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| General Reef Discussion In this forum we discuss issues related to keeping marine and reef aquariums in a friendly flame-free environment. |
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03-10-2009, 05:42 PM
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#1
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squid
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 6
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i have a nitrate problem
new to salt tanks had this tank 55g about 6 months. nitrates always high 90ppm talked to lfs they dont know problem change water 20% weekly started with 30lbs live rock added 45lbs more 2 weeks ago added 20gal refugium 4in livesand 3 weeks ago with macro algea. Running cpr bacpak skimmer and emperror 400. live stock in tank ( 5in blue regal,2in false perc,2in 6 line rass,3in pajama cardinal,watchman gobie) feed every 3 days. also have 2 skunk cleaners 1 pepermint shrimp brittle star 12 or so hermits and snails. corals are= 2 bubble corals app. 6inch ea green star polyp app 6in 12 candy canes 50 zoes app 3/4 in 50 mushrooms 3/4 to 2 1/2 in. no fish appear stressed corals are fine and growing. I would appreciate any advice I could get. lfs says skimmer is adaquite, but have read on net to have one double size manufacturer recomends.
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03-10-2009, 06:09 PM
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#2
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: boca raton, florida
Posts: 491
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i had a simular issue a month back. come to find out my nitrate tester was no good.. you may wanna take a sample to your LFS or try a different tester..Corals produce nitrates and adding the LR to the tank may have spike them also. If your doing water changes weekly they sould be dropping.
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BOBBY, IT JUST AINT RIGHT TO TAKE BLIND BOYS BOWLING  (KING OF THE HILL)
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03-10-2009, 06:13 PM
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#3
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I've got the REEF rash!
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 34,109
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Are you using RO/DI water in your changes and top-off?Tank is to small for your Regal.
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03-10-2009, 09:37 PM
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#4
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Shark
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Long Island NY
Posts: 2,260
Reviews: 108
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Fastest way to knock down nitrates is a water change. Do a bigger water change.
Just make sure that the water temp, pH and SG are dead on.
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03-11-2009, 03:03 PM
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#5
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squid
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 6
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just did water change. I am useing R/O water nitrates were high before adding more live rock. nitrate test kit ok had lfs test water also. this has been an ongoing problem few weeks ago I was changing water every 3 days
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03-11-2009, 03:13 PM
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#6
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: boca raton, florida
Posts: 491
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it sounds like you doing everything the right way.. i do a 10-15% water change every week.
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BOBBY, IT JUST AINT RIGHT TO TAKE BLIND BOYS BOWLING (KING OF THE HILL)
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03-11-2009, 03:20 PM
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#7
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 171
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How much and how often do you feed? I think the problem may lie in your filtration. An emperor 400 isnt all that great for a 55 gallon Saltwater, maybe for a 55gal freshwater community. Thats from my experience.
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03-11-2009, 03:21 PM
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#8
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 171
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You can actually do a 10% water change every other day if need be (works well for a nitrite emergency fix)
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03-11-2009, 03:42 PM
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#9
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Shark
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Long Island NY
Posts: 2,260
Reviews: 108
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jskip
just did water change. I am useing R/O water nitrates were high before adding more live rock. nitrate test kit ok had lfs test water also. this has been an ongoing problem few weeks ago I was changing water every 3 days
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As crazy as it sounds, I would test the water I was using for the water changes before I put it in the tank. This way it could be narrowed down more.
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03-11-2009, 06:56 PM
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#10
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squid
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 2
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After all the water changes and adding the live rock.My first guess would be the filter....Filters can be nitrate traps.
How often do you clean and replace media
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03-11-2009, 07:11 PM
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#11
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: boca raton, florida
Posts: 491
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i agree with the filter maybe holding them and also test your water your getting form your LFS i have gotten bad water before..
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BOBBY, IT JUST AINT RIGHT TO TAKE BLIND BOYS BOWLING (KING OF THE HILL)
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03-11-2009, 07:43 PM
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#12
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squid
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 6
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I appreciate the advice. I change the the filters in the emperor once a month, I feed every 3 days, the tang I give algea to every 2 days. I left out that I have an annenome that I feed a smaqll silverside fillet to about every 10 days. Im hoping that with the addition of more liverock and the refugium that things will come around. As I said before the skimmer I run is a cpr bacpak II which is rated for 60 gal. do I need a bigger one?
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03-12-2009, 12:44 AM
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#13
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Shark
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Long Island NY
Posts: 2,260
Reviews: 108
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wis_fishing_guy
After all the water changes and adding the live rock.My first guess would be the filter....Filters can be nitrate traps.
How often do you clean and replace media
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nice427
i agree with the filter maybe holding them and also test your water your getting form your LFS i have gotten bad water before..
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I agree about the filter.
I am a victim of "bad" LFS ro/di water.
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03-12-2009, 01:37 AM
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#14
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: boca raton, florida
Posts: 491
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I run everything cpr and i dont see to have a problem. you shouldnt either if you have a 55gallon. just double check the water you are getting from your LFS.. I came home one time with natural sea water from the same LFS that i have been using for a few years now and it had a ph of 7.8 nitrite of 90 and a very high nitrate.. Oh is your cpr the bakpak2? or just the normal one?
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BOBBY, IT JUST AINT RIGHT TO TAKE BLIND BOYS BOWLING (KING OF THE HILL)
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03-12-2009, 02:04 AM
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#15
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squid
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 5
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do yourself a favor and invest in an aquaripure denitrator!! Worked for me... cured in 3 weeks and have had 0 nitrate since. have even upped the bio load - no problemo!!
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