Why the nitrates??

[PowderBlue]

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

[Kimberlee]

Over feeding maybe?

[PowderBlue]

I feed one cube usually every other day.

 

 

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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?

[Kimberlee]

Well your defiantly not over feeding, so that would be my next guess. If not a bad test kit maybe dead spots?

[PowderBlue]

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

[SteveHash-fish20]

kims right dead spots is your best bet

[MVPaquatics]

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

[PowderBlue]

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

[Kimberlee]

I always liked vodka dosing, but I'd try another power head first.

[ghiggi]

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.

[Kimberlee]

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.

[matty]

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.

[CuttleFishandCoral]

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?

[PowderBlue]

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.

[Alterego]

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

[PowderBlue]

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

[CuttleFishandCoral]

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.

[PowderBlue]

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?

[CuttleFishandCoral]

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.

[Kimberlee]

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.

[CoralCrazy]

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.

[PowderBlue]

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.

[PowderBlue]

 

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

[Kimberlee]

As soon as mine got his own tank, my nitrates went down.