Nitrates

[Ruzoko]

Got some corals coming in tomorrow but forever now I can't seem to get my Nitrates to drop below 20-40ppm (api test for this one) literally have 0 algae whatsoever in this tank. Pineapple sponges have been growing and few ball nems for bout a month, ammonia/nitrite are 0 like always and weekly change is 10-20% and I'm cleaning the canister weekly as well. I do use water pulled from tank to clean filters etc etc to keep bacteria.

 

[MaxTremors]

What this amounts to is that your feeding is adding more nutrients than you’re exporting. Your tank, if you have live rock, even without a protein skimmer, refugium, carbon dosing, algae scrubber, water changes, etc., should be able process some nitrates into nitrogen which should gas off the surface of the tank, so in the absence of those other types of nutrient export, you need to find a balance between importing and exporting nutrients. The more types or the more productive/effective your additional nutrient export methods, the more you can feed/the bigger a bioload you can have. I would recommend a protein skimmer and/or a refugium in addition to the water changes if you want to lower your nitrates and continue feeding the way you are now. If neither are possible on your tank, you could try carbon dosing (though I wouldn’t recommend it, and it would be less effective, if you don’t have a skimmer, if you don’t have a skimmer, but still want to try, I would definitely use an air pump with an air stone to increase oxygenation).

Anyway, all that said, most soft corals and LPS should be just fine with 20ppm nitrates. 40ppm is getting into territory where some LPS would start to be unhappy. Also some soft corals, like Xenia for example, are almost as effective as Chaeto in terms of nutrient export, so depending on the corals you’re adding, you may see nitrates go down slightly. Also, would probably be a good idea if you’re going to start keeping corals to get better testing kits. API is at best going to give you a broad range that your actual values are at, which when you get beyond beginner corals just isn’t adequate.

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Re test with something like red sea or salifert. Elos. Revaluate.
D

 

[Ruzoko]

What this amounts to is that your feeding is adding more nutrients than you’re exporting. Your tank, if you have live rock, even without a protein skimmer, refugium, carbon dosing, algae scrubber, water changes, etc., should be able process some nitrates into nitrogen which should gas off the surface of the tank, so in the absence of those other types of nutrient export, you need to find a balance between importing and exporting nutrients. The more types or the more productive/effective your additional nutrient export methods, the more you can feed/the bigger a bioload you can have. I would recommend a protein skimmer and/or a refugium in addition to the water changes if you want to lower your nitrates and continue feeding the way you are now. If neither are possible on your tank, you could try carbon dosing (though I wouldn’t recommend it, and it would be less effective, if you don’t have a skimmer, if you don’t have a skimmer, but still want to try, I would definitely use an air pump with an air stone to increase oxygenation).

Anyway, all that said, most soft corals and LPS should be just fine with 20ppm nitrates. 40ppm is getting into territory where some LPS would start to be unhappy. Also some soft corals, like Xenia for example, are almost as effective as Chaeto in terms of nutrient export, so depending on the corals you’re adding, you may see nitrates go down slightly. Also, would probably be a good idea if you’re going to start keeping corals to get better testing kits. API is at best going to give you a broad range that your actual values are at, which when you get beyond beginner corals just isn’t adequate.

I do have a skimmer and refugium but i cant seem to keep chaeto alive to save my life lol luckily I do have some xenia coming in. I do have a skimmer but it may be what you said, currently have only a few fish fed 2-3x daily so i can prob cut the amount a bit less