Nitrates cause gray hair

Ok, if you were not following my posts in the introductions section...

My nitrates have been very high since I got my established tank 3 years ago. Talking 160 or more.
I have a sump with live rock and a DIY de-nitrater that has not aided in my problem at all. Never got it to completely cycle.

Anyway, back to my gray hair. I did several 25Gal water changes with some temporary improvement. Last week I removed some LR and added some micro algae to one side of my sump, added lights and I had a refugium. Crossed my fingers and hoped for the best. Sunday I began to see some improvement, around 80. Yesterday AM I tested and they were about 40 or so, you know how subjective those tests are. (API test kit, not strips). So today after work I tested again they are about 15. 8)
I am so happy and so are my snails and crabs! Even my fish seam more active than before.
I guess success comes with time and effort. Now I am waiting to find the need to trim, then I will really feel successful!

I want to take the time to thank everyone that responded for their much welcomed advice! ;D

 

Congrats on getting on the right path. Get them down to 5 and you should have success with most any coral and clams if you have the right lighting.

 

What kind of water do you use for your tank? RO/distilled/tap?

 

Thanks,
I have a FOWLR as I use LED lights, not into reef keeping. I have a RO/DI system under the kitchen sink with a 4 gal storage tank. We use it for drinking water also. I ran plastic tubing from the sink, behind the fridge and through the wall to my auto top off float in the sump. No more carting water every day!

 

good job, im sure your macro algae will have great growth. make sure to take/trim some out when it starts to get to big for the fuge area.

 

I am now using a air pump to tumble it, supposed to ensure equal lighting and better growth. Time will tell.
I would like to add an anemone or 3 for the clowns but with my Dog Faced Puffer in the tank it would just be an expensive meal.

 

Just a thought, but what brand of RO/DI are you using? I remember reading that some of the consumer brands aren't the best for reef keeping, and that you shouldn't use one with a storage tank.

Sorry I can't post a link for you, but I'm at work and the search function on 3reef freezes the ancient version of Internet Explorer that we have. Perhaps one of the water gurus will comment further.

 

Food for thought Toronto Guy,

It was not a "top of the line" brand but it seams to be doing the job. I have tested my levels both before and after both the RO and the DI and they all get progressively better. I got a TDS meter on Friday and after the RO stage they are eight, after the DI stage I have a reading of one. That trend you were speaking of would be a good read if found. There is always something to learn, some mistakes are minor and some major.

 

As to the nitrates issue.
I have been noticing that my nitrates were at about 15 in the morning and close to 40 in the evening... I was puzzled for a day or two and then it hit me that they are low after my lights on cycle in refugium and higher when the lights have been off all day.
Not sure if this is exactly what is happening, just a pattern I noticed.
This AM I tested again and they are either five or ten, can't tell the difference on the API card. Progress! In about 10 days after adding Chato I have seen a tremendous decrease in my nitrate levels. It will interesting to see what they are tonight. I know there are many opinions about the light cycle issue, in the end you just have to pick one and see how it works for you.

 

Here is a pic of the progress made. I am a visual person, have to see it to understand it.