Help Nitrate Issue

I have some bad news, I ran a test of my mixed water and it showed zero nitrates. The next test I am going to run is a nitrate test of the unmixed water. I am going to replace the carbon in my HOB filter with LR rubble and see if that helps. I do have a source for RO water so I am going to do a 50% water change this weekend and see what happens.

Is there a cheap way to build a skimmer? I am mechanically inclined and have 2 power heads laying around.

I am being careful about not over feeding. One of my fish isn't coming out to eat so I assume they are stressed due to the nitrate issue.
 
firstlight10 said:
I have some bad news, I ran a test of my mixed water and it showed zero nitrates. The next test I am going to run is a nitrate test of the unmixed water. I am going to replace the carbon in my HOB filter with LR rubble and see if that helps. I do have a source for RO water so I am going to do a 50% water change this weekend and see what happens.

Is there a cheap way to build a skimmer? I am mechanically inclined and have 2 power heads laying around.

I am being careful about not over feeding. One of my fish isn't coming out to eat so I assume they are stressed due to the nitrate issue.
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I really dont see a purpose in the HOB filters except mechanical filtration and minor bio.... For marine your bio is your LR..and you have an ample amount of it so that is covered.

adding more LR to the back is not going to impact really anything .. The other issue is small tanks like that...a slight change can impact your readings greatly...just the way it is with the volume you are dealing with.

Its very possible your nitrate source could be the HOBfilters...they screen the water and trap foods and poop in them...which in turn decays and goes through the bio process becoming nitrates.

Its hard to really say here...but you are on the right path of investigating.

Heck you dont really need that HOB ... LR is your filter...skimmer being home made i know of DIY forums with lots of info and guides... but I don't have confidence in DIY skimmers... sorry AQ.. visit reef Frontiers forums google the name... they have a DIY section...

What are you testing with? Liquid test kit? or those quick dips? If not using Liquid get them..they are accurate ...quick dips are not. They give you a ball park idea if something is going wonky but that is it.
 
PS Test your nitrates prior to change...and after when using better water... track them for a week till next change and see how quick your build up is..... get an idea.

I wouldnt freak over 30ppm nitrates in a fish tank...heck I had my coral tanks at 80 once cause I ermm had a booboo with the plankton squirt bottle top poping off...talk about water pollution.

But Lets reverse on all the stuff I typed and go back to what I should have asked.

How long has this tank been up and running...? What kind of test kits are you using?
What media is in the HOB filter and how often are you changing it?

Do you have Nitrate,Nitrite,ammonia,Calc,alk and High range PH test kits to be more specific on the kit question above.
 
I think the HOB in the case of a tank this size actually holds quite a bit of value. With running only LR rubble in it, it just acts as extra surface area which receives alot of flow to produce and maintain bacteria (mini-sump). Plus it offers somewhere to add specialized media if you want (Chemi-pure, Algone, Phos remover, etc.).
 
Hooked Newbie said:
I think the HOB in the case of a tank this size actually holds quite a bit of value. With running only LR rubble in it, it just acts as extra surface area which receives alot of flow to produce and maintain bacteria (mini-sump). Plus it offers somewhere to add specialized media if you want (Chemi-pure, Algone, Phos remover, etc.).
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I would agree you can take advantage of using differ media...as for LR...he covered it by the 16lbs in the display and sandbed.... I dont think he is lacking the Bio filtering...if he was he would have ammonia problems.

The pros and cons of having it... I feel there are more cons to it...but that is me...just dont have much faith in those things or canister filters. Just detritus traps...

Having a skimmer is another thing that would really help significantly if a cpr bak pak can fit on it. And to be honest if he got a skimmer...i think his issues would be handled by that. Not having one really makes it hard to keep nitrates in check.

really not much else to advise .... I think his headaches would be gone with RO water and a Skimmer and tossing the old HOB filter in the garage for a decoration.
 
