nitrates ???
- Thread starter joshl
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I fought nitrates (at much higher levels than yours) for months. I finally gave up the conventional methods (large, frequent water changes, mostly) and started up a coil denitrator. When that didn't get me all the way down to the 0-5 range like I wanted, I started dosing a product called AZ-NO3. It's expensive, but when used as directed, it took my nitrates from a level that was totally off the scale of my Seachem test kit to a level where they are barely detectable now. I am just about through the cycle of weaning myself off the product, and so far so good. You can't use this product without a GOOD skimmer, though, so be aware of that.
I don't think the fish will care unless the levels really skyrockets. Inverts are more sensitive to elevated nitrate levels, and the more advanced corals demand really clean water. The main concern you may have with high nitrates is an ongoing battle with algae.
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Prime should only be used in dire situations, but it will nuetriize nitrites and nitrates but does not remove them. Lets find out what is either causing the nonconversion into nitrogen or binding it. Your levels are not high enough to warrant panic but lets work on getting your sump and fuge going and let me suggest to feed a little less and add a litttle more live rock. Have you removed the bio wheel? If so then your system will need a little time before balancing back out. Add no chemicals!!!
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According to Jim at Seachem, it alters/binds NO3 so that it can be more easily consumed by bacteria. I have not tested this.
I do waterchanges weekly in my nano, and on a weekly basis, dose Seachem's Alpha product which nuetrilizes Ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, chlorine and cloramine........ Because of this, I'm not sure I'd get an accurate reading on any tests, but by the same token, have no issues with the tank.
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I agree with you there. Jim addressed this at the last Seachem meeting to a very small degree. I'll try to dig up some info on sodium thiosulfate regarding NO3 and get back to you on that one.
It acts on NH3 by creating an iminium salt, which is very basically nitrogen organically bound. Again.. let me do some research, I knew I'd get called out on that one.
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Josh,althougth you are still young in the hobby you are learning quickly, lets get the basics down first and then move towards more advanced methods later. Your system is still very young and your nitrate issues started just last week. Nothing to worry about yet. I promise.
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Almost 2 months and I believe 2 or 3 small fish.
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I guess we were answering your question, however, we didn't have enough info to answer it for your specific question. Don't worry about anything in the 20 to 40 range except proper husbandry to control it. This was stated by a few members already.
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Hey Crowe, the Biowheel is a place that beneficial bacterias will harbor, they do the same thing that your liverock is doing but the problem with the biowheel is that overtime they will become a nitrate factory. They do not allow for the conversion of Nitrates to Nitrogen. There is more to it than that but that is the jist of it.
