Jump to content

Need help with high nitrates


Splutter
 Share

Recommended Posts

Hi all, I'm having this problem with nitrates being at about 50ppm. Even doing a 30% water change doesn't seem to change it at all. I tried using nitratlock and gowing algae too, but it just doesn't go down.

I've read about using bioballs causing high nitrates, does the same thing happen if I have too much live rock? I do have quite a fair bit considering my tank size. I'll appreciate any help I can get, thanks all in advance!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You have to evaluate logically... what causes nitrates? Overstocking? Still cycling bio-filtration? OVerfeeding? Inadequate skimming?

So you know the source... reduce it.

Stop-gap measures like using a denitrating agent is just that.... stop-gap. Get the balance right and it'll become less worrying and time-consuming.

Maybe your tank needs time to balance itself. We have no clue if your tank is one day or one week old.

Try to give more detailed info, yeah? Help us to help you... right now we can't even guess what tank size, equipment you have, dude! :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks AT, my tank is pretty small, 2x1x1.5 with the same dimensions for sump tank. I think I have quite alot of rocks though, something like 25kg. I have 7 small fishes in it and I don't feed much. Tank is about 3mths old. Previously my nitrates were doing fine at mostly 3-5ppm, but nowadays it stays at 50ppm. What's puzzling is that it stays at the same even if I measure it right after water change.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • SRC Member

well, with 7 small fishes in such a small tank will makes you having nightmares. Your tank is too young and too small to house 7 fishes. Sooner or later you will have to change water every few days.

It also depends on what type of fishes you have. If they are the hardy types, just let the nitrate climb to 120 ppm in a fish only tank. They wont die. It happened to me 7 years ago. They will die in a few days/a week if you use cheap and lousy salt.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • SRC Member

suggest you test tap water and freshly mixed salt to see the results. if the first is very high nitrates, you probably have a faulty test kit. if only the second, you have issues with your salt mix. if neither is high but after water change your tank water is still high in nitrates, you have a super high concentration which will require a lot of dilution (ie repeated water changes).

what kind of filtration do you have? are you running any skimmer?

Be teachable always, nobody has a monopoly on wisdom. But learn to distinguish "fact" from "opinion".

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share



×
×
  • Create New...