Uncontrollable nitrates...

[lnelms2]

I have a 120. Current filtration is an FX5, and a wetdry sump. My ammonia is always low (.25 right now), and nitrite just doesn't exist in this tank (0 ppm), but nitrates (currently 80ppm) are always super high. I do a 50% water change about every 3-4 days and they are still this high.

Current stock is 1 marble motoro, 4x 4" endlies, 2 senegals, 1 ornate, and 1 delhezi.

Any idea what could be causing this, or how to stop it?

 

[seaofdreams]

Have you checked the parameters of your tap water? I once had a problem when I worked at my LFS where the local tap water was very high in nitrates.

 

[Knowdafish]

Check your tap water for nitrates. Ammonia should be 0 !!! How long has the tank been set up? Ever use any antibacterial medications? You might want to cut back a little on the quantity you feed too. When was the last time you cleaned the FX5? What's in it? How big is your Motoro and all of the Bichirs? Temp? (High temps contribute to a rapid metabolism of your fish and thus more waste output)

 

[lnelms2]

Check your tap water for nitrates. Ammonia should be 0 !!! How long has the tank been set up? Ever use any antibacterial medications? You might want to cut back a little on the quantity you feed too. When was the last time you cleaned the FX5? What's in it? How big is your Motoro and all of the Bichirs? Temp? (High temps contribute to a rapid metabolism of your fish and thus more waste output)

Tap water is at 5 ppm. Tank has been setup for at least 8-9 months. Never used an meds. I feed 3 shrimp per day. FX5 was cleaned a about 6-8 weeks ago and it is full of biomax with substrat pro in top tray. Motoro, Delhezi, Ornate, and Senegal are about 9", Senegal #2 is about 5", Endlies are 4", temp is 85*. I used to have 2 pbass in this tank, now that they're out I been slowly lowering temp.

 

[Toby_H]

As mentioned, ammonia & nitrite of a mature tank should always be at zero...

Do you add dechlorinator when you do your large water changes? I ask as it seems odd a set up that is 8~9 months old hasn't found it's balance of bacteria to keep ammonia at zero.

Is there any other possible source of ammonia? Windex and similar glass cleaners are ammonia based... some silicones have an ammonia based mildicide agent in them... any other glue, chemical, etc that should be considered?

Cleaning filters is important as the waste they collect will continue to break down into ammonia/nitrite/nitrate in the filter system. Thoroughly cleaning substrate is also just as important. Have you been keeping up on gravel vacuuming?

Is there anything dead/rotting somewhere that has been overlooked?

As a possible assistant at reducing nitrates is it possible to add plants to your sump? “Lucky Bamboo” can often be worked into a sump if you can add a light of sorts for them. Naturally this isn’t a solution as it still sounds like there is a problem somewhere that needs to be found…

 

[ErikFromNJ]

Are you using tank water to clean your filters or water from the tap?

 

[lnelms2]

As mentioned, ammonia & nitrite of a mature tank should always be at zero...

Do you add dechlorinator when you do your large water changes? I ask as it seems odd a set up that is 8~9 months old hasn't found it's balance of bacteria to keep ammonia at zero.

Is there any other possible source of ammonia? Windex and similar glass cleaners are ammonia based... some silicones have an ammonia based mildicide agent in them... any other glue, chemical, etc that should be considered?

Cleaning filters is important as the waste they collect will continue to break down into ammonia/nitrite/nitrate in the filter system. Thoroughly cleaning substrate is also just as important. Have you been keeping up on gravel vacuuming?

Is there anything dead/rotting somewhere that has been overlooked?

As a possible assistant at reducing nitrates is it possible to add plants to your sump? “Lucky Bamboo” can often be worked into a sump if you can add a light of sorts for them. Naturally this isn’t a solution as it still sounds like there is a problem somewhere that needs to be found…

Yeah I always use prime when I do any water changes. I just cleaned the outside of the glass with Windex so that might be the cause for the ammonia. It's a barebottom tank, so no gravel to clean, there is one piece of driftwood in there that occasionally gets stuff underneath it, but there's nothing under there now, I've been trying to add plants to the sump but all the plants I have keep getting sucked into the pump, I've never thought about bamboo though. I'll buy some tomorrow.

 

[lnelms2]

Are you using tank water to clean your filters or water from the tap?

I use tank water to clean everything.

 

[Toby_H]

My ex girlfriend "helped me out" by cleaning the front of my 125 gal with Windex once. She saw me do it all the time but I would spray the paper towel in the kitchen then walk to the tank and wipe it down. She sprayed the front glass and wiped it down.

Not only did this cause an initial ammonia spike (as the Windex contains ammonia) but it also disrupted the bacterial colony in the tank. I gritted my teeth, faked a smile and worked through the problem... told her I appreciated her efforts and thoughts but I'd rather take care of the tanks myself from now on...

If you suspect you have disrupted the bacterial colony I suggest considering if you have a filter on the problemed tank that you could swap with a filter on one of your stable tanks. That's how I worked through it on my 125 gal... It pays to have a bunch of the same filters when dealing with multiple tanks...

A sudden spike of ammonia would logically turn into a spike in nitrates a few days/week later… But you tell me/us if you think you may have gotten any in the tank or enough to cause such an issue… If this is the problem then time will work through it…

I did a complicated experiment with Lucky Bamboo a few years back and proved to myself they do eat some nitrates, but not a bunch. If you go on Ebay there are vendors selling Lucky Bamboo in bulk. If you stick 30 ~ 40 stalks in your sump I’m sure it would make quite a difference. They need some, but not much light.

 

[lnelms2]

I didn't think that I got any in the tank at all, but I will definitely be spraying it in the kitchen before I come downstairs from now on. I swapped my fx5 from my 220 just to be safe.