Nitrates are 80 and nothing is helping

[kelloggreef]

I have been having trouble with the tank recently, my corals being upset and ect... every time I am testing my water my nitrates are showing at least 40 up to 80. As I stand now my nitrates are 80 and I am about to do yet another water change. I want to do a large change but not too large as to shock everything. My tank is a 210 and am wanting to get opinions on what a good substantial change would be. Aslo how often is too often to be doing the water changes?

I had a problem with my refugium and the light being out, so I believe for a while the culerpa was dying and poluting my tank. Since I have put a new light on and everything should be fine down there now. I can't figure it out and it is driving me nuts.

 

[ricksconnected]

contact jenn at imagine ocean, on of the sponsors. she can help you with this. i too suffered the nitrate nightmare.

 

[kelloggreef]

She has gone out of her way to answer all my questions. Thats how I found out about my refugium problem. I dont want to keep bothering her. Jenn if you dont mind I still need help.

 

[ricksconnected]

dude jenn and her gang are good people. she will walk you through things.
i had a mishap and sent her a email. she was on the phone with me even before her first cup of coffee that morning. ive never had service like she and the gang so readly give. they are very knowledgeable and willing to help.

 

[sailfish]

I would do a search for other thread on here as I have seen several here lately.

I would do 25% water changes, reduce feeding and see if my skimmer was big enough.

Here is article that may help.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/august2003/chem.htm">http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/august2003/chem.htm</a>

Jpe

 

[dakota9]

Are you vacuuming the substrate any?

 

[stevhan]

Everytime I do water changes on my reef I do about 30% (I have big fish and like to feed a lot). I used to do almost half but limited closet space in the new place means I gave up my larger brute can.
Nothiing seems to get stressed at all and I vacuum the substrate every time as that is where all the debris settle.

 

[hackman72]

what brand of test kit are you using? take a sample to your lfs and have the test it.

 

[jennm]

We're at your service.

Hackman72 also brings up a good point - bring in a sample and we'll test it to make sure the problem(s) is/are what you believe them to be.

We will test for all kinds of things so we'll get a bigger picture of what's going on.

10-6 today, 1-5 tomorrow (Sunday)

Jenn

 

[ricksconnected]

i know i have jenn test my water and it proved my test kit was way off on most things. i tested 1 week later and had crazy readings. took water to another LFS and they tested showing exact same readings jenn showed the week before. so my API test kit totally sucks.
let her help you.

 

[swfk44]

what about a dinitrator

 

[snowmansnow]

JennM;394887 wrote: We're at your service.

Hackman72 also brings up a good point - bring in a sample and we'll test it to make sure the problem(s) is/are what you believe them to be.

We will test for all kinds of things so we'll get a bigger picture of what's going on.

10-6 today, 1-5 tomorrow (Sunday)

Jenn

i need to swing bye one weekend

 

[kelloggreef]

Andy ,I saw you leaving her shop today. Went up there to find my nitrates were 20 not 80. Guess im throwing away my test kit.

 

[ricksconnected]

man, same thing happened to me a jenns spot. i read 80, she read 20.
im willing to bet the farm your using API test kit arent you?

 

[jennm]

Well Kellogg, you do have some other water quality issues that do need to be addressed, in addition to getting nitrates down further - but the nitrate issue wasn't as dire as initially thought.

You should be headed in the right direction though

Jenn

 

[ricksconnected]

jenn

i gotta hand it to you. its nice to see folks walk others through problems like this. Lord knows youve been a great help to me too.
its nice to see that you take time away from your business and from yourself to do what you can to make others worlds go around. :thumbs:

 

[jennm]

The hobby has "made my world go around" for over 23 years. That's what we do

It goes around, and comes around. I spent a long time on a steep learning curve (and I'm still there - we learn every day).

Thanks for the kind words - it keeps us encouraged to keep doing what we do!

Jenn

 

[ricksconnected]

hey i just call it as i see it. your gang was/is a great help to me and im just spreading the word. i belong to other type forums and theres lots of people that havent figured it out that its all about giving back.
keep up the good work jenn.