Hi there. New to the forum and desperate for help. Have a 55 gal corner tank with sump and a 150 gal tank using back filters. Both are salt. Have been up and running a few months. Started off well, added a few fish at a time (clowns and damsels) then added lionfish. Moved all damsels and clowns to larger tank and kept lionfish in smaller tank. Had 4 lions in the tank. Nitrate levels spiked in both tanks. All damsels died. Worried that number of lions was too great for smaller tank, so moved 3 lions to larger tank . (did appropriate water changes in between). Nitrate levels are maxed out,but other values, pH, nitrites and ammonia are ok usin API test kit. Nitrate levels have stayed high for about two months despite water changes of25-50%. Ended up buying water from the fish store because was worried that my tap water had nitrates in it. That was 3 weeks ago and nitrate levels never came down. Have been using Seed and Remdiation nitrifying bacteria, but no improvement. Spending lots of money and getting nowhere. really need help.
high nitrate levels
- Thread starter elbucho
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I'd start with discontinuing the use of tap water, invest in an rodi system.
What is in your sump and hang on filters? How is your flow in the tanks? Low flow could be allowing stuff to settle and accumulate in the tank.
What is in your sump and hang on filters? How is your flow in the tanks? Low flow could be allowing stuff to settle and accumulate in the tank.
jeff williams
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Api test kit hi value for nitrates is 160 I believe. If your adding water from the Lfs and nitrate is still at 160 on the test then what's going on is your nitrate is a lot higher than 160 do a dilution test mix 2.5 mls tank water with 2.5 mls Lfs water then retest see if you get a readable number below 160. Also test your tap water for nitrate see where it's at, an Ro/Di unit is probably your next purchase to control the nitrate. The last thing is feeding, if your over feeding it will cause nitrate problems so evaluate your feeding.
If your tap water is low in nitrate then start doing 20 wc's daily until you get it under control. If the tap water is high in nitrate you can buy Lfs water and use it or you can mix it 50/50 with tap to make it less costly. Also dosing seachem prime will help detoxify the nitrate until you can get it under control
If your tap water is low in nitrate then start doing 20 wc's daily until you get it under control. If the tap water is high in nitrate you can buy Lfs water and use it or you can mix it 50/50 with tap to make it less costly. Also dosing seachem prime will help detoxify the nitrate until you can get it under control
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