Nitrate Level

[roofdv8]

I am still struggling with my nitrate level. It was running at about 20. I did a 30% water change and it it is down now to 10. My ammonia level is also somewhat high at about .25. I did have too many fish but now am down to 25 inches of fish in a 90 gallon system. I have done a 30% change every 7 days for about six weeks. I have somewhere between 150 & 200 pounds of live rock.

All fish look very healthy. Everybody eats at every possible opportunity which is only two frozen cubes per day.

My clam and annonome are thriving. Coral looks ok but has looked better. The coral seem to be better when the sun angle allowed a small amount of actual sunlight to fall directly on it.

I have changed the carbon in my sumnp filter (Fluval 404) monthly per the recommendation of the manufacture. I change the carbon in my power head bi-weekly.

I have two sea clone protien skimmers which both fill in a week or less.

The UV turbo twist keeps the water crystal clear.

I would appreciate any and all recommendations.

Also, My apistasia is completely gone.

Jimmy

[cheeks69]

That's alot of live rock in there and it's possibble that you have an acumulation of detritus. How much total flow do you have in your tank from powerheads and return pump ? Do you clean out the canister filter often ? Do you use any sponges in the canister ? These types of filters will trap detritus and need to be cleaned often even carbon if left in the filter long enough will become a bio-filter. How often do you do water changes ? What type of substrate if any do you use ? What is the current fish list ? How often do you feed ?

[roofdv8]

I clean or change the sponges monthly.
I have a live sand and "Grunge substrate that is about two inches thick.
I do water changes (30%) every Monday
my fish population is as follows:
1 Rusty angel
1 Yellow tang
2 fire fish
2 stripped gobbies
1 alge bleeny
1 bi colored blenny
2 dragonets
3 cromis
1 small true perc clown

all are small with the exception of the tang which is a little over 3.5"

[cheeks69]

I would remove those sponges since they will trap detritus and lead to nitrate problems and try to clean that canister on a weekly basis. How often do you feed and how much quantity ? How much total flow ????

[roofdv8]

I feed two frozen cubes daily. One morning and one evening.

I think my total flow (including both protein skimmers) is around 600 gph. (this is a somewhat educated guess)

[Travis]

Pull the feeding back to one cube per day. Also, when you defrost the cubes, skim them out and don't put the water you defrosted it in back into the tank.

All that said, 20 or 30 is nothing to stress about IMO... just keep an eye on it and make sure it doesn't keep going up.

BTW, what brand of test kit are you using?

[roofdv8]

test kit is saltwater masterby aquarimum pharm

[Joe69]

Roof, fwiw I was getting the same readings you are with my AP test kits. I found out that the amonia always read .25 and the nitrates always read between 10 and 30. I tested my ro/di water and it read the same thing.

I tested again with my buddy's salifert test kits and amonia was 0 and nitrate was something like 0.2. I don't know if this is the same with yours, but it wouldn't hurt to get a different brand of test kit and try it again.

[cheeks69]

Originally Posted by roofdv8

I feed two frozen cubes daily. One morning and one evening.

I think my total flow (including both protein skimmers) is around 600 gph. (this is a somewhat educated guess)

Are you sure it's only 600gph in a 90 gal tank ??? I would go with a minimum of 1500 gph of flow. Good flow is very important you want to keep detritus in the water column so that it can be removed via skimmer. I agree with Travis cut the feeding in half do frequent W/C's and clean that canister filter on a weekly basis.

[Travis]

Originally Posted by Joe69

Roof, fwiw I was getting the same readings you are with my AP test kits. I found out that the amonia always read .25 and the nitrates always read between 10 and 30. I tested my ro/di water and it read the same thing.

I tested again with my buddy's salifert test kits and amonia was 0 and nitrate was something like 0.2. I don't know if this is the same with yours, but it wouldn't hurt to get a different brand of test kit and try it again.

I have had the same experience. Exactly why I always ask what test kit when it comes to ammonia or nitrates!!!!

[Witfull]

i just got a bunch of Sera brand testkits, compared to salifert, they give identical readings and are a cheaper and easier to use.