Help! Nitrate Issue

[Trunks]

I am encounterred high nitrate (50-100ppm level) issue on my 3ft tank. My fishs are doing ok but not for my corals. My last 25% water changed was done in 4 weeks ago.

Should I do a 50% or 25% water change? If 50% water change, does it affect my good bacteria that already built up in my tank or LR?

Currently my DSB is about 2", I am also thinking of adding more sand into my tank. Can I just top up after rinse? or, how should i do to add more sand into my tank? Experts, pls advise. Thanks...

[seamonkee]

50 - 100ppm sounds serious...

Maybe you wanna share with us your LS? How many fishes u have? Are u overstocking?

[[P]owder Blue]

Suggest 20% water change on a weekly basis. For the sand bed, you might want to add gradually as it might cause a sand storm.

[sjsheng]

currently my nitrate lvl is 20ppm.. my coral is stress like dunno what..

but my anemone is ok...

only leather finger n red button stress...

anyway 20% water change every week will lower down the nitrate level?

i have a sand bed of 4 inch at the back n 3 inch infront...

[Trunks]

Currently I have 4 fishs about 1" and 6-7 type of corals. What do you mean by sand storm?

[Air]

I am encounterred high nitrate (50-100ppm level) issue on my 3ft tank. My fishs are doing ok but not for my corals. My last 25% water changed was done in 4 weeks ago.

Should I do a 50% or 25% water change? If 50% water change, does it affect my good bacteria that already built up in my tank or LR?

Currently my DSB is about 2", I am also thinking of adding more sand into my tank. Can I just top up after rinse? or, how should i do to add more sand into my tank? Experts, pls advise. Thanks...

2" isnt a DSB. AT least 4". just being careful here, no water is passing tru ur sand bed rite?

[bawater]

Trunks:

The depth of the DSB will Depend on the sand size you use. (e.g If you use NO.#5 Crush coral then maybe 10feet depth would be needed.)

You can add new sand by washing it first then put into zip-lock bags or normal plastic bags, lower into the tank and pour around the area needed. The tank will clear in a day.

2" can be considered a sand bed. Not DSB.

A DSB can take anywhere from 6months to a year to mature. Do not expect instant results before this.

The 20% weekly partial water change sounds good. It would dilute your current troubles.

sjsheng: A DSB will take 6mths to a yr to mature.

To stress leathers & buttons i think there may be something else wrong and not only NO3. You did not list the full specifications so i make no assumptions.

rgds

[sjsheng]

ok...

my water paremeter is

ammonia 0

nitrite 0

ph 8.2 - 8.3

i using normal lighting...

the problme i can come up to is my lighting problem..

but the leather finger has pass out waxy thing... white white 1.. like web...

the red button is nt opening fully.. only a few open up only...

[bawater]

normal lighting?

The (mucus coat) the waxy layer you see from the leather is normal, they do it often- every few weeks or so.

so the buttons do open, just not all of them.

are they new? what is normal lighting?

tank size, nos of light tubes, what colour,what kind?

[sjsheng]

normal lighting nt for marine fish 1.. is for my tropical fish 1...

those 15w only...

i think this is why the red button not opening up....

i just remove those waxy layer... when i change water.. suck those thing out since my current nv do the job...

i have the leather for about 2 weeks .. leather about 3 weeks...

i dunno izzit my nitrate problem.. that why nt opening up....

leather always do this kind of thing meh ? i mean removing waxy layer every weeks... everytime i seem it always the thing haven wash again by current 1... sad

[bawater]

No! it is not the nitrate which is the immediate factor giving the problem.

Yes, the mucus layer is normal.

tropical light meaning pink tube? or plant light (6500k)

1 or 2 tubes

i think this dragging on very long so here goes:

Tank size: ?

Lighting used: 15w FL .....? for how many hours.

Water parameters: ammonia 0,nitrite 0, Nitrate 20ppm

pH 8.2-8.3

Filtration:?

A Picture will do wonders for answers.

[sjsheng]

mine is pink tube... i nt sure hw many k... izzit 6500k ?

for luohan 1.. .lOl..

cause i haven bought the tube...

FL... 1 tube 1 day about 6-8 hours..

using canister filter....

2ft tank

[bawater]

No its not 6500k. LH don't need light to grow but corals do.

So you need to change the tube, and most probably add 2 more 15w tubes(total 3 tubes) or change to PL altogether. run them for 10-12hrs a day.

You need to look into your light issue. Links are right here on SRC

All You Need To Know About Lighting, for the marine aquarium!

Leather corals are perhaps one of the easiest corals to keep in any reef tank. They are often recommended for beginners because of the ease of keeping them. They contain zooxanthellae and therefore need light to survive. Just ensure that you provide the right kind of lighting. Your buttons are suffering the same fate.

Should the stalk of the leather shrivel up or should it become flacid and bend, something is wrong with your water quality. The usual problem is pH but it can be a number of reasons. Adjust the water quality levels by ensuring that the dkH, salinity and temperature are correct.

rgds

If you have a lighting question,go ahead and start a new topic (as it is a different subject).

[sjsheng]

oic...

thanks alot of ur information...

i post a picture clearly show u what happening now..