newbie needs help!

Lino · 01-17-2008, 08:41 PM

Hi everyone,

I am relatively new to the salt water aquarium hobbie, I started my aquarium in September with a 72 gallon bow tank. I am writing requesting some help. My nitrate levels have been extremely high for a few weeks now, off the charts high. I have done everything I can think of and still high. I have done a 35% water change a couple weeks ago and another water change of almost 20% a few days ago. I have cleaned all of the filters and cleaned the tank thoroughly during the 35% water change. Is there anything else I should be doing?

zy112 · 01-17-2008, 08:57 PM

What kind of filtration do you have. Are you using Ro or RO-DI water?

DrHank · 01-17-2008, 09:29 PM

Knowing as much as possible about your equipment, livestock, feeding, water source, and water change interval and amount would help us help you.

framerguy · 01-17-2008, 10:10 PM

First of all..Welcome to RS!! You've come to the right place for help. We need a LOT more info though. How high is "off the chart"? Do you know the exact readings of each test: ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, ph, alk, calcium, magnesium, temp. -How much, if any, live rock to you have. Are there any animals in there (I hope not!). How did you cure the live rock (assuming you have some). How did you cycle the tank (assuming you did) Any answers given with the info given would be guesses.

lcstorc · 01-17-2008, 10:50 PM

First I want to say Welcome to RS.
Lots of good questions above but I guess I have to add more.

Was there anything different about when the nitrates went up. Change in source water, something dying in the tank, new fish added, new test kit pretty much anything that has changed. What were your nitrates before and how long had they been there?
Have you tested the water change water before using? If the water you are using for water changes has nitrates then doing water changes is not going to help.
Assuming your source water is good then you need to find out what is causing and do a lot of water changes. I would do 20 - 25 % once or twice a week. It will still take some time to bring them down from that level but many decent size watrer changes is the way to get rid of the nitrates that are there now.

framerguy · 01-17-2008, 10:54 PM

Lynn and Zack have a good point, what's your water source. If you are using tap water then you aren't helping your cause at all.

AQTCJAK · 01-18-2008, 11:43 AM

Welcome Aboard - I to would look @ your water source

goldenmean · 01-18-2008, 01:04 PM

Besides all of the above check that your test has not gone bad.
The regents do have expiration dates or sometimes they can just go bad. Take a sample to your LFS and have them test to confirm yours are working.

hma · 01-18-2008, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AQTCJAK

Welcome Aboard - I to would look @ your water source

..agree with Jack .... and Welcome to RS !

01-17-2008, 08:41 PM	#1 (permalink)
Lino Tunicate Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1 View Gallery Karma Komment	newbie needs help! Hi everyone, I am relatively new to the salt water aquarium hobbie, I started my aquarium in September with a 72 gallon bow tank. I am writing requesting some help. My nitrate levels have been extremely high for a few weeks now, off the charts high. I have done everything I can think of and still high. I have done a 35% water change a couple weeks ago and another water change of almost 20% a few days ago. I have cleaned all of the filters and cleaned the tank thoroughly during the 35% water change. Is there anything else I should be doing?

01-17-2008, 08:57 PM	#2 (permalink)
zy112 Harlequin Tuskfish Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: IN Posts: 984 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: newbie needs help! What kind of filtration do you have. Are you using Ro or RO-DI water? __________________ Zach

01-17-2008, 09:29 PM	#3 (permalink)
DrHank Golden Moray Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Crestview, FL Posts: 2,284 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: newbie needs help! Knowing as much as possible about your equipment, livestock, feeding, water source, and water change interval and amount would help us help you. __________________ Doc Dr Hank's 210 Build: http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...nks-tanks.html

01-17-2008, 10:10 PM	#4 (permalink)
framerguy Manta Ray Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Mount Airy, Ga Posts: 3,523 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: newbie needs help! First of all..Welcome to RS!! You've come to the right place for help. We need a LOT more info though. How high is "off the chart"? Do you know the exact readings of each test: ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, ph, alk, calcium, magnesium, temp. -How much, if any, live rock to you have. Are there any animals in there (I hope not!). How did you cure the live rock (assuming you have some). How did you cycle the tank (assuming you did) Any answers given with the info given would be guesses. __________________ ___________________________________ Greg All time fav quote: "Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy."-Guillaume Apollinaire "Being happy can be as easy as deciding to be!"-Greg Kimsey (framerguy) Still Workin' on it! 375gDT built in wall, Gargantuan DIY Beckett Skimmer, 100g sump, Sequence Hammerhead closed loop, 75 gallon seagrass/mineral mud refugium, 55 gallon crushed coral/live rock refugium, 30 gallon DSB/ cheatomorpha refugium, algae turf scrubber, DIY calcium reactor, DIY kalkwasser mixer, DIY light system w/4x 250MH & 4x54w T5, etc, etc, etc... chronicles-akwareum

01-17-2008, 10:50 PM	#5 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 20,008 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: newbie needs help! First I want to say Welcome to RS. Lots of good questions above but I guess I have to add more. Was there anything different about when the nitrates went up. Change in source water, something dying in the tank, new fish added, new test kit pretty much anything that has changed. What were your nitrates before and how long had they been there? Have you tested the water change water before using? If the water you are using for water changes has nitrates then doing water changes is not going to help. Assuming your source water is good then you need to find out what is causing and do a lot of water changes. I would do 20 - 25 % once or twice a week. It will still take some time to bring them down from that level but many decent size watrer changes is the way to get rid of the nitrates that are there now. __________________ Peace LYNN You can't change the past but you can change how you view it. A reef tank is like a racecar. The faster you go the harder you crash. Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Every 60 seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back. In Loving Memory Of Z 01/22/07 - 08/19/08

01-17-2008, 10:54 PM	#6 (permalink)
framerguy Manta Ray Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Mount Airy, Ga Posts: 3,523 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: newbie needs help! Lynn and Zack have a good point, what's your water source. If you are using tap water then you aren't helping your cause at all. __________________ ___________________________________ Greg All time fav quote: "Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy."-Guillaume Apollinaire "Being happy can be as easy as deciding to be!"-Greg Kimsey (framerguy) Still Workin' on it! 375gDT built in wall, Gargantuan DIY Beckett Skimmer, 100g sump, Sequence Hammerhead closed loop, 75 gallon seagrass/mineral mud refugium, 55 gallon crushed coral/live rock refugium, 30 gallon DSB/ cheatomorpha refugium, algae turf scrubber, DIY calcium reactor, DIY kalkwasser mixer, DIY light system w/4x 250MH & 4x54w T5, etc, etc, etc... chronicles-akwareum

01-18-2008, 11:43 AM	#7 (permalink)
AQTCJAK Tiger Shark Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 7,131 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: newbie needs help! Welcome Aboard - I to would look @ your water source __________________ A Wiseman once said build a stage add a pole & they will dance - Jack 2007 www.aquaticaggression.com Projects & Chronicels http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...car-buffs.html http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...nts-tanks.html

01-18-2008, 01:04 PM	#8 (permalink)
goldenmean Beautiful Katamari Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 4,194 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: newbie needs help! Besides all of the above check that your test has not gone bad. The regents do have expiration dates or sometimes they can just go bad. Take a sample to your LFS and have them test to confirm yours are working. __________________ A 55g link in the GoldenChain My 2nd-QT-Wrasse My Second Quarantine Tank 2 (+) Year Retrospective of a 12g Nano Jeff What You Think Upon Grows... Have a Smooth Day!

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