Nitrate is high

I just checked my levels about 3 hrs ago and everything is perfect, except my nitrate levels. They are high, about 30. So I read up on the fact, what I read said the best way to lower it was to change the water out. So I decided to just change out 30 of my 90 gallons of water.

I hope it worked I'm waiting to test the levels again. But for the future how do I keep them down without having to change the water.

 

Tell us more about your tank. equipment, lighting, CuC, & feeding. In gerneal alot of people do 10% weekly or every other week, but alot of that will develop as you get mroe expereinced & you can tell from looking when it comes time.

 

Changing your water is necessary and does much more for you than just lower nitrates.. it's a very necessary evil in this hobby I'm afraid..


Also how many fish are in your tank and how often/what do you feed them? what type of filtration are you using on what size tank?

 

Feed less.

Export using macro algae like chaeto.

Skim wetter.

You can try bio-pellets if after water changes you still tend to run higher.

 

How does your livestock look? Do you have nuisance algae issues? Really nitrate isn't directly toxic at levels in the single or double digits, although, it may exacerbate other problem less directly and therefore become an added stressor.

Also, I have seen a fair number of test kit comparisons lately, and nitrate kits just aren't very good. 30ppm on one kit, may be 100ppm or 0ppm on another. If you've only tested with one kit it probably dosn't mean much.

Really, I wouldn't sweat it if you answered no to both of my first questions regardless, but always good to be vigilant.

My standard answer for nitrate reduction however is:

The following will all either directly or indirectly help keep nitrates down

-Efficient Protein skimming- Keep protein skimmer clean and use a good one.
-Clean water source- RO/DI water - make sure output is 0 tds.
-harvest macro algae in fuge
-feed smaller amounts more, rather than lots less often.
-keep amount fed consistient to maintain steady biomass rather than allow fluxuating biomass.
-good cleanup crew
-Run carbon and GFO.
-Keep filters clean - remove detritus
-Keep substrate clean of detritus.
-Avoid dead spots, make sure there is flow
-Probably best to avoid any biofilter other than sand and LR.
-Remote deep sand bed
-more advanced and may be much more risky, but carbon dosing can be effective.


Also, I would suggest looking at this article.
Aquarium Chemistry: Nitrate in the Reef Aquarium — Advanced Aquarist's Online Magazine

 

I have a 75gallon tank, with a 20gallon long on the bottom as my fuge. I'm running a AquaMaxx Protine skimmer, 2 little fishes Phosphate reactor, 2x250watt MH, 2x54watt blue T5', 1250 GPH powerhead, a Marineland filter, Filter sock on my drain to sump, 6" rubble in sump. 110lbs live rock, 3" sand bed, 2 clowns, 1emerl crab, 10 blue leg hermits, 10 snails, 4 red hermits, 3 snails that burrow under sand, don't know exactly what they are.

I also have a 2' Marineland LED fixture for my sump, but what can I get for my fuge, I don't have sand just LR Rubble. I would like to get some plants for that and my display tank. I'm staying away from coral till I can keep a controlled environment.

 

So 3 days ago I went ahead and changed 30 gallons of water out of my tank, it took my Nitrates down to about 10 on my API test kit. 3 days later they are back up to about 20-25. I think I'll change out about 10 more gallons tomorrow. I have a LED light for my sump but I don't know what macro algae to get. I want a Yellow Tang so I want something he will eat up, I will buy 2 algae, one for the tank and one for the sump and rotate them out weekly or so. Anyone have any help on how to lower the nitrates without changing water or adding the algae because I'm doing that and buying the algae Sunday! :

 

IMO API test are ok for ammonia and nitrites but the nitrate test sucks! unless its super orange its really hard to tell. I've been testing my nano everyday and I really can't trust the API nitrate test....one day 10 the next 5 the next 20...:-/

 

I am using chaeto algae for my nitrates. I added and baseball size clump into my sump and its been working great. have had to harvest it 3 times now as it grows quick.. My nitrates were at 60 before the chaeto and now run around 5 or less...

 

+1 on chaetomorpha to export nitrites. I had at one point a nitrate reading of 20 on my api test kit and a week after adding the chaeto it went down to 5, a few days later I had 0.
The secret is to export. Once you have the amount u want in the fuge or sump, when it grows 1/3rd more of that amount, prune it back to the original amount u want to keep.
My tang won't eat chaeto though, but I know that some have fed it to theirs.



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