Nitrate Troubles

[gouramiguy]

I have two marine tanks - 10 and 29 gallons. Both have bio-wheel filters (tank-size appropriate) with carbon, purigen and seachem nitrate remover; multiple powerheads; 15 and 40 pounds of live rock and DSBs. I also have small amounts of live caulerupa growing in each. I use bottled drinking water and Instant Ocean sand. I recently tested both tanks and found 80ppm nitrates, 0 nitrites, 0 ammonia. I did water changes and added more caulerupa and brought the nitrates back to almost 0 but within a week, they were back to 80. Any explanation or what the best way to get rid of the nitrates is?

Oh, the 29-gallon has a small Richardson's Moray eel and the 10-gallon has two smaller damsels. Both have plenty of snails, emerald crabs and hermits.

 

[RadleyMiller]

Wow thats wierd that you have so much live rock, a DSB and purigen and you can't get it to stay low. Maybe more water changes is what you are going to need.

I have a 75 gallon brackish tank and nitrates stay under 10 thanks to purigen.

 

[gouramiguy]

How often should I change the Purigen? I've just started using it but haven't really noticed much of a difference.

 

[RadleyMiller]

How often should I change the Purigen? I've just started using it but haven't really noticed much of a difference.

When it turns brown, soak it an 50:50 solution bleach and water.

 

[ewurm]

Purigen and prime are great anti-nitrate products.

 

[Max]

If you have media in your filter it's most likely catching detritus causing your nitrate problems. Other wise it's probably just new tank syndrome.
hth
max

 

[pete620]

The problem could be you sand, it can hold nitrates and slowly release them just like phosphates. I'd say large weekly water changes, reduced feeding, and the use of RO or RO/DI water should take care of the problem.