High nitrates!

GeeWizzItsMe · 08-26-2007, 09:57 PM

My nitrates go between 20 and 40! They used to be 0! I use a sponge in my biowheel, but no wheels! I have a CUC with snails, hermits, cleaner shrimp, and red serpent star, but currently no fish. How do I remove nitrates. Is it just water changes? Also, how can I reduce copper/heavy metals? I just have a biowheel and live rock as filter, so I don't know what to do! Please help and thank you!

lcstorc · 08-26-2007, 10:01 PM

How often do you clean your sponge? Try every other day or so and that will likely help. Water changes will also help tremendously.
I have no idea about the copper etc but why do you ask?

Dentoid · 08-26-2007, 10:03 PM

Many heavy metals can be removed using activated carbon. Until you get a decent skimmer and some age on your tank, the "only" way" to decrease the nitrates is with water changes.

GeeWizzItsMe · 08-27-2007, 09:45 AM

Just wondering about the heavy metals. How do I use activated carbon?

Dentoid · 08-27-2007, 09:51 AM

Get some activated carbon, put it in a chemibag and put it in your HOB filter. It's that easy. It should be changed every 1-2 weeks. It will not only remove unwanted chemicals but will make your water sparkle!

tbittner · 08-27-2007, 03:18 PM

The carbon itself should be changed out every 1-2 weeks? Or just clean/replace the bag every 1-2 weeks?

I thought the carbon itself lasted much longer then that and it was the detritius that collects on the bag that raises nitrates. I've been wrong so many times before so.....

ScubaDrew · 08-27-2007, 03:26 PM

What does the activated carbon do exactly to make the water sparkle?

Dentoid · 08-27-2007, 03:36 PM

It removes the yellowing compounds from the water and in essence "polishes" the water. That is why they say be careful using carbon and changing carbon with coral because the removal of the yellowing compounds can have a profound effect on how much light reaches the coral.

Terry, I guess it depends on how dirty the water is and how quickly the detritus builds up in the pores of the carbon. Once the pores of the carbon are obstructed, whether it's from detritus, bacteria or the chemicals it's used to remove, it's not going to absorb anything else. Sure you can rinse it and leave it in there for a month or two, but its effectiveness is lost.

ScubaDrew · 08-27-2007, 03:56 PM

Thanks Dentoid - as usual your a wealth of great info. +karma

InLimbo87 · 08-27-2007, 04:03 PM

I would also make sure you are cleaning out your sponge on a daily basis. Other than that, tell us more about your tank setup.

What size is the tank?
How old is the tank?
How much live rock do you have in it?
What are your inhabitants?
How often/what do you feed?
Whats your setup, how much turnover do you have, have any deadspots?

addicted · 08-28-2007, 03:59 AM

I'm having the same problem with my nitrates! My tank is a little overstocked but I am religious about my water changes. Just keep up with changing out the water and hopefully once the tank has time to mature those nitrates will start to go away on their own.

GeeWizzItsMe · 08-28-2007, 05:39 PM

That is funny "addicted" because I don't even have any fish, and when I did my nitrates were 0! Oh well, 20% a week is how I am going!

tbittner · 08-28-2007, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dentoid

Terry, I guess it depends on how dirty the water is and how quickly the detritus builds up in the pores of the carbon. Once the pores of the carbon are obstructed, whether it's from detritus, bacteria or the chemicals it's used to remove, it's not going to absorb anything else. Sure you can rinse it and leave it in there for a month or two, but its effectiveness is lost.

Ok, thanks for explaining that. I also understand now why people "crush" or "break" the carbon to revitalize it.

Dentoid · 08-28-2007, 09:37 PM

Exactly! I have a great little booklet titled, "Protein Skimming & Activated Carbon Secrets" by Bob Goemans, Ph.D. It's only about 31 pages, but has a wealth of information. PM me your address and I'll send it to you.

