High Nitrates

[stapet77]

Last week our nitrates went up to 80. We did a 40% water change, because phosphates were up too. After the water change they were down to 20, and within less than a week they are already up to 80 again. I think I might be overfeeding. Here is what we are feeding them. One cube of frozen Formula one and 3 shrimp pellets in the morning, 2 squares of dried seaweed, a pinch of flake food and 3 shrimp pellets in the afternoon. Check out my signature, it lists my fishes./bioload. The only thing that baffles me is that we have used this feeding regiment for a couple of months now with no problems before. We took out a third of our bioballs last week and replaced them with live rock, hoping it would address the nitrate issues. Could this have caused a quick cycle?

[lcstorc]

Removing the bio-balls will affect your parameters. That is why we tell you to remove them a bit at a time.
Also you do seem to be feeding quite a bit for the fish listed in your sig. Perhaps cut it down a bit.
Also are you using ro/di for you water changes and top-off water? If not this may be contributing as well.
Another question. Do you rinse your food well with ro/di water prior to feeding? Many fish foods use phosphates as a preservative so feeding them to your tank inhabitants can raise your phosphates regardless of anything else.
Regardless, sounds like it is time for another water change and be sure to vacuum the substrate to remove any uneaten food. Do you have a protein skimmer? If not I would certainly get one.
Hope this helps.

[stapet77]

Yes we use RO for water changes and top off. We do have a protein skimmer, although many people seem to think the Sea Clone is not a very good one. Should I alternate frozen and flake food each day instead of feeding two times per day?

[lcstorc]

I would or even cut the flake entirely. I feed my tank a frozen mush made of fresh seafood from the grocery store, cyclopeze, mysis shrimp, and garlic. I then freeze this in my tiny ice cube tray. My overstocked 125g gets one cube a day plus nori for my tangs. Occasionally they will get a small snack of mysis w/cyclopeze in the morning when I feed my seahorses.
if using prepared food be sure to rinse it to get the phosphates out. That is likely part of the problem.

[pmac90]

Hey Stapet
Lynn has you on the right track with the feedings.
I noticed it says you have 100 lbs of live rock. That is plenty of bio filtration for a 55 gal. I wouldn't even bother putting rock in where the bio balls were. I would keep what you have in the tank and keep them clean. I removed everything from my wet dry and now have a nice open double sump with skimmer and fuge. but remember, remove them slowly.

[Dentoid]

Stapet-Also check your filter floss in the sump and make sure it is clean. I swap mine out once a week. They really collect alot of organics that are then broken down and are a haven for the nitrogenous cycle.-Scott

[Dentoid]

Also check any filter socks that you might be running for cleanliness.-Scott

[Jorgens]

I duno about the overfeeding with a tag in the tank. My latest ICH scare has taught me that make sure you feedn enough. I have about the same bio-load and have feed roughly 4x as much per day the last 3 days to clear the ich. I'd like to scale back because that is alot. but on the other hand you don't want to starve your fish either.

May I suggest increasing water flow to help food form setteling and ditritus form building up. Maybe a small powerhead or 2. I run an extra 2 on a timer with my actinics to calm it down in the evening hours.

But I'm a rookie, id take my advice withi a grain of salt (pun) and listen to the more advanced ppl!!

Good luck either way!

[PhilOlsen]

That is alot of food, In my 210 I have a Huma Huma, a yellow tang and a coral beauty and they only get 1 cube each of mysis and formula 2 a day. They also graze naturally throughout the day. Dont think that "my fish are hungry" and overfeed, it may be the souce of your problem, even though you have had the same routine for some time, it builds up each time accumilating to a dangerous situation.

[bluespotjawfish]

If you are using an RO unit, check the values coming out. It might be time to replace those filters too!

[cheeks69]

You are way overfeeding IMHO.You say you feed 2 squares of dried seaweed, that's alot and it's loaded with PO4 now combine that with a poor skimmer and you have very high nitrate/phosphate.

I duno about the overfeeding with a tag in the tank.

Tangs will graze all day on the micro/macro algae in your tank and although a good idea to supplement with nori you have to be real careful not to affect the water quality in your tank. Feeding once a day and only what they can eat in a few minutes is more than enough.

[pmac90]

Jorgens advice is good for algae build up and the end result of nitrate. But nitrate is in the water, not the rocks, or sand... sure they can be a source because the byproducts from bioballs, rocks, etc... break down and end up in the water. hence the reason water changes and a fuge are the best advice.
so, keep everything clean and do water changes and possible get a fuge in that wet/dry and you'll be on your way!

[cheeks69]

Originally Posted by pmac90

I noticed it says you have 100 lbs of live rock. That is plenty of bio filtration for a 55 gal. I wouldn't even bother putting rock in where the bio balls were.

This can also be a problem. With that much LR in the tank it's real difficult to have good flow throughout which tends to lead to detritus accumulation on the rock. I would slowly remove the bio-balls and remove some of the rock from the display and place into the sump IMO.

[pmac90]

yup to cheecks... that's why i said keep them clean. you could use a turkey baster to blow them of or get crazy and use a canister filter to go over the rocks.
won't the rocks in the sump act like bioballs without light on them?? still have to keep them clean. that's why i left my sump empty. with only cheato and a light on it.

[cheeks69]

Originally Posted by pmac90

won't the rocks in the sump act like bioballs without light on them?? still have to keep them clean. that's why i left my sump empty. with only cheato and a light on it.

No they don't need light, bacteria will continue to colonize the rock which will help with nitrification/denitrification. Just make sure that detritus isn't also accumulating in the sump area and to avoid this you could use a filter sock on the drain or have you skimmer placed as close to the drain as possible or even take a direct feed from the drain.