PowderBlue Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 I everything else is zero but nitrates are like 20ppm? Just did a 25 gallon change on a 40b yesterday morning. I know it's not uncommon to have nitrates but 20-40ppm seems a bit much to me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimberlee Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 Over feeding maybe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PowderBlue Posted September 24, 2012 Author Share Posted September 24, 2012 I feed one cube usually every other day. [ATTACH]13249[/ATTACH] Nitrites and ammonia are pretty much zero. Also I did a big water change and they don't seem to have come down much at all. Maybe a bad test kit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimberlee Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 Well your defiantly not over feeding, so that would be my next guess. If not a bad test kit maybe dead spots? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PowderBlue Posted September 24, 2012 Author Share Posted September 24, 2012 Well your defiantly not over feeding' date=' so that would be my next guess. If not a bad test kit maybe dead spots?[/quote'] Dead spots is def a possibility, I was thinking about adding another powerhead to only flow behind my rocks. I do weekly to bi weekly water changes of 20 gallons on a 40breeder so I'm confused on how they could climb to this high. Also I've not lost any coral or fish either Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveHash-fish20 Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 kims right dead spots is your best bet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MVPaquatics Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 How deep is your substrate? How old is the tank? Depending on answers, I am guessing you have a buildup of detritus somewhere. Could be dead spots, sump, bioballs, filter sock etc. Anywhere it can buildup Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PowderBlue Posted September 24, 2012 Author Share Posted September 24, 2012 How deep is your substrate? How old is the tank? Depending on answers' date=' I am guessing you have a buildup of detritus somewhere. Could be dead spots, sump, bioballs, filter sock etc. Anywhere it can buildup[/quote'] Sand bed is about 2 inches, entire setup is 8 months old Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimberlee Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 I always liked vodka dosing, but I'd try another power head first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghiggi Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 Also I did a big water change and they don't seem to have come down much at all. Maybe a bad test kit? Have you tested your make-up supply water. That's the first thing I would suspect with not much of a drop after a big water change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimberlee Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 Have you tested your make-up supply water. That's the first thing I would suspect with not much of a drop after a big water change. +1 on this, it's always a good idea to check the source water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matty Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 I have noticed in my tank that even when the filter socks don't look that dirty unless i change them every few days my nitrates start to creep up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CuttleFishandCoral Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 Do you still have that dwarf eel? How many fish do you have? Eel are messy eaters. Do you feed it anything like silversides or krill? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PowderBlue Posted September 24, 2012 Author Share Posted September 24, 2012 I still have the eel, I feed him once to twice a week, uncooked shrimp, scallops, I change my socks like once every two weeks maybe I'll need to step that up now too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alterego Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 Change the socks at least weekly. Add some more rock. I would also add a deeper sand bed, maybe in a refugium or extra tank away from the main display Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PowderBlue Posted September 24, 2012 Author Share Posted September 24, 2012 Change the socks at least weekly. Add some more rock. I would also add a deeper sand bed' date=' maybe in a refugium or extra tank away from the main display[/quote'] I have a 4 inch bed in my fuge along with about 15 pounds of rock in the sump, in order to go deeper on my tank I'd have to empty the entire tank and start fresh with new sand right? Lotta work lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CuttleFishandCoral Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 I still have the eel' date=' I feed him once to twice a week, uncooked shrimp, scallops, I change my socks like once every two weeks maybe I'll need to step that up now too.[/quote'] I would think that might be the problem. Even if the eel eats everything it still is going produce waste. I change my filter socks every 3 days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PowderBlue Posted September 24, 2012 Author Share Posted September 24, 2012 I would think that might be the problem. Even if the eel eats everything it still is going produce waste. I change my filter socks every 3 days. So I'm assuming If i change my socks every few days ( I have like 10 of em) and stay on top of water changes it should be ok right? Or should I be worried? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CuttleFishandCoral Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 You should be fine. Changing the filters socks will help a lot especially if you were only changing them every few weeks. Its just hard to keep nitrates at 0 when you have large fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimberlee Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 I would not let it keep you up. It is the swing that will get you. My tank had high nitrates for a month or more. They got that way slowly so my tank didn't really notice it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoralCrazy Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 I would not let it keep you up. It is the swing that will get you. My tank had high nitrates for a month or more. They got that way slowly so my tank didn't really notice it. I agree. I'm dealing with hi nitrates right now. Been changing socks daily and put a nitrate reactor on the system. Because of the slow climb nothing was affected. On another note eels are extremely messy. I have 4 in my fowlr tank and the nitrates are always extreme. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PowderBlue Posted September 24, 2012 Author Share Posted September 24, 2012 Thanks everyone! I never though about changing the socks that often. I will stay on top of that now! Also add another powerhead behind my rocks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PowderBlue Posted September 24, 2012 Author Share Posted September 24, 2012 I agree. I'm dealing with hi nitrates right now. Been changing socks daily and put a nitrate reactor on the system. Because of the slow climb nothing was affected. On another note eels are extremely messy. I have 4 in my fowlr tank and the nitrates are always extreme. Dang eels!! So cool but such slobs lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimberlee Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 As soon as mine got his own tank, my nitrates went down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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