wlninja
Member
I have been having issues with Nitrates and tonight I think I found part of the problem. I did a nitrate test on my tank and was at 30 after a 30% water change. Then I did a nitrate test on my RO/DI water and it is 0. I did a test on 1/2 a gallon of fresh 1.025 salt water I made specifically to check nitrates (I use Instant Ocean salt) and got 0. I did a test on some left over water from today that's still in my mixing trash can (32 gallon brute trash can that was bought brand new specifically for salt water mixing) and my nitrates are 15. I just mixed the salt water today after letting the can fill up yesterday. I have no idea how I'm getting nitrates in my fresh salt water. Here is my process:
Run 100 watt heater in trash can at 76 degrees so water is same temp as display tank.
Run Aquaclear 40 power head in the bottom of the can for water movement.
Rinse heater, power head, and trash can then dry.
Fill trash can to approximately 25-28 gallons.
Once the can is filled to my mark I then begin adding salt. I add 10 cups of instant ocean (1/2 cup per gallon) and let it sit until it dissolves. Then I check salinity with a refractometer and add more salt accordingly. Once the salinity is correct I usually do the water change within a few hours.
Ive been noticing brown residue lately when cleaning the trash can out so I have been rinsing it and wiping it dry then letting it sit for a couple days before starting the RO/DI process.
Also I keep the lid on my can during the entire process so very little if any light is getting in.
Any idea what may be happening?
Thanks!
Run 100 watt heater in trash can at 76 degrees so water is same temp as display tank.
Run Aquaclear 40 power head in the bottom of the can for water movement.
Rinse heater, power head, and trash can then dry.
Fill trash can to approximately 25-28 gallons.
Once the can is filled to my mark I then begin adding salt. I add 10 cups of instant ocean (1/2 cup per gallon) and let it sit until it dissolves. Then I check salinity with a refractometer and add more salt accordingly. Once the salinity is correct I usually do the water change within a few hours.
Ive been noticing brown residue lately when cleaning the trash can out so I have been rinsing it and wiping it dry then letting it sit for a couple days before starting the RO/DI process.
Also I keep the lid on my can during the entire process so very little if any light is getting in.
Any idea what may be happening?
Thanks!