do this hobby for cheaper but i think bare minimum is at least a hydrometer - temp gun and reliable salt (you also must shake and mix the bags/buckets, pre mix- no matter the brand) with these tools you are equipped to fix problems, even if this means 100% changeouts , i like instant ocean purple for its simplicity sake, its a "devil I know" situation but its very consistent overall and easy to dose, sold everywhere, easy to measure and starts off higher alk, lower iron (good for not growing bad stuff early like algae) --- buying water from a fish store is the equivalent of adding wild caught specimens directly to the display, ive yet to see a fish store truly free from pest or dosing /chemistry issues (at least in my state) If I could reliably get ESV B ionic salt where you truly mix your own, and I were running a finely tuned system, this would be my go to salt, but alas, somehow, instant ocean purple has better parameters for my systems.

to compound this, what was your dechlorination method? as this has a direct impact, did we use RODI? Tap+ dechlorinator from the sound of it, which means your sulphur is going to be higher also and the nitrogens still trapped in the water, get to bubbling

 

[ZachariahBeanzz]

i think its possible to do this hobby for cheaper but i think bare minimum is at least a hydrometer - temp gun and reliable salt (you also must shake and mix the bags/buckets, pre mix- no matter the brand) with these tools you are equipped to fix problems, even if this means 100% changeouts , i like instant ocean purple for its simplicity sake, its a "devil I know" situation but its very consistent overall and easy to dose, sold everywhere, easy to measure and starts off higher alk, lower iron (good for not growing bad stuff early like algae) --- buying water from a fish store is the equivalent of adding wild caught specimens directly to the display, ive yet to see a fish store truly free from pest or dosing /chemistry issues (at least in my state) If I could reliably get ESV B ionic salt where you truly mix your own, and I were running a finely tuned system, this would be my go to salt, but alas, somehow, instant ocean purple has better parameters for my systems.

to compound this, what was your dechlorination method? as this has a direct impact, did we use RODI? Tap+ dechlorinator from the sound of it, which means your sulphur is going to be higher also and the nitrogens still trapped in the water, get to bubbling

Thanks for the info, and recommendation! And I do use an RODI system.

 

[DarthRaiderBob]

Thanks for the info, and recommendation! And I do use an RODI system.

I guess dumb question? If you already have an rodi, why not just buy salt and make your own water?

 

[ZachariahBeanzz]

20 gallons of water with 20% weekly water changes will have about 60% new water in a month. What are your nitrates running at? Maybe feed less?

Effective Water Change Calculator

Aquarium calculator; Estimate the effective water change amount of several combined smaller water changes.

www.hamzasreef.com

My nitrates are 50ppm, and when I did feed my fish, I did a bit of frozen brine shrimp everyday-every other day. But now it’s just <10 pellets of fish food a week.

 

[ZachariahBeanzz]

I guess dumb question? If you already have an rodi, why not just buy salt and make your own water?

Oh yeah, so my original LFS was really not the best, and got me into bad fish keeping habits, and so I always just got water from them since they said it’s easier than making my own. I guess I just haven’t gone to making my own since I went to another LFS

 

[BoaConservationist]

My nitrates are 50ppm, and when I did feed my fish, I did a bit of frozen brine shrimp everyday-every other day. But now it’s just <10 pellets of fish food a week.

my honest first recommendation as ive seen it work instantly and cure fish /nems instantly of ammonia/nitrate issues, is going to be prodibio stop ammo , this will vaporize it near instantly, but you need to add true nitrosomonas & other various nitrifiers to the mix to get the tank producing its own and to out compete baddies, get some prodibio "start up" - contains both stop ammo and biodigest in ampoules , a bag of salt, and a tropic marin hydrometer, I heavy in heavy out all my systems (were talking crazy pellets, mysis and calanus + spirulina, all freeze dried etc) and this is real good bacteria for this style, 95% of the competition bacteria is less than 50% effective under a scope for reference. start looking at the bottles you buy, you can toss most of them out.

to further help, both stop ammo/ biodigest is on a 14 day cycle 2 ampoules per 40gallons if you are using the "start up kit" my experience is one vial day 1, then follow up vial the next day after a heavy feed , add it every 14 days for crystal clear water, the bacteria actually just works.

 

[DarthRaiderBob]

Oh yeah, so my original LFS was really not the best, and got me into bad fish keeping habits, and so I always just got water from them since they said it’s easier than making my own. I guess I just haven’t gone to making my own since I went to another LFS

Okay. That's ridiculous advice and I'd never go there again. Go to home depot or Lowes, grab 4 5 gallon buckets. Order a box of salt. I use aqua forest but, I've also used fritz blue box. You can go to petco and get a bucket of reef crystals for that matter, they all work. You need a refractometer of some type. I use a swing arm hydrometer. Your choice but buy a decent one. Grab a single 25 or 30 fallonisg trash can and a heater and bam, you can make saltwater forever. Initial expense aside, it will save you money and time.

 

[DarthRaiderBob]

I like the aqua forest I'm using because it mixes well and dissolves quickly.

 

[BoaConservationist]

I like the aqua forest I'm using because it mixes well and dissolves quickly.

ive heard good things, just starts off lower alkalinity than id like for some of my tanks, its also on sale at BRS for only 60$ a box free shipping right now, totally worth doing, if you are running a ton of favia like me then you will double your kalk use using this but its totally fine

 

[DarthRaiderBob]

ive heard good things, just starts off lower alkalinity than id like for some of my tanks, its also on sale at BRS for only 60$ a box free shipping right now, totally worth doing, if you are running a ton of favia like me then you will double your kalk use using this but its totally fine

For his tank, right now it is absolutely fine.

 

[DarthRaiderBob]

ive heard good things, just starts off lower alkalinity than id like for some of my tanks, its also on sale at BRS for only 60$ a box free shipping right now, totally worth doing, if you are running a ton of favia like me then you will double your kalk use using this but its totally fine

I dose afr so my alk stays good but, I also have very low consumption.