Nitrate BERZERK!

[Basssa]

I need to get my nitrate's down, and quickly, I went away for a vacation and left specific feeding instructions, I came home to find Coral suffering and NITRATES out of control. I have done several 10% water changes, taking care not to shock the tank adding AmQuel/NovAqua with each, and getting salinity even.
Any recommendations on a Nitrate sponge? Brands? Will that work? Any other hints appreciated.
THANKS!!!!!!!!!

 

[henkelsfamily1]

Same thing happened to me last year when I got back from Kauai. All I did was many water changes, approx. 20% every other day. for a 75gal tank that would be a 200%+ water change over the 2 weeks. I also went light on the feeding until things got back in control. My readings were 200ppm on two test kits. I took about two weeks to get things under control. Make sure that your replacement water is Nitrate free and "seasoned" for 24 hours. Don't worry you will soon have things under control but the significant other might ***** about how much time you are spending on the reef, but I am sure that it would not be the first time.

Walter

Regards

 

[Neal358]

also check you phoshpates. mine were WAY to high but i used seachem phospate sponge it brought it down from 2.5-0.00 in about 4 days i uswed a little more than what it told me but it worked quickly. thays also make one for nitrates i wiould get it

 

[davelin315]

don't add the amquel and novaqua. They will not solve any problems, and in fact, will only compound your problems since they are made for fish and locking up harmful compounds so that they don't bother the fish. They will still be present, and other things you don't want will also be present. If you use tap water, just use a dechlorinator.

 

[danmhippo]

Have you tried the AZ-NO3? (Absolute Zero Nitrate)

Try this link:
AZ-NO3

 

[Chucker]

A few words on water changes- http://www.reefs.org/library/article/t_brightbill_wc.html

To summarize, small changes are next to useless. You'll need to do much larger ones to make any dent in your nitrates.

 

[Basssa]

Amazing Advice everyone. As soon as I get my shipment of Salt I will get going on the continued water changes. However, when using a Python, or other sypon device, how do you calculate the amount of water going down the drain. Secondly, how do you calculate the amount of ROCK in the tank, I didnt (foolishly) weigh it when I put it in. If I cant fit a Bucket UNDER the Python in my sink, and I cant yank out my rock to weigh it...how can I measure this therefor being MORE precise with my water changes.
I also have a nitrate sponge on the way and will keep it handy in case the Nitrates are not where they need to be after water changes...
THANKS!!!!!!!!

 

[tanzy]

AZ-NO3 works, but not for long term. I've recently stopped using it because it kinda spooked me. Why?
Since using it, my skimmate has been orange-red in colour and the skimmer went nutz!!! It just skimmed and skimmed. I was cleaning the skimmer neck everyday!!! Nitrates did drop drastically. My fishes acted real weird when using AZ-NO3. They started heading up to high water flow areas of the tank. Ever seen a bicolour blenny go powerhead surfing? I think its due to the decrease in oxygen when using it.
That red goop, what ever it is has an affinity for calcium carbonate. My reactor media turned orange but the sand was not too affected. pH dropped from 8.3 to 8.2 and I got a diatom bloom. Yesterday while I was cleaning the PVC pipes, I found all the calcium deposits in the pipes and pumps to be covered with a thin red slime. I think its the same red stuff in the skimmate.
Problem is, if the red goop is left in the pipes and it's proberbly concentrated nitrates, it won't be long if it is broken down and the nitrates go right back into the water.
It works but how long?

 

[danmhippo]

I only used that product for a quick fix. Used it continuously for about 2 weeks and stopped ever since. Nitrate DID drop from 80 all the way down to 20. This is about 1.5 years ago. I did not have the use for it after I installed the algae refugium.

 

[FMarini]

Hi:
i did a search for this.....
here are a few posts on how-to, as well as reviews of AZ-no3 (which is a short term quick fix) http://reefcentral.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=4040c13dadd56dfdb3b62c65f669e876&threadid=16692&highlight=azno3 http://reefcentral.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=4040c13dadd56dfdb3b62c65f669e876&threadid=18652&highlight=azno3
hope this helps
frank

 

[jdeets]

Just out of curiosity, what were your 'trates before you left, how long were you gone and where were the 'trates when you returned?

 

[Basssa]

Yes, I was referring to that Kent Product " Nitrate sponge" I like the idea that it SLOWLY does its job. The Product AZ-NO3 seems a bit extreme, since my 'trates arent in the 100's yet, I think a combo of water changes and the sponge may do the trick.
I will place the sponge media in a 500 micron bag in the median lowest flow section of my sump.

 

[ShipMate]

"the Nitrate sponge" (from Kent?) might work but it requires a long long time to show its effect (weeks) and requires a low flow canister. Frequent water changes and a refugium with macroalgae did the trick for me .