[bootersk8ter]

My nitrate level when i tested came out at a 40 it has been like that for the last 3-4 days. I have done water changes and i still cant lower the nitrate and i am doing all the testing right

[jimw369]

How long has your tank been up and running and what do you have in it?

Originally Posted by bootersk8ter

My nitrate level when i tested came out at a 40 it has been like that for the last 3-4 days. I have done water changes and i still cant lower the nitrate and i am doing all the testing right

[alwmalon4]

I had a similar problem in my reef system and I added a sump/fuge with a DSB, LR, and some Chaetamorpha Macro Algae. The Algae feeds off of the excess nutrients and converts them to nitrogen gas. The DSB performs the same function...the anaerobic bacteria do the same thing.

[emccullough1]

When changing water what % are you changing ? Just to make a point lets say you change 50% or in your case 20 gal you would drop your nitrate's by half or from 40 to 20. then the next day change 20 more you would have a reading of 10. But if you drain 50% of your water 20 gal then take out 10 gal more and add 10 back your nitrate your would still have a reading of 20. if you then change 10 more you would have a reading of 10. Then add your other 20 gal back you should end with 2.5 . Both ways you use 40gal water but you end with lower readings with the second.
But that is a lot of water but it works. Make shure the water your adding dose not have Nitrate's in it (test it). then you need to figure out why your nitrate's are going up I'm going to gess here. Are you over feeding? Is there something dead? Do you have bio balls that need cleaning? Do you have a bio wheel that need's cleaning?
A reading of 40 is not going to kill but you shure dont want to keep going up. It realy start to get out of hand at much over 40. Check out this link thay do it better then me.

An Instant Nitrate Reduction Method - A Multiple Step Water Change Procedure

[ncdiablo]

If you are cycling your tank, do not do water changes. You do water changes after your tank has cycled. By doing water changes during cycling you are simply extending your cycle by long periods.

[glampka]

What's in your tank right now as far as livestock goes? How much & how often are you feeding? Overfeeding is a sure way to get high nitrates.

[jimw369]

If you could answer a couple simple questions we would be able to help you better.

Originally Posted by jimw369

How long has your tank been up and running and what do you have in it?

[bootersk8ter]

Thanks to all of you for the response. The tank has been set up for over eight months but i just bought it and set it up on saturday using all the same water substrate live rock filtration and fish that it had before. It is 37 gallons with about 40 pounds of live rock scarlet cleaner shrimp powder blue tang true perscula clown fish six line wrasse a few snails and hermit crabs haitian anenome and madiens hair. The equpiment i have is emperor 280 filter seaclone protien skimmer nautilis phosphate reactor and a 2x65 power commpact light. I have only done one 25 percent water change and it had very little affect.