Nitrates from HOB filter?

J

joe_t_51

I can't figure out where my nitrates are coming from. I've cleaned the skimmer and everything else I've read to do, except for a massive water change. I have a whisper 60 and I change cartridges every two weeks alternating filters, so that each filter is in for roughly a month.

I have a 29g with a seaclone skimmer, 3"-4" sand bed and about 40-50 lbs of live rock, and two powerheads.

Could this be raising my nitrates?

Would it hurt anything to replace both filters at the same time and see if my nitrates drop? I read that you are supposed to alternate replacement so that bacteria are always present.

Thanks All
 
Hi Joe,
You don't want to change both at once...you should try to alternate changing these out every two weeks and see how that works out. You may also want to shut off the filtration during feeding as well as cutting back a bit on the amount you feed. Sound like the excess food is making it's way to the filters and decomposing and thus causing your increase in nitrates. A more robust skimmer could also help out in that area, what brand of skimmer do you have and what's your bio-load?

Cheers!
 
Do you mean alternate changing the filters each week so that each filter is in for a total of two weeks?

The skimmer is seaclone...its not great but it skims a 29g tank. Although buying another skimmer is out of the quetion ($$$).

I have: 3 green chromis
2 false perculas
1 azure damsel
3 peppermints

I feed about half of a frozen cube once daily. If I turn the pumps off to feed, the fish hide because they think I'm gonna work on the tank....so much of the food sinks to the bottom and they don't find it.

I'll try to get them less shy while the pumps are off.

Thanks
 
Joe, we've acclimated our fish to eating from a baby medicine dispenser or turkey baster. Works great for keeping food from flying around the tank too much.

Short of doing a large water change, upgrading skimmers, feeding less, or hooking up some nitrate export mechanism like a hang on back refugium, it's going to be really tough to get nitrates down. I wouldn't worry too much about the filter pads in the whisper. Two weeks, alternating pads is fine. (That's what I do on my coral qt.)

Were it me, I'd start with a water change, then think about getting a better skimmer.
 
Thanks Scott,

How much water should I change?

Do you think half of a frozen cube for my six fish is too much? They finish it all in about two minutes.

During winter break, I might take a stab at making a HOB fuge.

Thanks again
 
6 fish is kinda much for that size of a tank. I had a load like that once in my 30g but never had a problem with nitrates. I used an emperor HOB filter with the seaclone skimmer also. Only thing I did different was kept 4 fish, fed 1/4 cube a day and 15-20% water changes every week to week and a half. I went two weeks without changing my water and the nitrates go up just a lil bit.
 
Joe, I agree with Johnny, 6 might be too much for a tank that size, with that skimmer and without a fuge.

How much water to change is predicated on how high the nitrates are. If they're <20 I'd probably do a 10-15% change, if 20-60, 25-30%, and if any higher, 50%. Then repeat as soon as feasible until you get them down to an acceptable level.
 
I might take the 3 chromis out and replace them with one other fish. I'll probably do a 15% and then wait a day or two and do another one.

Any suggestions on a good reasonably priced skimmer so I can start shopping around?

Thanks All
 
Your nitrates could be coming from a dead spot in the back of the tank where food is settling and not being eaten. Try getting a small Rio pump, marbe an 800. Put it on the glass in the back and aim it slightly downward towards the glass, it should help. Or try theis, it worked in mine, http://www.magnavore.com/media.html, its the PURA NitrateLock (scroll down), also do a water change before adding these things. Hope it helps.
 
Yeah, I've read bad things about Rio. I've been looking for an mj 1200 or another seio 620 for a good price because I do have a dead spot in one corner.

Thanks again everyone
 
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