Nitrates starting to creep.

[gsw0716]

Hello, common question here, but would still like different opinions for reassurance and to ensure I dont make a stupid mistake. For the longest time, my nitrates were bouncing back between 12ppm and 15ppm and I was ok with that. Tested yesterday and today with my Hanna Nitrate tester Andy nitrates are up to around 19.8 ppm. I really dont want them to get above 20, I did a 20 percent water change today. My question is how often or large of a water change would you do going forward? I just want to drop my nitrates back to that 12 to 15 range.

30 gallon tank.

Two clownfish
Watchman goby
Tailspot blenny

Inverts

3 snails
3 hermits
Pistol shrimp
Two cleaner shrimp

Numerous corals, but my main corals are a few torches, a frogspawn and two hammers. Only coral that's been closed a few days in a goni I have.

 

[gsw0716]

Sorry. Parameters

Salinity 1.024
Mag. Between 1250 and 1300
Alk. 8.5
Calcium between 425-440
Phosphates 0.01
Nitrates 19.8
Ammonia. 0

 

[FUNGI]

nothing really wrong with 20ppm...but your goal is 12~15, so I would do 10% weekly wc..dont over feed and ....that should bring things down...for longer term, you might want to look at carbon dosing also. Maybe NoPOX or DIY recipe.....

 

[gsw0716]

nothing really wrong with 20ppm...but your goal is 12~15, so I would do 10% weekly wc..dont over feed and ....that should bring things down...for longer term, you might want to look at carbon dosing also. Maybe NoPOX or DIY recipe.....

Thank you. Yeah, I'm not super worried but I really dont want it to get past 20ppm, I guess because I was at 12 to 15 ppm for a while, reason why id like to get back there, but not going to chase numbers and disrupt my system. Thank you for your feedback.

 

[Euphyllia97]

As 20 ppm is not really concerning I would suggest to just do small frequent waterchanges untill you reach your 12 ppm goal.

In a 30 gal I would say change like 2 gallons every 2 days. And test to see what the result is. This way you can see how many nitrates your tank is producing and it will not influence your parameters/trace elements like a big waterchange would do.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

These are my nutrient targets:

https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/randy’s-thoughts-on-nutrient-target-ranges.1087/4. What targets seem reasonable? Of course, that depends on all the other factors at play, such as types of corals, availability of ammonia, particulate foods, etc. However, for a mature mixed reef, this would be how I personally would run it:

• Let nitrate float between 5 ppm and 50 ppm. I’d use gentle export in this range, such as growing macroalgae.
• Above 50 ppm, I’d begin to focus more on reducing it, by organic carbon dosing, turf or macroalgae, etc.
• Below 5 ppm, I’d begin to dose ammonia or feed more. The target level might drop lower if dosing ammonia, just like the heavy in/heavy out scenario where nitrate may not be as needed.
• Let phosphate float between about 0.06 ppm and 0.3 ppm. This range is higher than I’ve recommended in the past. I’d use gentle export in this range, such as growing macroalgae.
• Above about 0.3 ppm, I’d begin to focus more on reducing it, by turf or macroalgae, or a binder such as GFO or lanthanum (has its own risks to tangs). If a binder: GO SLOW. Turf and macroalgae will typically be slow enough.
• Below 0.06 ppm, I’d begin to dose sodium phosphate or feed more to get the level up.

 

[CHSUB]

Far more effective than just WC is detritus removal during your WC….blow the rocks with pumps off and let the detritus settle and remove it during your WC and cleaning all mechanical filters more frequently.

 

[gsw0716]

Man. I love you guys. Gives me information on how to improve, but also not panic.

 

[gsw0716]

Far more effective than just WC is detritus removal during your WC….blow the rocks with pumps off and let the detritus settle and remove it during your WC and cleaning all mechanical filters more frequently.

Thank you. I think that's what I've been lagging on lately, I've just been doing straight water changes with a little detritus siphon, but I'm going to start to focus more on that.

 

[gsw0716]

Thank you. I think that's what I've been lagging on lately, I've just been doing straight water changes with a little detritus siphon, but I'm going to start to focus more on that.

Any tips? As it's a bit tricky to siphon between the live rocks. Like you said, turkey baster it to make it float, then siphon the water with a water change is your best bet?

 

[CHSUB]

Any tips? As it's a bit tricky to siphon between the live rocks. Like you said, turkey baster it to make it float, then siphon the water with a water change is your best bet?

With my weekly WC i spend 10 minutes aggressively blowing the rocks and corals letting everything settle to the sand. With a fork tied to my hose i stir only the very top layer of the gravel. It is quite amazing how much detritus I remove during my WC. Twice weekly I clean my filter sock and skimmer cup. I’m not a believer in just removing water without waste and algae. I feed a lot, fish and corals, so I need to “help” my system’s natural processes….

 

[gsw0716]

With my weekly WC i spend 10 minutes aggressively blowing the rocks and corals letting everything settle to the sand. With a fork tied to my hose i stir only the very top layer of the gravel. It is quite amazing how much detritus I remove during my WC. Twice weekly I clean my filter sock and skimmer cup. I’m not a believer in just removing water without waste and algae. I feed a lot, fish and corals, so I need to “help” my system’s natural processes….

Thank you. And if you dont mind me asking, what are you comfortable at nitrate wise? I like to ask different ppl just to get a feel cause I know everyone has different standards.

 

[CHSUB]

Thank you. And if you dont mind me asking, what are you comfortable at nitrate wise? I like to ask different ppl just to get a feel cause I know everyone has different standards.

I tested just this morning, imo, if corals and fish are healthy no3 level is best when low…