nitrates high?

well i tested my water today, i dont test often because normally i know when its time for a water change because my corals dont open up as large as they normally do. but all my corals are looking very healthy especially the two small lps frags i recently added and my large kenya tree. but i tested and everything was spot on except my nitrates were around 60 ppm! how can this be if all my livestock is thriving? aside from my candy cane frag that keeps blowing around the tank.

 

It depends on the coral. Most SPS would most likely not be happy but softies and LPS would be happy. Also it depends on how long it took to build up to that level.

 

whats the best way to drop them fast? would a water change drop them to a desireable level fairly soon?

 

The nitrates are spread throughout the water column, so if you do a 10% water change you'll lower the trates by 10%. Water changes are the only way I know to lower them quickly. A larger water change will remove more than 2 small ones. (i.e. a tank with 60 ppm, do a 20% change lower the trates by 12ppm, but 2x 10% changes, first will lower by 6 ppm, but second will lower by 5.4 ppm , therefore 11.4 total)

 

Large water changes and a good overall cleaning up of your equipment and detritus in the tank. GFO helps pull it out also.

 

thanks for the info! water change here i come! would a 30 percent water change be safe? or too much?

 

30% would be fine! You could be a 50%, I've done them with no ill effects, just depends on how large of mixing containers you have lol.

 

well the tanks only 5 gallons, so i think im good.

 

Ahh got ya. That make's it easy lol.