Nitrate

[jcolley]

Hi

Still waiting for nitrate levels to fall!!!! before getting any fish. Tank being running for 5-6weeks now, mind you messed up in the first place by filling up with tap water (took advice off someone).

Anyway after speaking lots to Chris at Marine Tech, who has being a great help we now have things up and running properly (i think).Wish we had visited him in the beginning then we might have fish by now.

Have purchased an RO unit and keep doing partial water changes, am testing with Tetratest kit (when you have added bottle 3 at the end and shook gently after 10 mins it still gives a reading of between 25 and 50, but if you shake it again it changes to 12.5)i think your meant to just leave it arnt you?

Is there anything else we can do to get the levels down?

Thanks

Phil & Jo (Scunthorpe)

[Macca]

Do you have any livestock in your tank at all?


James

[jcolley]

we have the clean up crew in, 5 snails and 5 hermits.

jo

[Macca]

Do you feed the tank at all?

James

[jcolley]

no, nothing

[Macca]

Your system is on its way to maturing, You have nitrates from the breakdown of Ammonia > Nitrite. I take it for granted you have zero readings on these? Getting rid of nitrates is the hard part. What worries me slightly is if you are not feeding your system then the nitrates ate being built up with the little amount of clean up crew you have.

1. HAVE YOU TESTED YOUR SOURCE WATER FOR NITRATES?
2. HAVE YOU A PROTEIN SKIMMER THAT IS FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY?
3. DO YOU HAVE LIVE ROCK OR A DEEP SAND BED?
4. ARE YOU USING ANY OTHER TYPE OF FILTER EXCLUDING LIVE ROCK/SAND.

James

[jcolley]

Hi

Yes we have a protein skimmer a Weipro SA-2014, a Seio Super Flow Pump M1100, and external Fluval 305 filter, plenty of live rock, and no havent tested the source water for nitrates, will do that now.
What do we do if the RO water is full of nitrate?

Thanks

Jo

[Macca]

Hi

Yes we have a protein skimmer a Weipro SA-2014, a Seio Super Flow Pump M1100, and external Fluval 305 filter, plenty of live rock, and no havent tested the source water for nitrates, will do that now.
What do we do if the RO water is full of nitrate?

Thanks

Jo


The protein skimmer will not really function until your bio load increases (fish poop etc) and you start introducing food (protein) to the tank. MAKE SURE YOU NOTICE IT WORKING ONCE THIS HAPPENS.


Nice to see you have plenty of live rock - So let the live rock work for you by removing the external filter if YOU ARE USING THE EXTRENAL FILTER AS A BIOLOGICAL FILTER (i.e have foam, bio rings, floss, ceramic media) If using it as a chemical filter (Rowaphos, Carbon) etc make sure you replace this media every month or so as this will become biological also.


Check you ro water and you fresh salt mix for nitrates but to be honest I think we have found the problem with the external filter. I am assuming you have a biological media in there that will be producing nitrates.

Go on and tell me I am wrong and that you are using a chemical media and I will get my thinking cap on again. :confused:

James

[jcolley]

the filter seems to be a mixture of biological and chemical, it has foam,but also has carbon media oh, and purigen.

is it worth switching it off for a while and seeing if there is a change?

jo

[Macca]

NO!!!!

Do not switch it off as this will lead to an ammonia spike with die off in your filter. Never turn a filter off except for maintainence.

Instead

On your next Chemical media replacement simply remove the foam and and other bio media from the cannister.

James

[Macca]

the filter seems to be a mixture of biological and chemical, it has foam,but also has carbon media oh, and purigen.

is it worth switching it off for a while and seeing if there is a change?

jo


Also I have noticed you mention purigen??? Is this not similiar to carbon? I.e it is a chemical filter media? I have never used it before but am almost certain that if it is a chemical filter in a similar fasion to a poly filter, then the crabon will just be simply taking up all its chemicals. Does not make sence to put it beside carbon and is simply just throwing your money away as well as making your carbon exhausted.

James

[jcolley]

have removed sponges and biomax media leaving carbon and purigen in place. Isthis correct.

[jcolley]

was advised to put purigen in before we purchased the skimmer.should we remove the purigen just leaving the carbon in the filter.Phil Jo

[Macca]

Get other advice first but to me it does not make sence to have a chemical media inbeside am media that removes chemicals. In this hobby you ask MANY people and usually go with the majority. I see you have taken my advice already and hope others agree with it.

Remember if you get it right at the start then it makes it a lot easier as time goes on.

James

[jcolley]

Hi James

Thanks for all your advice today, have just done another nitrate test and it is now reading 25mg, how much lower than this does is have to be? surely you can never get it down to 0mg?

Jo

[Macca]

I dont believe it can ever be 0 nitrates but you can get it to be undetectable with the human eye (i.e The test tube will show no reading).

You are nearly there, patience my friend.

James