Nitrate levels are not dropping

[Fish Fan]

Here's my take on what may be going on. This tank was started three months ago, and fish were added two months ago, and you noticed your issues two weeks ago. I am speculating that the tank was not initially nitrogen cycled, and adding the fish caused it to cycle, and now you're seeing the tail end of the nitrite spike here. That's just a guess of course.

Your nitrite will go down on its own in time, and is of no concern here, as RHF has mentioned in this thread. Once your nitrite goes down, then you can test your nitrate and see where you really are.

I agree with getting your phosphates up from zero, a coral food called Reef Roids is good for this, as is adding food grade sodium phosphate.

I hope that helps, good luck!

 

[Liam_1]

I doubt a zeolite ever does anything useful in this situation, and I’d remove it.

Can i keep it for use for later if its already been in my aquarium?

Fish now is fine.

What is your nutrient export plan long term?

I plan on increasing nitrate eating bacteria and weekly water changes

 

[Liam_1]

Here's my take on what may be going on. This tank was started three months ago, and fish were added two months ago, and you noticed your issues two weeks ago. I am speculating that the tank was not initially nitrogen cycled, and adding the fish caused it to cycle, and now you're seeing the tail end of the nitrite spike here. That's just a guess of course.

Your nitrite will go down on its own in time, and is of no concern here, as RHF has mentioned in this thread. Once your nitrite goes down, then you can test your nitrate and see where you really are.

I agree with getting your phosphates up from zero, a coral food called Reef Roids is good for this, as is adding food grade sodium phosphate.

I hope that helps, good luck!

Thank you so much!
Im so relieved haha, i was so worried!

I Did cycle the tank though because i remember getting nitrite 0 and nitrate 50 after a month of cycling with starter bacteria dosing and feeding them

 

[bubbgee]

Here is a video of the system

Honestly, that is not too much. It's the biome is not established completely in 3 months.

 

[Liam_1]

Honestly, that is not too much. It's the biome is not established completely in 3 months.

So in how much time do you think it would be established?

Btw, what did you think of the tank? :)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Can i keep it for use for later if its already been in my aquarium?

I plan on increasing nitrate eating bacteria and weekly water changes

Unless you are using organic carbon dosing and use the zeolite as a place for those bacteria to grow and be released by shaking to feed corals, I think it has no clear use of any kind. But saving it dry is fine.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

FWIW, zeolites by themselves are not a useful nitrate reduction tool.

It is also possible that you have 50 ppm. Nitrate and the nitrite kit is reading wrong, but my target range for nitrate is 5-50 ppm, so there’s no big concern if it is 50 or even a bit higher.

 

[Liam_1]

FWIW, zeolites by themselves are not a useful nitrate reduction tool.

It is also possible that you have 50 ppm. Nitrate and the nitrite kit is reading wrong, but my target range for nitrate is 5-50 ppm, so there’s no big concern if it is 50 or even a bit higher.

So what reduction tools are the most efficient?

And how do i really verify that i have low nitrate or 50ppm?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So what reduction tools are the most efficient?

And how do i really verify that i have low nitrate or 50ppm?

There are lots of good ways to export nutrients, including growing macroalgae, an algal turf scrubber, organic carbon dosing, sulfur and carbon denitrators, skimming, water changes, and more.

I use macroalgae, skimming, water changes, and granular activated carbon.

I would not worry about nitrate now. As I suggested, test again in a week or two.