chemistry hypothesis

ok, I have a question. I have been battling nitrates now for a while. I am wondering since I don't have a sump or refugium, and my tank is relatively algae free (Phosguard and carbon) in canister - could my lack of algae be contributing to the high nitrates since there's not a lot of algae to consume it? Should I be trying to grow algae perhaps in the skimmer (I know one of the zetlight video winners had done a sort of algae scrubber in his skimmer) and that could help lower the nitrates? Or is this just a ridiculous question?? Well, don't be too mean because I really am science impaired (I guess I picked an incompatible hobby ) Anyway, anyone have any thoughts on this?

 

Growing algae shouldn't be necessary to have a ULNS. However, speaking from experience, algae turf scrubbers work remarkably well. If it's a viable option for you, I reccommend it. They're easy to build and maintenance is a joke.

Other than that, nitrates are most easily controlled by the obvious - water changes. If your levels aren't dropping even with regular water changes, I would check your source.

You could also look into carbon dosing (vodka, vinegar, etc.). I've done this in the past as well with excellent (though somewhat slow) results.

 

If nitrates are high, and there is little algae, then there is a lack of something period. Light, other nutrients etc... it doesn't matter. If there isn't a limitation, algae/bacteria etc... will grow anywhere and nutrients will go down. Perhaps there is an algae that will grow better in a refugium, because it would be able to utilize more light with the light being more yellow/red. But perhaps not. It could be that if you removed your GFO and carbon, phosphate and other nutrients could rise and therefore nitrate would go down as algae grows. Of course then, as your tank is now covered in algae and nitrate isn't really much of an issue, other than causing algae growth, you'd probably be worse off. So, again, a refugium could help though, as it could limit where the algae grows and make it easier to collect. Again though, nitrate in moderation isn't really an issue if there isn't algae, but some people like seeing things test 0 I guess. Personally I don't really test for nitrate though and really don't care... If there is no algae and corals are healthy then what more do you want?

 

I'm running pellets, have done water changes - I'm sure probably not enough but quite a few, have removed most media in my canister (ceramic rings, sponges), upgraded my skimmer, increased flow in the tank, vacuumed small sections of sand, added beneficial bacteria, and nothing seems to budge them! That's why I was wondering if this could be what's missing? Since I haven't had an algae issue (I should knock on wood on this one) I was just thinking more in terms of algae being related to phosphates but I also just read or it seemed to click that algae also consumes nitrate.

I think I may just try to use the algae in the skimmer method. Any thoughts?

 

m2434, the reason I've been focused on nitrates is that I'm switching from a FOWLR to a "reef" type set up so I really only have mushrooms and xenia at this point because I'm afraid to add coral or an anemone with nitrates so high....thus, my quest

 

Perhaps I missed this - what is your current nitrate level?

 

Yes, if you are worried let us know what they are and double check with a different test kit.

 

Maybe I missed it but what are some basic specs?

How large is your tank and what fish do you have?
How old is your tank?
What light do you use and your photoperiod?
What are your tanks actual parameters?

I noticed you did mention having xenia. If you have nitrates your xenia will explode in growth and consume them, people have even made xenia scrubbers in place of algae scrubbers. I myself have a large colony of xenia in my tank and do not run a skimmer or sump with minmal algae growth and my nitrates are close to 0

 

well, on the API test, they are somewhere between 80 and 160 (if I'm reading the test correctly) I haven't tested other parameters because I'm focused on getting the nitrates under control. I could test and post those. I have the API test, so I think it comes with 3 other tests, one being calcium. Salinity is 1.024. Temp is kept at 79.

I have a 54 gallon tank, 5 fish (coral beauty angel, 2 black occellaris clowns, a pink spotted goby, red pistol shrimp, and starry blenny). They are all pretty small. I have several snails and hermits as a CUC and a fighting conch (I think it's called). I've had my live rock for 15+ years and my tank running as a FOWLR for most of that time.

I have a 4 bulb 36" T5 HO light with half actinic and half daylight. I run the actinics for about an hour, both together for approximately 6 hours and then actinics for another hour.

Does that help? And yes, I got my xenia as a very small piece and it has grown considerably since I added it about a month ago. Mushrooms are also growing except for my blue ones which I can't seem to find them a happy place. Does this help?

 

Sounds like it has been up for a long time. Any changes lately? Test your nitrites, the way API works if you have even low levels of nitrite it will give you an inaccurate nitrate result that is through the roof. I believe RedSea is the same but they give you a formula to calculate your actual nitrates bases on your nitrate and nitrite readings.