Crazy crazy crazy. Nitrates

Hartah23 · Nov 17, 2016

So my dad has a predator tank with a few lion fish in. I have a reef tank, he has decided that he want to turn it into a predator reef tank. I told him we would have to rest the nitrates before he put his first one in. When we tested I am pretty sure he has nitrates of around 300. Yes 300. He has now done two 100% water changes and it is still that high. Does anyone have any ideas of ways to get it down to even a half normal level.

Reeferdood · Nov 17, 2016

Water changes, lots of them....
The rocks are likely leaching if you are still seeing those numbers..
How are you testing anyhow??

Diesel · Nov 17, 2016

300................ you shouldn't be able look through the water.
Pretty sure that's testing error.
Lets get our friend @Randy Holmes-Farley in here.

tankstudy · Nov 17, 2016

I would start looking in to some of the carbon dosing methods.

Personally, with those parameters, I would hook up one huge biopellet reactor and a god-like skimmer to it.

Hartah23 · Nov 17, 2016

Is there another test kit besides api that goes into the crazy high levels? I should also say the tank is 15 years old

Diesel · Nov 17, 2016

I think you be better off by redoing the tank in a weekend.
Empty all, do a good scrubbing, maybe re-silicon the inside.
New sand but cook you rock (no not really cooking) just over MA and rinse good and let it sit in the sun for a few hours.

Reefer1978 · Nov 17, 2016

Diesel said:
I think you be better off by redoing the tank in a weekend.
Empty all, do a good scrubbing, maybe re-silicon the inside.
New sand but cook you rock (no not really cooking) just over MA and rinse good and let it sit in the sun for a few hours.

What are your thoughts on re-siliconing the inside? Do high nitrates damage the silicone?

Diesel · Nov 17, 2016

nvladik said:
What are your thoughts on re-siliconing the inside? Do high nitrates damage the silicone?

Not that I know off but 15 years is a long time and the silicone wasn't what it is now days.
Just check the inside seams and if silicon is raffling and loose than my advice is strongly.

lion king · Nov 17, 2016

I would try a different test kit, or take a sample to your lfs for a second opinion. Continue the water changes until you get it under control. Then employ some type of carbon dosing and an oversized skimmer with a regular water change schedule. Once the organics has broken down to nitrate; that's it, it does not multiply and I doubt very much that it leeches from the silicone. Any amount from the rocks would equalize to a point of saturation then the water changes would lower it.

eatbreakfast · Nov 18, 2016

^This 100%

Diesel · Nov 18, 2016

To be clear I never said it come from the silicone but a 15 year old tank, if you emptied you might as well re-silicone it on the inside.
Easy job to do.
Rocks and sand are some of the blame but a high No3 is in most cases coming from just feeding to much.