240G with 75 sump, WHY do I still have high nitrates?

[VRWC]

I have a very strong feeling your just not changing enough water. Either that or dead fish in the tank somewhere.

Over the past 25 years I have always done weekly 50% water changes and had what Id consider to be 90-95% success rate with everything Ive tried to do, especially spawning harder species. I went this big this time to try and not have to maintain that rigorous of a schedule and quite honestly, don't feel I should have to with the stocking, plants and amount of media.

I feel like something is not right, not that my changes aren't enough. I change 50% every 10-20 days as of now...and have had smaller tanks with bigger and messier stock that didn't have 10ppm after 7 days...

Ive even had weeks prior where I couldn't do water changes on a 180 with pikes for 2-3 weeks and still never had more than 40-60ppm nitrates.

Oh, and Ive tried 2 kits so its not the kit. Thanks!

 

[Bigfishnut]

Your probably correct. You may want to look at eliminating them as well. Any more I'm a big fan of K1 due to the fact they are self cleaning and no waste can accumulate in dark quiet places of the sump. I use a sock before the fluidized chamber and another after to catch the sloughed off dead bacteria. Works really well. That particular sump stays absolutely spotless and my water clarity is spectacular. To help keep the nitrates in check I also run a drip. Being there are rays and other large fish in that system nitrates are a challenge!

 

[VRWC]

Your probably correct. You may want to look at eliminating them as well. Any more I'm a big fan of K1 due to the fact they are self cleaning and no waste can accumulate in dark quiet places of the sump. I use a sock before the fluidized chamber and another after to catch the sloughed off dead bacteria. Works really well. That particular sump stays absolutely spotless and my water clarity is spectacular. To help keep the nitrates in check I also run a drip. Being there are rays and other large fish in that system nitrates are a challenge!

Ive been contemplating switching over to K1. What would it be replacing in this sump if I did? All of the media Ive currently got in there? or just that middle chamber of ceramic & songs?

 

[philipraposo1982]

i suggest start upping the water changes and get nitrates down. then start testing daily and see what your increase of nitrates are per day. as far as the sump, just don't let crap build up in there. amount of plants is not going to do much. I have WAY more plant mass growing all emersed on the top of my 75g and that grow faster than your submersed plants and still barely put a dent. You also keep talking about the media and how you think you need to do less because of it. wrong again. it just more area for BB to live but doesn't mean you will not have nitrate builds up.

http://aqadvisor.com/AqAdvisor.php?...qSpeciesWindowSize=short&AqSearchMode=simple&

your not understocked either.

 

[Bigfishnut]

Ive been contemplating switching over to K1. What would it be replacing in this sump if I did? All of the media Ive currently got in there? or just that middle chamber of ceramic & songs?

If you were to switch to k1, you would want to set up a chamber designed specifically for it. Once it is fully cycled you can remove all other bio. This of course would need to be done in stages over time. For your stocking you would probably need around 3 cubic feet...roughly 20 or so gallons...so you would want about a 40 gallon chamber. Check out king of diy on YouTube. He's got some good videos on setting them up. philipraposo1982 is probably correct, more frequent waterchanges would certainly help, and eliminating any of that decaying detritus from your sump will help too. As far as k1, no one I know has ever regretted making the switch.

 

[VRWC]

If you were to switch to k1, you would want to set up a chamber designed specifically for it. Once it is fully cycled you can remove all other bio. This of course would need to be done in stages over time. For your stocking you would probably need around 3 cubic feet...roughly 20 or so gallons...so you would want about a 40 gallon chamber. Check out king of diy on YouTube. He's got some good videos on setting them up. philipraposo1982 is probably correct, more frequent waterchanges would certainly help, and eliminating any of that decaying detritus from your sump will help too. As far as k1, no one I know has ever regretted making the switch.

Roger that. Ive followed Joey forever, thats how long Ive been contemplating it! lol...

Appreciate the info & suggestions.

 

[Bigfishnut]

Roger that. Ive followed Joey forever, thats how long Ive been contemplating it! lol...

Appreciate the info & suggestions.

No problem, hope my opinions were helpful!

 

[millerkid519]

Ok, so just to be clear, heres how the sump is laid out. Im guessing the Matala pads on the bottom may be holding some waste as well...

View attachment 1263896

How long has it been since you pulled everything out of the sump and cleaned it

 

[jaws7777]

Man ive been thinking about the same...300 with 100 gal sump overstocked but nitrates hit 40ppm every 3 days. Only feed 3 or 4 times a week. 11 polys and i just moved the pearsei into that tank. Nitrates were high before moving the pearsei in.

Sump is spotless. I have a jebao dct6000 circulating the water and socks are changed 2x per week at the least.

Sorry for the derail but figured i would piggy back off your post

 

[Bigfishnut]

Man ive been thinking about the same...300 with 100 gal sump overstocked but nitrates hit 40ppm every 3 days. Only feed 3 or 4 times a week. 11 polys and i just moved the pearsei into that tank. Nitrates were high before moving the pearsei in.

Sump is spotless. I have a jebao dct6000 circulating the water and socks are changed 2x per week at the least.

Sorry for the derail but figured i would piggy back off your post

You need a drip jaws