Ohh nitrates...

The bold letters on Step #4 aren't good enough?

 

Good to hear there are probably no systemic problems then.



Jeremy, you ****in smart ***!! lol Love it! HEY MAN I did that test wrong too.....for like 3 years /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/shocked.gif

 

Bwaahaha! Couldn't help myself. I've been checking my NO3 daily for a couple weeks now with API kits to it's almost second nature. I shake the **** out of both bottles before I begin the test. Hate doing it but know it's a nessecity to ensure an accurate test. Almost as good as the shake weight. I'm gettin' some guns!

 

Oooh, look at you with the ACTUAL directions. I bet you don't cut the tags off your mattresses either. /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/hehe.gif/DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/wink.gif/DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/tongue.gif

Those directions got turned into mush like the 2nd time I used the kit. Can't be too hard to put those important instructions on the bottle. There's plenty of room.

 

Check the back of the test card too Jason!

 

There's nothing printed on the back of my card.

I'm completely confused. I just tested again. No change. I've now changed over 60 gallons of water. I would have expected some change. But nothing. /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/unsure.gif

 

That's the suggestion I would make.

 

This all started with another kit. I replicated those results at home and and haven't seen any change sine. really frustrating.

 

I would assume it is a problem of resolution in precision/specificity of the API test kit. Looks like it reads 5, 10, 20, 40, 80, 160.....SO let's assume that it was in fact only elevated to 80 (best case scenario right?) I'm assuming between your sump and your main tank you have around 200 gallons of total system volume. IF you change 30 gallons at a time that is 30/200=15% so....80-(0.15*80)=68ppm NO3..... then a second water change yields 68-(0.15*68)=57.8ppm. SO, you've not lowered the concentration far enough yet to reach the next lowest specification. Don't panic, nitrates ARE in fact being reduced. Just keep at it. You might entertain the idea of vodka dosing, but you will want to get some microbacter 7 from Brightwell aquatics, or Probio, or zeobak, to bolster your microbial communities. Also bear in mind that at this concentration of nitrates if you start vodka dosing now you may in fact become phosphate limited down the road, so long term your return to normallity will rely on water changes, but vodka dosing could be a step in the right direction for reducing your nitrates.

 

Phosphates and other levels were Ok last Monday. Everything else seems fine. That's why I just don't get it.

For personal reasons I can't do vodka.

I was wondering if it might help to run my canister filter on the task for a while.

 

I can assure filter won't really help I'm running my 75 on a canister clean it every other week , I also use fossil lock and react with NPX pellets before that I just use vodka , I'm not sure what that something you can't use but it's only thing I can think of , sorry about the spelling I'm at work , spell check sucks, the thing about the can filter will build up phosphate and then explode in your tank if not taken care of very regularly

 

As I explained, there's nothing to get. You're not missing out on anything. It's a matter of resolution in your test kit. Keep at it, you'll be fine.



Alternatively from vodka you can use sugar, vinegar, or vitamin c, and of course biopellets to dose organic carbon. You have a pretty good skimmer don't you?

I would also consider doing larger water changes. by splitting up 60 gallons of water changes into two events you are nibbling away at the concentration. Based on my round about figures from above you are reducing the total amount (80ppm nitrates) by 15% each time resulting in a total reduction of about 22ppm. If instead you did 60 gallons in a single event, you wound instead reduce nitrates by 24ppm. It's not much, but when you start getting down there you're really going to look for the kicker or be dealing with 20ppm nitrates for the 6 mos.

 

I agree with this advice 100%. Just keep in mind when doing larger changes like these the closer your salinity and temp levels are to your actual tank levels are more important.

 

Yah, and if you want to see more in results rather than dealing with those titration kits I would get the Hannah nitrate checker. Might help give you some gratification! lol

 

Have you discovered why you nitrates are so high? All this will be for nothing if you dont find that out as they will go right back.

 

I'll look into those alternates for vodka. Any good pages that folks know of for detailed instructions? I'll look myself, of course.

Biopellets interest me as well, but I got the sense that folks were moving away from them.

As for the cause of the high nitrates, it's hard to say. Feeding when I had a sick fish, not testing accurately, and two fish that I haven't seen in a while, I would guess. And not dooing water changes as often as I should.

 

Spend money and pray