For the past 2-3 weeks I have been monitoring the 3gal tank daily to everyother day for nitrates. So far, ammonia, phosphates, nitrites have all been 0, pH has remained in the 8.4-8.8 range and I have been doing approx 1 gal water changes everyother day.
Sadly, the nitrates have remained at 20ppm. They now look like they are edgin toward the 10 side of 20, but are not dropping like one would hope, considering I have changed about 6 gallons since last Friday.
Should I do a more drastic water change, like half or more instead of 1 gal at a time? There is some nitrate remover rocks in the filter, and I do not feed the tank. The fish is still there, the hermit crab and 3 cerith and 2 narcussis snails. All the polys and zoas look good. The algae is almost non-existant. Everything seems fine, but I would really like to drop the nitrates lower.
Where are you getting your water? Even for a small tank that is a lot of water changes.
Test the water before you put it in the tank. I bet they are high to start. <20 ppm nitrates for a fish and softy tank are not bad IMO. I know a few people will correct that statement but I am a realist. If you were doing SPS I would worry. kudos on checking your numbers every other to every day. Awesome.
[quote=“tamuchick02, post:1, topic:629”]
The fish is still there, the hermit crab and 3 cerith and 2 narcussis snails. All the polys and zoas look good. The algae is almost non-existant. Everything seems fine, but I would really like to drop the nitrates lower.[/quote]
Is your wish to have a healthy tank, or zero nitrates? The two are not mutually inclusive, in all cases. People have great looking tanks that would love to have 10-20ppm nitrates. My tank has zero nitrates, but generally looks like crap. All my corals are good, and the fish are happy. Just about what you’re trying to do.
What test kit are you using? Sometimes the colors are tough to tell apart. Sometimes it depends on what color bulbs are in the lamps in the room.
You’re not keeping any SPS so I wouldn’t be too concerned with 20ppm. I’ve found many of my softies do better when there are some nitrates in the water.
I know this is a horrible thing to say, but for the most part I dont even test nitrates unless I see nuciance algae. I would bet that the problem is either the water you are using for the water change, the test kit not being that accurate, or a bad batch of salt… in that order.
I thought about the water and the salt, so I tested a batch. The water is RO I get from Wlamart, and the mixed salt water came up at 0 nitrates.
I was under the impression that you wanted to have as close to 0 nitrates as possible. This is not right? Or apparently is at least a flexible?
Everything does seem fine, the new polys are happy and wide open, just like in the pictures of better tanks, and the fish is active and does not seem to be breating rapidly or anything.
I would like to get some cheato, just on general principle, to put in the filter.
good lookin out al…the frag dish is awesome…I’m moving in 3 weeks, back to old house…gonna have a fish room So I need to get a big tank to stick in the wall…
i’m about to make another one for my 14 right now, I’ll post the pics when I’m done man…
Lets say if your selling stuff in the Market Place, and your replies are getting pretty long. Is it possible to just edit the first post, so people dont have to read through the hole thing to see whats left? hope that makes sence. I guess the best example is the frags post HERE Thanks Lee
But with the correct permissions set, you can modify anyone’s post.
[quote=“ronert, post:14, topic:629”]
You should be able to modify your own post via the “Modify” button in the OP, usually located next to the “Quote” button.
Of course, if the OP isn’t your post, then you won’t be able to modify it.[/quote]
haha no problem, its all fun and games till its payback time.
but I attached a PIC of the current first post, after someone replies to your post you cant edit it, or I believe after a certain amount of time has elapsed.
[quote=“Gotasplinter, post:16, topic:629”]
but I attached a PIC of the current first post, after someone replies to your post you cant edit it, or I believe after a certain amount of time has elapsed. [/quote]
It appears you are correct. The current threshold is set to 60 minutes. Please allow us a brief intermission to perform some testing scenarios and we will attempt to resolve this concern.
So I need to get a big tank to stick in the wall…
