help required in reducing nitrate

[mbr]

I need your help again please.

I am having problems controlling nitrate levels - the only thing I have changed is replacing my eheim wet/dry which had little filter material with a new fluval 404 large cannister full of media. Is this likely to be the cause of the increase nitrate? Should I remove some media and leave it to the live rock?


I have a 300litre (60 UK gallon) Juwel tank with internal filter, 40kg live rock, an external Eheim Ecco cannister filter, 4 powerheads, and a Red Sea prizm skimmer

6 medium sized corals, 3 cleaner shrimp, 1 Regal Tang, 1 Yellow Tang, 2 Angels, 1 Cleaner Wrasse, 1 Goby,2 Clown, 6 snails, 3 red leg hermits

It has been running fine for 12 months but my toadstood coral is looking poorly.

 

[Anonymous]

I believe that the source of your high nitrate level is that you have too many highly active fishes for the size aquarium. More ammonia = more nitrate, until you get into natural nitrate reduction methods (refugium and/or deep sand bed).

You have two tangs, neither of which is going to remain comfortable in such a tank for long at all (and that's individually, it is now doubly cramped). Then, there are the two "angels" - this family is large indeed, and I can only hope that you have Centropyge angels, which sans tangs altogether would be much more appropriate. It is at this point that I must tell you that a cleaner wrasse is entirely inappropriate in such a system, not for its activity level or bioload, but for its feeding habits - such a fish requires MANY large fish upon which to feed parasites, etc., and there is simply no way this can be offered in a 60-70 gallon system. Hundreds, or better yet, thousands of gallons in which many large fish are housed is what's appropriate for this fish.

So, on to the nitrate level - at this point, you must perform LARGE water changes, and continue with very regular, frequent water changes. I suggest reassessing the fishes, and being more specific about species, husbandry, and parameters will be helpful. Foam fractionation should be netting highest "quality" skimmate - relatively thick, nasty, and dark. If not, the skimmer needs adjustment. Ultimately, I believe that your fish are placing too high a bioload on the system, which is to be expected definitely with the tangs.

Sorry, off to help Mom with her pond!

 

[aka_lal]

Hi,

I think you should remove the external filter because it is a source of acumulation of nutrients which build up more nitrates.

Make more frequent water changes...about 20% a week and i'm sure that in no time de nitrates will drop to safe propostions.

 

[Anonymous]

I agree that two tangs in a 60g is a little much.

Just wanted to second the refugium idea. Your nitrAtes will be 0.0 with sufficient plant life regardless of the bioload or other filtration. Your tangs will limit the plant life in the display therefore a refugium is a good idea.

your toadstool should recover as nitrates are reduced also.