Newbie - Nitrates WAY high HELP

[Cheryl]

Hi guys! I am new to RS and the saltwater world and have spent quality hours reading all of the wonderul posted info... forgive me if my lingo isnt up to speed. I will do my best!

Problem: Nitrates will not stay down. 100+ppm !!!!! and Calcium is really low.
In a nutshell, doing frequent water changes with Distilled water, bi-carb and oceanic salt. Using skimmer and filter, water looks clear, fish are thriving. Approx 50lbs of LR, one toadstool, hairy mushrooms, feather dusters, flame scallop, all doing OK. Yellow tang, 2 damsels, one bi-color blenny, and two catfish seem to be doing well.

Help!!! Just added live sand at the advice of the LFS. What can I do?



75 gal tank

[Kensn]

Hi Cheryl, welcome to RS. May I ask who tested the water, was it yourself or a LFS (local fish store)?

Ken

[Cheryl]

Hi Ken! Thanks for the welcome.

Both. After having the water checked at the LFS, I bought the Saltwater Master test kit to continue to test from home. Needless to say, it was in the red.

[Kensn]

What type of additives are you using in the tank? Could you also tell everyone a little more about the tank like how long it has been setup, type of skimmer, type of filter and so forth? Sorry to be a pain but the information could help find a solution.

[Woodstock]

Welcome to Reef Sanctuary Cheryl

Ditto to Ken... tell us about your filtration, feeding habits, and water change schedules... also, test a newly made batch of saltwater just to get the params of that. Test that distilled water too!

Overfeeding, high bioloads, curing rock or any sort of dieing fish/anemone/etc.. will add to the nitrAtes very quickly.

[Cheryl]

Sure thing! All help is appreciated!

I will tell you what I know. I just took over the tank. The additives are the following: Lugol's Solution Iodine, Tropic Marin Bio-Calcium, Kent Superbuffer, Kent Coral Vite, and Oceanic Sea Salt. Nitrates have not changed due to food change. I switched to Emerald Entree 1 cube from brine shrimp w/spirulina, nightly, 1 small sheet dry seaweed or leafy veggie couple times a week for the Tang, and DT Phyto 3 times a wk. pH, ammonia, and nitrites seem normal. The tank is 5 years old. There used to be meat eaters in the tank, not anymore. I will have to get specifics on the protein skimmer and filter. I'm hope I didnt leave anything out...

[Kensn]

With the current info I might suspect 2 items, either the filter you have, (is this a canister filter, or a hang on the back type) or to Doni's point I would really test any water going into the system, that may be the culprit also.

[Cheryl]

The filter is located at the back of the tank. Any upgrade suggestions?

What about using Purified water from here on out? I will get on testing the water prior to the change out too.

Thanks Ken and Woodstock, you are much appreciated!

[Woodstock]

Also remember that any type of filter or substrate that traps diterus will create nitrAtes so it is important to clean/export the diterus once it's trapped. I have one prefilter sponge in my tank and it gets cleaned every 2-3 days. The deep sand will eventually grow an anaerobic layer of bacteria that will ingest the nitrAtes and turn them into harmless gas. In the meantime, keep doing large water changes and turn your skimmer on WET! If you don't have a skimmer, get the biggest that you can afford. The cool thing about skimmers is that they remove organics BEFORE they begin to break down.

[Kensn]

Test all the sources of water you have been using in the tank first. If they do not show to be the cause, then we can start looking at other causes.

[Woodstock]

Yeah, I've never used distilled water but I've heard that it is not the quality of water from a ro/di unit. Most LFS will sell ro/di water by the gallon (test it too!! dirty filters make dirty water). But it is cost wise to purchase your own unit

[cheeks69]

I notice you only have 50 lbs. of LR for a 75 gal tank, I would definitely increase the amount of LR you have to at least 75lbs. or more. Also IMO your overfeeding which will contribute to high nitrate levels. A canister type filter can also contribute to high nitrates by trapping detritus.

Do you have a cleanup crew ? DO you have Crushed Coral for a substrate or sand ? How deep is it ? How much total flow do you have ? Do you know the type of skimmer/manufactorer ? Do you have a sump ?

[Travis]

Hi Cheryl, I'm right down the road from you in The Colony.

These guys & gals have given you good advice so far. I would only add that you should probably cut out the reef foods/"vitamins" until you get the nitrates under control.

[Cheryl]

Hi guys... had to step away for a few.

Robert, I am new to the SW hobby and I am taking over the tank. I am excited, but still not up to speed on all of the 'parts'. I will do my best to answer your questions because all advice is welcome!!!

I am using a filter that is old school. It is located in an isolated area in the back of the aquarium. Water goes through the skimmer, the filter and an old school sump. We are looking to upgrade to an under tank sump pump (natural environment) and filter system. Does any of this make sense?

I have added live sand to the existing bed for a total of approx 1 1/2" - 2". There are snails, tiny scarlet(?) crabs and one hermit in there now. I plan to purchase a clean up crew soon to add to the tank. I also have a couple of sand sifters; a blenny and a couple of striped catfish. To correct my earlier statement on LR, there's 80 lbs in the tank. Did I cover it all?

I will hold off on the vitamins/reef food...should I cut the frozen food in half to half a cube a day? Thanks neighbor!

[cheeks69]

I am using a filter that is old school. It is located in an isolated area in the back of the aquarium. Water goes through the skimmer, the filter and an old school sump. We are looking to upgrade to an under tank sump pump (natural environment) and filter system. Does any of this make sense?

DO you have a pic ? Is there any Bio-balls ? If you can post a pic of the skimmer too.If this is an old style filter it's possible that the skimmer your using isn't adequate and needs to be upgraded.

I will hold off on the vitamins/reef food...should I cut the frozen food in half to half a cube a day?

I would feed half a cube every other day.You actually have a light bio-load for the size tank you have and it's possible the the high nitrate level could be because of neglect from the former owner. I would keep doing water changes, cut back on the food and seriously consider upgrading the skimmer.