Eternal Newbie question

S

SharkHunter

Seems like just when I figure something out, I have another question. So, here goes. I have a 120 gallon fish only with live rock tank...runnning for about a year. Skimmer, 15 gallon water changes every two weeks, don't overfeed.

Some of my parameters are not what they should be. (Everything except my Ammonia and Nitrites). Any suggestions on how to remedy those below that are off?

Ammonia = 0
Nitrite = 0
Nitrate = 160
PH = 8.8
Carbonate Hardness = 17 dkh
Calcium = 500ppm

I have recently been adding the B-Ionic 2-part Alk/Cal supplements. Should I decrease the amount of Calcium? Would the B-Ionic be raising the hardness and PH as well? Nitrates?
 
high nitrate - if you don't have a refugium with macro algae or someplace to harbor anarobic bacteria will generally grow unless you increase water changes.

but, IMHO 15% every two weeks should be enough to curb normal nitrate buildup in a FOWLR system. So you probably have a high source issue from over feeding or underskimming

as for the high dkh and calcium levels - are you dosing something like purple up? if so, this could be a source of excess nutritional mater (overfeeding) If your not dosing, you may want to see whats driving these readings up and I would go as far as suggesting having these restested with another test kit

PH could also be from dosing

sorry i didnt read your bottom line - I'd cut back o the dosing until the other levels drop
 
Looks like you've been adding too much of the 2-part. I'm a little surprised you haven't had any calcium precipitation yet. I wouldn't add anything else until your parameters have fallen back down to under 450 calcium and alkalinity under 12. Alk is respsonible for your increased pH with the ESV 2-part.
 
Looks like the Alk and Ca are going to be an easy fix. The nitrate on the other hand may give you a fight.

To get a better picture, could you tell how much live rock you have in the tank?

How many and what species of fish do you have?

What type of skimmer are you running?

What is the tank turnover rate? By that I mean, what is the volume of water leaving and being returned to your display?

Do you have a sand bed? If so, how old? How deep?
 
Thanks for the advice thus far. I will cutdown on the dosing as it looks like that could be what is shooting everything up.

In response to your questions...

I have about 100 lbs of live rock.

I have a canister filter, 350 gph I believe. (one day..a refugium/sump)

Two Aquaclear 70 powerheads.

Crushed coral (since I set up tank)..yes I know, wish I had done sand.

Coralife skimmer...rated for up to 125 gallons.

3 damsels, longnose hawk, maroon clown, rabbitfish, serpent star, snails, hermits... is the livestock in the tank.

Also, what is calcium precipitation? And how often should my skimmer cup be filling up...maybe I don't have it "tuned" high enough.

Thanks!
 
Well......judging from everthing you listed and not knowing the system intimately, I would start by getting rid of the canister filter. They tend to be nitrate factories and this is the most economical way to start making an impact on the nitrate reading. Next, I would look at making sure your rock structure is open and plenty of water movement is making it's way through the rock. Now you need to address your tanks nitrate exporting method. You said you do a 30 gallon a month water change. Thats roughly 30% which should be plenty with the fish load you listed. Where do you get the water? Distilled or RO/DI from a reliable source is what you want. Consider implementing a a reverse lit refugium with plenty macro algaes. Moving along, you could consider doing a remote deep sand bed. The reviews are mixed but I think it is worth a shot. I personally have never used one but you can't argue the denitrifing capabilities of a sand bed. Finally, I would recommend making sure your skimmer is operating at it's peak. You may want to consider a larger skimmer in the future. I tend to be skeptical of a skimmer's volume rating. Manufactures might stretch the truth a little.
 
I agree with all of the other posts

Cut back on the 2 part dosing, to reduce the Ca, Alk and PH

To help the nitrate issue, I would get rid of the canister filter and add more live rock; you could even go with some base rock. Generally, most places recommend around 1 to 1 1/2 lbs per gal

The canister filter is not helping, and may even be the source of the nitrate problem. The canister filter will harbor aerobic bacteria that convert the ammonia waste to nitrite and nitrite to nitrate. But they do not harbor anaerobic that convert nitrate to harmless nitrogen. That’s where more live rock or a deep sand bed come in.

Skimmer is probably borderline, but I wouldn't change it yet. Skimmers deal with waste (DOC's) before they are broken down to Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate. Make the other changes and see what happens first
 
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