I keep hearing different stories, one person will say "you need to keep your nitrates below .25", others say "no they can hit 80 without a problem, but above that you're going to want to bring it down", so i was just wondering, WHAT are they supposed to be at? I've always had mine around 20-30, won't go below that no matter what i do, and i've NEVER had a problem with any fish or coral that i've had living in my tank. I know Nitrites need to be always at 0, which mine have, but im just wondering if people are confusing nItrites with nitrAtes, ahh so confused, someone please end this dilemma for me once and for all! haha:wall: :help:
Question about Nitrates. Truth?
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It sounds like they are confusing them, however RATES should not exceed 40, i do 2 { 30% } water changes a week and the RATES are never above 20 before changes.....
i also do 2 10% changes a week on mine, but my tanks only 20 gallons. Never been able to get under the 20 mark though, i havent had any problems, but it would be nice to drop them under atleast 15, any suggestions?
Could your high nitrate problem be from a heavy stocked tank? Everything i've read has said to keep nitrates below 10. Things can survive at higher levels but they wont be as happy and healthy as they should be. Maybe you could try upping the % of water change to 15% for a little while to see if that helps? Or check see if you have an adequate clean up crew or if detrius is building up behind rocks? Do you have crushed coral in your tank?
Yes everything in my tank is very happy and living healthy, my tanks been established for 3 years with no problems, the tanks never dropped below 20 ever sense it's been up and running (i do a test for everything twice a week) My tanks stocked with 20 lbs of live rock, 20 lbs of live sand not crushed coral, about 5 fish and i keep the feeding to a minimal (i also watch when i feed them for extra food they dont eat, and take it out) Thanks for the suggestions but this thread wasn't for my nitrates being a complaint, im just trying to figure out what the truth is about them, everything i read always gives you mixed readings, and even when i talk to very experienced reef keepers they've also told me my nitrates were good as long as i wasn't hitting the 80+ mark. I guess it's from personal experience, and sense my tanks been set up for 3 years and running, i've never had a problem, all the fish and coral i bought for the first time are actually still the only things that have ever been in the tank and living very healthy (Nothings died) besides about 50 of the cleaning crew over the past 3 years haha.
This has also been discussed in another thread i do believe. Fish can quite happily live in nitrates of 40ppm without having any ill effects. However, i am not saying that this level is acceptable or ideal as my opinion. Coral and inverts are the more succeptable to the effects of nitrates and it is percieved that levels of 15ppm is the highest they should be kept in as they are far more sensative..
Having nitrates at Zero is what all aquarist strive to acchieve, however, that is not always possible, some people fight with their systems to get nitrates down to a low level of about 10 - 20 and thats about as far as they can get it..Sometimes more water changes are what is required, sometimes, we have to go down the additive route to remove nitrates from the system. I do not activly promote the use of addatives, but, its always there as a last resort.
Just my opinion, but nitrates at 80ppm is rediculous and very very dangerous to the tanks inhabitants..
Niko
Thanks! That did help me alittle more, i do a 10% water change twice a week, do you think if i made it 3 that might bring the nitrates down?
yes, i would say it would, just keep them spread out over the seven day period to minimise stress, or better still, do two 30% changes to have a bit more of a reduction factor on the nitrates.....
Have you concidered running some macro algae to help fight nitrates?
Have you concidered running some macro algae to help fight nitrates?
Well, funny thing is, i've only been running a hang on filter and protein skimmer sense this tank has been set up, never had a problem, BUT now that i think about it, that could be my nitrate problem, im getting the new acrylic tank with internal overflow and a sump underneath on thursday, can you grow macro algae in a sump?
yes you can, just provide very low flow through the sump and lighting, and should do a great job