ScubaRW4 · 08-28-2007, 09:52 PM

I bought a big bottle of De*Nitrate by Seachem and filled a bag with around a cup of it then dropped it into one of my filters. After a week my nitrate dropped from 40 to 20. We'll see if it knocks it down to zero or not. The drop could have also just been a coincidence for all I know.

Bob

08-26-2007, 09:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
GeeWizzItsMe See Golden Compass Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Nashville Posts: 1,857 View Gallery Karma Komment	High nitrates! My nitrates go between 20 and 40! They used to be 0! I use a sponge in my biowheel, but no wheels! I have a CUC with snails, hermits, cleaner shrimp, and red serpent star, but currently no fish. How do I remove nitrates. Is it just water changes? Also, how can I reduce copper/heavy metals? I just have a biowheel and live rock as filter, so I don't know what to do! Please help and thank you! __________________ VP of Dork Club http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...-new-tank.html

08-26-2007, 10:01 PM	#2 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 26,433 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: High nitrates! How often do you clean your sponge? Try every other day or so and that will likely help. Water changes will also help tremendously. I have no idea about the copper etc but why do you ask? __________________ Peace LYNN Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Lynn's frag tank experiment A reef tank is like a race car. The faster you go the harder you crash.

08-27-2007, 09:45 AM	#4 (permalink)
GeeWizzItsMe See Golden Compass Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Nashville Posts: 1,857 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: High nitrates! Just wondering about the heavy metals. How do I use activated carbon? __________________ VP of Dork Club http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...-new-tank.html

08-27-2007, 03:18 PM	#6 (permalink)
tbittner Watch this Ma! Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northern VA Posts: 5,563 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: High nitrates! The carbon itself should be changed out every 1-2 weeks? Or just clean/replace the bag every 1-2 weeks? I thought the carbon itself lasted much longer then that and it was the detritius that collects on the bag that raises nitrates. I've been wrong so many times before so..... __________________ Terry 150g predator tank full of killers. Soon to be upgraded to a 360g. 450g reef 300g sump.

08-27-2007, 03:26 PM	#7 (permalink)
ScubaDrew Elegance coral Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Burlington, VT Posts: 1,129 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: High nitrates! What does the activated carbon do exactly to make the water sparkle? __________________ STT2VT - Chronical

08-27-2007, 03:56 PM	#9 (permalink)
ScubaDrew Elegance coral Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Burlington, VT Posts: 1,129 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: High nitrates! Thanks Dentoid - as usual your a wealth of great info. +karma __________________ STT2VT - Chronical

08-27-2007, 04:03 PM	#10 (permalink)
InLimbo87 Elegance coral Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Orlando Posts: 1,002 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: High nitrates! I would also make sure you are cleaning out your sponge on a daily basis. Other than that, tell us more about your tank setup. What size is the tank? How old is the tank? How much live rock do you have in it? What are your inhabitants? How often/what do you feed? Whats your setup, how much turnover do you have, have any deadspots? __________________ We are forever responsible for that which we tame... Oceanic 33g Cube Tank Thread ~Ian~

08-28-2007, 03:59 AM	#11 (permalink)
addicted Fire Coral Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 64 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: High nitrates! I'm having the same problem with my nitrates! My tank is a little overstocked but I am religious about my water changes. Just keep up with changing out the water and hopefully once the tank has time to mature those nitrates will start to go away on their own.

08-28-2007, 05:39 PM	#12 (permalink)
GeeWizzItsMe See Golden Compass Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Nashville Posts: 1,857 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: High nitrates! That is funny "addicted" because I don't even have any fish, and when I did my nitrates were 0! Oh well, 20% a week is how I am going! __________________ VP of Dork Club http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...-new-tank.html

08-28-2007, 09:52 PM	#15 (permalink)
ScubaRW4 Fire Coral Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 70 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: High nitrates! I bought a big bottle of De*Nitrate by Seachem and filled a bag with around a cup of it then dropped it into one of my filters. After a week my nitrate dropped from 40 to 20. We'll see if it knocks it down to zero or not. The drop could have also just been a coincidence for all I know. Bob

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