Nitrates

[Tj51]

first I'll describe my tank: 42 hex (stretch)
filtration: about 50 lbs live rock, flugal 205, venturi protein skimmer

lights: 36" 96 watt compact 36" T5 4 x 39 watt

Fish (all small except blue tang which is sm to medium) blue tang, naso, copper-banded butterfly, watchman goby, gold banded maroon clown (and bubble tip anemone), and very samll mandorian dragonette

Coral: 2 of the live rocks have gorgarian patches, a large "flower pot," a large smooth finger leather, a medium pink finger leather, s whitie finger leather, and a large moon brain favia.

I used to have a wet-dry and changed to protein skimmer about 6 weeks ago.

In the past few weeks, I've had a nitrate leval at 80 ppm and down to 40 ppm. I've done 10% water changes since I've been set-up, and now have 2 nitrate sponges in my canister filter, but still can't get below 40 ppm. My nitrite and ammonia level is 0. I have also cut back on food for my fish. I have about 8 crabs as a clean-up crew.

Suggestions? I'm almost considering adding a nitrate remover to my water, but would rather not.

Thanks!

 

[bimmerzs]

@tj51 wrote:

Howdy,

Your choice of fish for your 42G will only add to your problem longterm as those two tangs in there poop alot.....and will run out of room quick. That aside you have several things that could be adding to your nitrate problem. How much and how often are you feeding the fish. What media are you running in the canister filter, if you are not cleaning it regularly(like weekly) it could be trapping uneaten food which will add nitrates as well. Since you had room for a wet/dry then sounds like you have room for a sump/fuge setup. You can convert the wet/dry to this type of setup, the extra water volume will certainly help "dilute the pollution". A more efficient skimmer can also help, what brand skimmer do you now use?? I would personally get rid of the canister filter or just use it to run carbon etc....

Cheers,

 

[Tj51]

I agree about the tangs and when I bought them made a deal with the store to bring them back when they grow some.....but that's a long way off. I do have room where the wet-dry was, but my better half doesn't like the sound of water pumping back and forth (sometimes we have to give in some) In my cannister I am running one chamber of carbon, and 2 of seachem nitrate sponge, and I just cleaned it the other day (twice in the past few weeks) If my fish load was high, would there be nitrites? As far as feeding the fish, usually only feed one cube of frozen of any number of kinds and it is usually gone before it hits sand!

 

[Misty]

Is your tank drilled?

Whether it is or not, you should be able to set up a sump/fuge without additional noise, and it would greatly benefit your tank in many ways. Especially is you have a mandarin - you'll want a fuge to help with copepod production.

 

[Tj51]

no, not drilled, tank is set up to where the only available space is below......mandalin is young and I'm breaking him in on frozen cyclops and rottifers (hopefully!)

 

[Misty]

If it's not drilled, then you can run a sump/fuge off of a closed loop system...just a little more work to build. Does your CBB eat frozen, too?

 

[Tj51]

Yes, I've had him about 2 months, and apitasia was gone in a few days. When he saw the frenzy at eating time he felt he was missing out, so he joins them. About every third day, I mix in angel and butterfly mix, but he also loves mysis