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ok...I NEED HELP NOW!!!!

Discussion in 'Saltwater Fish Forum' started by trajik ink, Aug 10, 2008.

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  1. trajik ink

    trajik ink Thread Starter New Member

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    it's been a couple of weeks that the nitrates in my tank have been pretty high..sometimes hitting up to 100ppm. i've been doing water changes....and it lowers them for a little while but then they shoot up again.....i bought macro algea for my sump about a week ago and still no difference. i've checked my tank for debris and i'm pretty sure that the 50 hermits i have in there are doing their job. i'm pretty much confused at this point, anyone have any suggestions?
     
    trajik ink, Aug 10, 2008
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  2. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    Wow that's high ! What are all your other tank parameters ?
     
    Anthony, Aug 10, 2008
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  3. trajik ink

    trajik ink Thread Starter New Member

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    you know, that's what's puzzling.....everything else is perfect....
     
    trajik ink, Aug 10, 2008
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  4. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    Have you tried adding a double dose of Prime ? (Not sure if you keep Prime on hand)

    Also, is your tank getting enough water circulation and surface agitation ?
     
    Anthony, Aug 10, 2008
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  5. trajik ink

    trajik ink Thread Starter New Member

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    no,i actually haven't tried, will prime harm my corals?
     
    trajik ink, Aug 10, 2008
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  6. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    No, Prime is both Freshwater and Saltwater safe. I used it in my saltwater tank with corals and inverts without any issues.
     
    Anthony, Aug 10, 2008
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  7. trajik ink

    trajik ink Thread Starter New Member

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    i just check it out, it's basically another water conditioner.
    i'm been using amquel+ ever since i set up the tank.
     
    trajik ink, Aug 10, 2008
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  8. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    Oh okay. I've used that before. Prime is a better product.

    If your tank is at 100ppm right I hate to say it but you should do at least a 50% water change now. When nitrates get above 60ppm it stresses fish and can harm plants.
     
    Anthony, Aug 10, 2008
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  9. trajik ink

    trajik ink Thread Starter New Member

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    oh i know, but my corals actually look good and the fish are just fine, i think the constant 25% water changes have been working on keeping them ok.
    but i think i'm going to petco to get some prime and do the 50% water change, now i have something productive to do.... :)
     
    trajik ink, Aug 10, 2008
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  10. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    Sounds good.

    What type of substrate do you have in the tank ?
     
    Anthony, Aug 10, 2008
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  11. crazedpuffer

    crazedpuffer New Member

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    Have you tried Vitamin C? A friend of mine from another forum had to do weekly water changes in her reef and the nitrate would still sky rocket (to around 100 ppm) and after she added Vitamin C she can go for a month and the nitrate will still be from 0-10.
     
    crazedpuffer, Aug 10, 2008
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  12. trajik ink

    trajik ink Thread Starter New Member

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    anthony wrote
    i have 70lbs Ocean Direct aragonite live sand, and 10lbs of garf grunge.

    crazedpuffer can you send me a link about this vitamin c treatment?
    i will like to read as much as i can about it.
    thx
     
    trajik ink, Aug 10, 2008
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  13. crazedpuffer

    crazedpuffer New Member

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    Here's one link from a brief discussion on another forum.
    <a class="postlink" href="http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=13501" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/vie ... =9&t=13501</a>

    And here's much more detailed ones.
    <a class="postlink" href="http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=11067&p=111381&hilit=+vitamin#p111381" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/vie ... in#p111381</a>

    and
    <a class="postlink" href="http://www.livingreefs.com/forums/miscellaneous/590-use-of-vitamin-c.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.livingreefs.com/forums/misce ... amin-c.htm</a>

    That's all I got right now.l
     
    crazedpuffer, Aug 10, 2008
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  14. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    Okay you already have live sand. I was going to suggest adding some of that if you just had regular sand.
     
    Anthony, Aug 10, 2008
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  15. trajik ink

    trajik ink Thread Starter New Member

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    thx guys!
     
    trajik ink, Aug 10, 2008
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  16. gangstafish

    gangstafish Member

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    So you don't use Ro water. That may be the problem.
     
    gangstafish, Aug 11, 2008
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  17. trajik ink

    trajik ink Thread Starter New Member

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    no, i've been slacking in getting an ro unit..... :oops: ,
    i actually let the water sit for 3 days before i do a water change.
    i test my city water with freshwater kit before i fill up my containers too, ph is at 8.2, ammonia -0, alk -normal, no2 -.05, nitrate -0.....it's like that most of the time and if anything is off i basically don't use it until it changes back to normal....and i always use my conditioner.
     
    trajik ink, Aug 11, 2008
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  18. trajik ink

    trajik ink Thread Starter New Member

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    ok, well i'm been doing 10% water changes for a couple of days now and the nitrates seem to go up by the next morning. yesterday i did a 25% wc and this morning is back up to about 40-50, not as bad as before but it's still not down.
     
    trajik ink, Aug 14, 2008
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  19. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    How long has the tank been running ?
     
    Anthony, Aug 14, 2008
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  20. trajik ink

    trajik ink Thread Starter New Member

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    a good 9-10 months now, this started about 3 weeks ago.
     
    trajik ink, Aug 14, 2008
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