Nitrate help

[Renato]

I have a 120g with a 29g sump and a 29g fuge.
My sump its filled with live rocks, and the fuge is divided in half with cheato, about 4 inches sand bed, i feed every other day and my nitrates NEVER go lower 10 ppm, i don't know what else to do it.
Help please!!!!!!

 

[SharkLover]

Could use a little more info.

Are you using Ro/Di water? What your parameters.

 

[Renato]

yes RoDi water last time i checked it was 0
Phosphate about 5
Calcium 450
DKH 9
Nitrate 0
Ammonia 0
And im using phosban reactor.

 

[SharkLover]

using any filter socks or bio balls?

 

[RayD]

NO3 at 10 isn't so bad. Youre always going to have some nitrates IMO.

 

[stingythingy45]

^^^

+1

"Phosphate about 5"

Not too sure what this is all about.
Phosphates should be .0( ..something) not 5.

 

[fishindude]

What do you have that requires food every other day? To me that is a lot of feeding and there is a good chance that it is contributing to the higher nitrates.

 

[reefkeeper2]

Feeding is relative and all tanks differ. I feed 3 times a day. A nitrate level of 10 is nothing to worry about. If it continues to climb there are methods such as a remote deep sand bed that can help. Right now I wouldn't sweat it. Just keep an eye on it.

 

[Renato]

using any filter socks or bio balls?

Filter socks only for the skimmer no bio balls but even before filter socks i still had nitrates

 

[Renato]

What do you have that requires food every other day? To me that is a lot of feeding and there is a good chance that it is contributing to the higher nitrates.

I have a Black tang, Yellow tang, Blond naso tang, Coral Beauty, 3 chommis,
Mandarim, goby,pair of black oceallaris.

 

[Renato]

Feeding is relative and all tanks differ. I feed 3 times a day. A nitrate level of 10 is nothing to worry about. If it continues to climb there are methods such as a remote deep sand bed that can help. Right now I wouldn't sweat it. Just keep an eye on it.

It does go to 20 sometimes for no reason i dont change nothing.
Right now im dealing with some cyano and i think the cause of that is the nitrate.

 

[JayM]

having nitrates and detectable phosphates are a sure way to get cyano to grow. Old bulbs and weak flow are 2 other contributors

 

[Renato]

having nitrates and detectable phosphates are a sure way to get cyano to grow. Old bulbs and weak flow are 2 other contributors

I need to change my bulbs they are almost one year old

 

[fishindude]

I have a Black tang, Yellow tang, Blond naso tang, Coral Beauty, 3 chommis,
Mandarim, goby,pair of black oceallaris.

IMO, you don't need to feed that much. It is up to you, as this may not be the sole cause of nitrates. A nitrate level of 10 isn't the end of the world, but its nice to know the cause of the problem so you can fix it or at least control it. I personally keep my nitrates undetectable; out of sight, out of mind .

 

[Renato]

I wish i knew what the problem is.
Im going to cut more on food and see what is going to change

 

[stingythingy45]

I feed every day but not too much at one time.I have a bunch of crabs, nassarius snails and cerith snails to help clean up any left overs.
I'm also a firm believer in a Deep Sand Bed.

 

[Renato]

I was thinking about raising my SB in my refugium you think it would help?

 

[jbishop]

SB could help if you could get a RDSB it might help more.

Is the cheato growing? If not your not exporting nutrients. I think cutting back on the light is also a great idea.

 

[fishindude]

Also, just a thought, how old is your test kit/what test kit are you using? I have had a test kit that has given me false nitrate readings due to old age. You could test it by testing some RO water or some distilled water that you know should have 0 nitrates.
One more thing, how often do you do water changes and how much do you do?

 

[Renato]

SB could help if you could get a RDSB it might help more.

Is the cheato growing? If not your not exporting nutrients. I think cutting back on the light is also a great idea.

The cheato is growing