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I am not trying to change the subject but have always liked HOB's for mechanical filtration. I also find it helps to increase flow on the top of the tank.
As far as test kits I am using the API Saltwater Master Test Kit (chemical)+ an API KH kit. I have not purchased a phosphate or calcium kit yet as I was waiting until I got coral. None of the fish stores within 30 minutes of me have the know how to test saltwater so I can't double check my readings easily. It doesn't appear my nitrates are coming from my tap water. The filter media is carbon and hasn't been changed since the tank was setup, the filter was OFF during the cycle
I am running 2 20 watt 10,000k daylight and one 15watt 420nm actinic bulb.
Brief History of the tank:
Setup 6 weeks ago
used ammonium chloride jumpstart cycle
snails added 01/25
cycle completed 02/01
fish added 02/05
1 fish died 02/17
nitrate readings were normal until 02/17

I am going to do water changes this week with RO water and see if that helps, I'll try and post the results here
 
Have you tested your tap water for ammonia and nitrite? If either is present, they will be converted to nitrate within your tank. Tap water quality can vary, making it a good idea to test it regularly.

Depending on the period of time that passed between when the fish died and when you tested, ammonia released by the dead fish could have had time to be converted to nitrate.

Nitrate levels of 30 ppm aren't high enough to cause stress in fish.

I'm indifferent about the HOB filter on a tank that size. If you're regularly cleaning out the detritus that gets trapped in it, there shouldn't be any issues either way (LR rubble or media). Media cartridges will just cost more over time.
 
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I agree that nitrate amount isn't something to panic about...if fowlr.

Not having phosphate test kit is something to fix. You should watch it because phosphates will lead to problems ... and those problems are algae..the bad ones... and compound problems for you. Far too many new salt tank users ignore phosphate and end up going to forums for algae help..and cyano help. The main problem is usually phosphates that I came across...which in turn to leads to false nitrate readings...and the new guys unknowingly thinking oh 5ppm nitrate not bad...in reality its probably at 50 or something but the algae is eating it. See where I mean...keep an eye on it now while it isn't a problem.

The Canister OR Hob filter have ok uses and if its all you got sure use it. I just know that they are detritus traps...and I feel they are more of a problem with long term costs and frequent maintenance.

The reason I feel LR and Skimmer +Fuge is all one needs is it covers everything. There is no need to get canisters or hob filters if you at the least have a very good skimmer. Understanding the mechanics behind the skimmers it really makes no sense to not use one and go the the other things. Only if cost is preventing you ..Then I understand.

I think most experienced marine tank users would agree that a skimmer is the main filter for organics. And if given the choice it would be Skimmer hands down over Canisters or Hob.

Look at it this way ..would you prefer to have food and poop get caught in a filter pad and decay between pad changes or would you prefer the dissolved organics to be pulled out of the water column and rot in the collection cup? Harmless in the cup...increases pollution into the water with the other filters. Our goal is to prevent Nitrates from even registering or building up and I dont see how Canisters or HOb will prevent it at all. They just collect the material for you but allows the decay to dissolve and flow into the tank.

My intention here is not to give anyone grief over HOB or Canisters but to understand that you should get a skimmer. I only want you to have a happy tank and less frequent maintenance and NOT go through my hard learned mistakes. its not fun..It wastes time and money.

My only goal here is to promote our hobby ...help others not screw up like I did...and steer my fellow fish addicts or corral to succeed. So please if I have pushed on HOB to hard its only because I feel strongly against them. And only want the least headaches and best results for those who ask questions here.

Thanks for the discussion i enjoyed it. Hope that things work out and you get a handle on them..>I believe we all have given you a lot of information to soak in.
 
First off I'd like to say I appreciate all of the advice. If I had a sump I'd be using a protein skimmer. My next major upgrade will be a sump with a deep sand bed and a protein skimmer.

I have not had any ammonia or nitrite spikes since the tank was cycled which is why I am so confused about the source of the nitrate. It appears the fish died the day I found the high nitrate reading as it wasn't decomposed at all.

I really enjoy being on this board but I am not on much due to not having much free time. I'll try and post some photos of my tank next week.
 
For what it's worth I'm getting water for my 12g Nano from Walmart. They have a Culligan machine in the back of the store that's 33c per gallon. RO/DI and UV water. I figure at that price it will take a long while to pay off a home RO system.
 
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