Nitrates

[sergifed91]

I'm still having some issues with nitrates. stalled at 40 ppm. been this way for over 2 weeks now. have done 3 20 g. water changes and still at 40 ppm. I did each one 3 days apart from each other. went to the LFS and they got the same readings. They advised me to try bio-spira again and see if it goes down. they told me I could leave my skimmer running. I ended up turning off my skimmer with the over flow to hang in my tank so the water would flow in to my tank instead of in a bucket.... i'm questioning if I should be adding bio-spira again or just do a 100% water change at this point. any thoughts.

 

[Deedles]

I wouldn't think that adding bio spira would help get rid of nitrates, as it adds bacteria that make nitrates. Increasing air exchange with the skimmer may help. I hear people mentioning opening a window to decrease household CO2 and maybe increasing your air circulation in the house would help. Is your tank covered?

 

[sergifed91]

I wouldn't think that adding bio spira would help get rid of nitrates, as it adds bacteria that make nitrates. Increasing air exchange with the skimmer may help. I hear people mentioning opening a window to decrease household CO2 and maybe increasing your air circulation in the house would help. Is your tank covered?

tank is covered with egg crate. I have a window open with a fan going to circulate the air in and out of the room that the tank is in.

 

[Deedles]

Do you have enough water movement? Has there been any changes (something dead/new additions) that might be pushing this up?

 

[Maggie321]

It went from well over 100 to 40 in 2 weeks? If I remember correctly, your nitrates were excessively high. If you went down that fast you are fine. Any faster I would be worried in the shift changing too rapidly. Just continue on the path you are on. You are doing fine.

 

[sergifed91]

Do you have enough water movement? Has there been any changes (something dead/new additions) that might be pushing this up?

Nothing new other than a skimmer. but I had the issue before I got the skimmer. before it was at or above 160 ppm. and then I added Bio-spira and within 24 to 48 hours it was down to 80 and then eventually 40 ppm. then I waited and waited and never went down from there. I have down water changes and no luck. no change. so I think Bio-spira might do the trick. if it does and takes it down to 0 that I can deal with and will be able to get some nitrates back easier than to get rid of it.

It went from well over 100 to 40 in 2 weeks? If I remember correctly, your nitrates were excessively high. If you went down that fast you are fine. Any faster I would be worried in the shift changing too rapidly. Just continue on the path you are on. You are doing fine.

the only thing I added was a skimmer. I was thinking about turning my HOB filter to either a refuge or modifying it and adding RB as a extra filter and hope the nitrifying bacteria can grow on the rocks over time.

 

[sergifed91]

I see a lot of vidoes of people using lava rock. yes there dense but not sure about using lava rock. even if I did and rinse the hack out of it. I don't want my water to be ruined by it. and have to start all over again with this tank. so I think RB will be better,

 

[Maggie321]

I would not introduce anything new right now. Keep doing what you are doing and you'll start to see a difference soon.

 

[mcarroll]

Phosphates down to zero maybe? That'll stall things REAL GOOD. (As in "bad".)

 

[sergifed91]

Phosphates down to zero maybe? That'll stall things REAL GOOD. (As in "bad".)

tested ph and at 8 ppm.

 

[sergifed91]

Phosphates down to zero maybe? That'll stall things REAL GOOD. (As in "bad".)

do you mean phosephates(PO4) or PH? PO4 is 0 and PH is 8 ppm. and ideally from what I read PO4 should be at 0.

 

[Gator0930]

I have had problems with nitrates lately. May be a dumb question, but are you running a sock filter? When was the last time you checked/changed it? Do you have any macro algae or a refugium of any sort? This is a good place to get rid of nitrates.

 

[sergifed91]

I have had problems with nitrates lately. May be a dumb question, but are you running a sock filter? When was the last time you checked/changed it? Do you have any macro algae or a refugium of any sort? This is a good place to get rid of nitrates.

no sock filter. No room for sump. I might use my old hob filter as a make shift refuge. Going to visit the life to see if they have any cheats in stock tomorrow. No benefits in short term but long term it would be a benefit.

 

[Gator0930]

no sock filter. No room for sump. I might use my old hob filter as a make shift refuge. Going to visit the life to see if they have any cheats in stock tomorrow. No benefits in short term but long term it would be a benefit.

I agree. It seems to be the best thing I have done. With nothing in there you just might not have enough material to export. I'm not an expert, but that's my $.02 for what it is worth

 

[sergifed91]

I agree. It seems to be the best thing I have done. With nothing in there you just might not have enough material to export. I'm not an expert, but that's my $.02 for what it is worth

I agree. I just wanna get no3 down. Get a cuc then worry about a refuge.

 

[125gSW]

whenever I have high nitrates, best thing that has helped me is siphoning the sand. Barely would see a nitrate drop without siphoning sand

 

[1WildBill]

Are you using RO/DI? How are the filters? What’s the TDS?

 

[sergifed91]

Are you using RO/DI? How are the filters? What’s the TDS?

using ro di. Filters are good. Tds is 0. Only thing I can think of its still cycling and should even out eventually in a week or so. When it finishes cycle.

 

[1WildBill]

How bigs your tank? Ghost feeding or ammonia cycling?

 

[sergifed91]

How bigs your tank? Ghost feeding or ammonia cycling?

60 g. I was using ammonia at beginning but stopped using it.