Hello I am new to this site as well as new to saltwater tanks. I have had a tank set up for about 5 to 6 months now. I am not able to get the nitrates to come down. It is a 55 gal with about 30 lbs of live rock and two damsels in it. I believe the nitrates are coming from my tap water(well water). What can I do to get them to come down? Is there something for the tap water to get rid of the nitrates before putting it in the tank? Also a question about the lighting for corals, is it a whole different hood/light set up or is it just as simple as taking the hood I used for my freshwater and putting different bulbs in it? If so what kind of bulb? I am getting ready to purchase some used saltwater equipment and part of it is an overflow tank. What is that used for?
:Welcome) YahoO
First things first, you need to be using a RO/Di water unit to make good water for your water changes, that will be a place to start getting your nitrates down. Since you didn’t tell us what your nitrate reading is, I will assume it was very high. Second, lighting for corals is VERY different from freshwater lights. look into LED lighting, it is the latest and the greatest to date, IMO. Third, I think the overflow tank you are talking about is what is know as a sump. Your main tank has to be equipped with either an internal overflow, which is known as a REEF READY tank, or an external overflow box. This allows water from the main tank to spill or overflow into the sump, which has a pump in it to carry the water back into the main tank. Phew!!!
Do alot of reading before spending money on things you might only upgrade later. :BB) This site has plenty of knowledgable hobbyist that are willing to give solid advice. Ask questions often.
Good luck!!! :
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Welcome to DRC, one of the biggest things you can do is look at other setups, see what you like and then see what you have to do to emulate it.
Nitrate will never go down on it’s own unless you have a balance of live rock that give the right amount of anaerobic bacteria and then you will have a complete nitrogen cycle I.E. nitrate consumed and off gassed as nitrogen. Short of that you will need to get it down by using nitrate/phosphate free water which as houndsbayman stated can be had from a RODI system or if need be purchased from a local fish store.
You may also want to consider adding some macro algae. As it grows it uses up nitrates and phosphates and then can manually be removed. Also what houndsbayman and hudzon said are valid points as well.
Unfortunately the easy answer to nitrate reduction is “dilution” but if your source water has nitrates they’re never going to go down. RODI filters are a great investment for this hobby, but not necessary. Your local fish store should be able to sell you RODI water for a small amount per gallon. It’s a good way to start.
Lighting can turn in to a 60 page discussion very easily. LEDs are the “latest and greatest” but that also means that for the most part they are still relatively expensive. T5s are good for coral as well, just make sure you get something labeled HO (high output).
The more information you can provide about your set-up, parameter levels (nitrates, etc.) and what you’d like to keep the more information we can provide and try to cater to you and your particular situation.
the nitrates register in the dark red area. I would like to do corals and anemone along with fish. the only thing I have for my set up so far is just the 30 lbs of live rock 2 damsels crush coral reg light that i have been using for my freshwater fish and the marineland bio wheel emperor 400. Are you saying that I have to buy water every time I need to do a water change?
Well you could buy water, or you could buy and RODI filter. Check out Air, Water Ice in our sponsor section.
A RODI filter will take care of the nitrates? is that for the tap water or does that go on the tank?
It filters the tap water.
Water runs from the tap (or where ever you hook it up) through the rodi filter, good water goes in to a bucket or other storage container, bad water with all the contaminants go down the drain.
Where do you live? It might be a good idea to stop over someone’s house with an existing tank to see how they have everything set up and can explain things as they are pointing to them. I find it easier to learn that way myself, otherwise all of this information just gets overwhelming.
I would love to check out someone else’s set up. You are right. Reading so much does get overwhelming. I live in Houston. It is in between Harrington and Milford.
If you want to see and learn about this hobby, my suggestion is to take a drive over to pacific east aquacuture that is down that way .probally not too far from you ( its in maryland) they are very knowledgeable .the biggest thing i would stress is patience, not everything happens overnight and not everything is fixed over night…
I will check them out. Took water samples to the LFS last night. We have determined that the tap water has high nitrates in it. He suggested I use this stuff called Prime. Anyone used it before?