Is it better to do 1 large water change or several small ones in a 1 week period to reduce nitrates effectivly?
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Nitrate reduction
- Thread starter steevareno
- Start date
for my 38g i do a 10% water change every week and my nitrates always are low. IMO i feel that doing a smaller change once a week has worked better in my case.
110oceanic
Non-member
I think several small water changes for less change at once to much change at one time may have adverse effects. But you may want to wait for a senior member to post.
OP
OP
I need to lower them ASAP. I've already done four 20 gallon water changes and took out some fish to reduce the bioload. They are still around 40PPM! Will 1 big one do the trick or should i wait and see if the fewer fish will lower it?
nitrofish
reefing again!
you may have to do a larger change to get it down in a hurry.I would also look into natural nitrate reduction methods so that you won't have to deal with high nitrates and big water changes. things like a refugium or a remote deep sand bed are some ways you can get those numbers down
RichConley
Attack of the Killer Cute
steevareno said:
Do a single big one, not too huge though, and see how far it comes down. Did anything die recently?
If theyre that high from just the fishload, you need to find some long term ways to more aggressively extract nutrients: Bigger Protien skimmer, more efficient protien skimmer set up, macro, better flow, etc.
cknapp21
Chantel Knapp
Hi, I had a similar nitrate problem a while ago when I moved to the area. I'm assuming you havn't added any fish/inverts/etc. From talking to my neighbor who also has a reef tank I learned I should filter my tap water, which was something I never had to do in FL. I bought this filter (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produ...x=mode+matchallpartial&Np=1&pc=1&N=2004&Nty=1) and did several smaller changes...10% in the morning and 10% in the evening with the filtered water. My nitrates are now at 0ppm after struggling for 6 months. Just an idea...
OP
OP
thanks for the help. i removed about half of my fish. I have a refugium in the sump with cheato. I have 35x turnover rate for flow and even a huge clam which is supposed to eat nitrates. I don't believe anything has died. I have a 3" sandbed in the tank. I will do a 25% water change today and then test tonight.
OP
OP
Interesting........1% a day sounds much easier, lol
OP
OP
it's been running for 5 months. I just want to vacuum the top layer of sand for detritus, right?
denvig
Time To Wake Up
What is the tank size? What is the bio load? To get it down fast a 30% or so water change once a week with water that has been prepared at least a day ahead should not be a problem. But you need to address the problem that is getting it to the 40ppm in the first place. Assuming that you set up the tank and did not stock it too fast it should not be that high after only 5 months. You figure that for the first two to three months there should have only been a very very light load. So realistically it should have only been running for two months with any kind of a load. All this leads me to think you went way too fast.
delta
Impatient Reefer
Once you do get your nitrates down get on a regular water change schedule always blow off the detritus from you LR before you remove the water and keep the sump clean.
I would also look for trapped detritus, do you have any egg crate in your sump or holding up LR. egg crate is ok when suspended but your worst nightmare sitting on glass.
Get your skimmer up to par, clean pumps and venturi as well as cleaning your skimmer cup regulary
continue blowing off LR daily until nitrates subside get that waste into suspension so you can skim it out. cut way back on feeding as well.
Dont let your carbon run to long change weekly if you use it
Double check your fresh water supply to make sure it is up to par.
I wouldn't change anything until things are under control. since your not sure what the problem is, adding anything will only complicate diagnosing/solving the problem.
The optimum time for a mature tank would be 1 to 1.5 years if things go steady. until then the system is still very unstable. Your new system doesn't react as fast as a mature system would.
Any way just keep up on the water changes and soon enough things will get better .
I would also look for trapped detritus, do you have any egg crate in your sump or holding up LR. egg crate is ok when suspended but your worst nightmare sitting on glass.
Get your skimmer up to par, clean pumps and venturi as well as cleaning your skimmer cup regulary
continue blowing off LR daily until nitrates subside get that waste into suspension so you can skim it out. cut way back on feeding as well.
Dont let your carbon run to long change weekly if you use it
Double check your fresh water supply to make sure it is up to par.
I wouldn't change anything until things are under control. since your not sure what the problem is, adding anything will only complicate diagnosing/solving the problem.
The optimum time for a mature tank would be 1 to 1.5 years if things go steady. until then the system is still very unstable. Your new system doesn't react as fast as a mature system would.
Any way just keep up on the water changes and soon enough things will get better .
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OP
OP
yup, got carried away and added too many fish too soon. My nitrates were actually even higher than 40PPM! After removing my 6" banana wrasse, 7 chromis, small purple tang and eibili angel I have left for fish in a 150gal; 4" emporer angel, 4" naso tang, (2) 2" anthias, 2" flame angel, 1 true perc(1"). i was looking at purigen to add to help out with my water changes which are really getting to me but i cooked my own goose. Any info on Purigen? I always clean the skimmer cup, vacuum the sump, good flow, etc... I think i got cocky because i have 2 euroreef skimmers, tunze's, DSB, Fuge , etc... I need to get back to basics!
denvig
Time To Wake Up
steevareno said:I think i got cocky because i have 2 euroreef skimmers, tunze's, DSB, Fuge , etc... I need to get back to basics!
Yes this is all great and having a 150 also helps. But the one thing your tank does not have, is enough time under its belt. Let it settle for at least a couple of month?s before you add anything else and even then tank it sloooooooo.
In the long run you?ll be glad you did.
