I have a 75gal RBP tank with a very large piece of driftwood in it. My nitrates are still high (40-60ppm) after 2 large water changes and all 3 filters cleaned in last 3 days. I even threw out my old filter cartridges that had carbon in them. I have vaccumed the gravel with each WC. I feed them every 2-3 days- only what they can eat in a couple minutes. The only thing I can think of is that the driftwood's outer layer has soaked up some nitrates and is holding them in the tank. My 240gal has a 10" royal pleco in it. He grazes on the driftwood in his tank- it's a big part of his diet. I thought a possible solution to my problem might be to switch a piece of DW from the pleco's tank to the RBP tank and take the DW from the RBP tank and put it in with the pleco. That way the pleco gets a new piece of wood to chew on and I can put a "clean" piece of DW in with the RBPs. Even though the DW from the RBP tank might raise nitrates in the 240gal, they should get freed up by the pleco digesting them. Does anyone think that the "dirty" driftwood in the RBP tank is really the source of the nitrates? If so, does my solution sound like a good idea? Thanks.
Driftwood a source of Nitrates?
- Thread starter lujor
- Start date
Defeatist;4444691; said:
Yeah, but he didn't say how many
50 RBP in a 75 gallon would be a great reason to have high nitrates.
I don't think the driftwood's the issue, although switching might be good for your pleco.
I'd do a series of good gravel vacs / water changes over the next couple of weeks...get under all of the decorations and really get the gunk out...and see if your nitrates are still high.
Also, if you're using an UGF or canister they can each become nitrate sources over time.
Matt
I'd do a series of good gravel vacs / water changes over the next couple of weeks...get under all of the decorations and really get the gunk out...and see if your nitrates are still high.
Also, if you're using an UGF or canister they can each become nitrate sources over time.
Matt
It might be your gravel that is the culprit. You have a 240 gal, so, your setup is almost the same size as mine (265 gallon).
I did the maintenance like a madman, but, nitrates were always ridiculously high. I "am" overstocked, but, not even massive water changes were making a difference. I just couldn't keep up with vacuuming all that gravel for such a big tank. Today I finished removing all of the gravel from my tank and "presto"!!! Nitrates are gone.
I have been using massive water changes and Purigen to attack my nitrates, but, this was not addressing the source. No matter how long I would vacuum the gravel, it still had so much gunk in it that high nitrates were inevitable. I have bought PFS for my new substrate, however, I have yet to put it in. I want to see everything stay perfect with a barebottom tank first!!!
I did the maintenance like a madman, but, nitrates were always ridiculously high. I "am" overstocked, but, not even massive water changes were making a difference. I just couldn't keep up with vacuuming all that gravel for such a big tank. Today I finished removing all of the gravel from my tank and "presto"!!! Nitrates are gone.
I have been using massive water changes and Purigen to attack my nitrates, but, this was not addressing the source. No matter how long I would vacuum the gravel, it still had so much gunk in it that high nitrates were inevitable. I have bought PFS for my new substrate, however, I have yet to put it in. I want to see everything stay perfect with a barebottom tank first!!!
dogofwar;4444836; said:
That's whats confusing me. I have done two big WCs in last 3 days (and at least one per week before that), cleaned the can filter and both HOBs, I ALWAYS vac the gravel, and I don't overfeed. I have read that decaying plant matter can contribute to nitrate levels- the DW has to be covered with all kinds of microorganisms and algae, both living and dead (it's been in a tank without any fish that would eat that stuff for about 7 years), so I thought that might be it. Can't really think of anything else.
There is a chance that my nitrate test kit is giving me a false reading. I doubt it is completely inaccurate, but it may off a little.
What nitrate test are you using? The API liquid test bottle #2 nitrate test needs to be shook a LOT, then the tube needs to also needs to be shook (shaked? Shakes?).