How To Increase Nitrates HELP!

xabbasx7

xabbasx7

New member
How can I raise my nitrate levels from zero?

I have many zoanthids and am struggling to keep nitrates higher than anything above 0.

I have 2 clownfish, 1 bangaii cardinal, and 1 diamond goby in my 30 gallon tank. I feed 3-4 times a day. My skimmer has been off for weeks.

Is there any other way than more fish?

Are the zoas sucking up all the nitrates?
 
Dude, you dont want nitrates. The myth that dirty water is better for zoas is false. In the ocean zoas and sps grow in the same areas so they like the same clean water
 
"
Now I can see where the growth can be inhibited in tanks like SPS where the water is too or over filtered, I will talk about this in a minute....I think there is a bit of a misconception or the term "dirty water". I think people think that the dirty water that these polyps love is tanks with low or no filtration which leads to high nutrients which in all likely hood the polyps wouldn't be in in the natural state on the reef either. The dirty water that people compare to when it comes to the ocean is apples and oranges. Dirty water to me is water that is high in phytoplankton, unseen bacterioplankton, particulate matter as the Corals would receive on the reef etc... Not high nitrates, high undissolved organics, in-organics as the ocean has a method of removing this from the water that has worked for millions of years and has become more effecant then even our best skimmers......... "

http://www.reef2reef.com/forums/zoa-discussion-club-zoa/2862-dirty-water-zoas-palys-my-take.html
 
yogoshio said:
"
Now I can see where the growth can be inhibited in tanks like SPS where the water is too or over filtered, I will talk about this in a minute....I think there is a bit of a misconception or the term "dirty water". I think people think that the dirty water that these polyps love is tanks with low or no filtration which leads to high nutrients which in all likely hood the polyps wouldn't be in in the natural state on the reef either. The dirty water that people compare to when it comes to the ocean is apples and oranges. Dirty water to me is water that is high in phytoplankton, unseen bacterioplankton, particulate matter as the Corals would receive on the reef etc... Not high nitrates, high undissolved organics, in-organics as the ocean has a method of removing this from the water that has worked for millions of years and has become more effecant then even our best skimmers......... "

http://www.reef2reef.com/forums/zoa-discussion-club-zoa/2862-dirty-water-zoas-palys-my-take.html
Click to expand...

Great thought!
 
First, make sure your test kit is working properly. You might want to double-check with someone else's. Second, zero nitrates is usually what people shoot for, so it's a good thing. How do the zoas look? If they look fine, don't worry about it. In fact, you should probably turn your skimmer back on just for stability and health of your tank. You can always feed the corals with a quality food like Azox and/or Oyster feast if you are concerned.
 
why on earth would you want to raise the nitrates? zoas grow just fine in low nitrates.
but if you really want to raise them, try peeing in it that might raise the level.

with your skimmer off, that many fish and feeding 3-4 times a day, your test kit might be off.
 
My nitrates are around 5ppm and my zoas are growing just fine. Like W.Conolly said above me, your test kit may be expired. If your nitrates get too high, its going to end up killing all your corals and then you are back to getting them down to 0.
 
I see that you live around my area.. If you like swing by and will test your water ;) Give me a PM

No API test will be used..
 
Dump a bunch of live pods in your tank to populate it. The zoas act like venus fly trap and eat them as they walk on the zoas. that'll give them the extra nutrition they need.
 
ColaAddict said:
Dump a bunch of live pods in your tank to populate it. The zoas act like venus fly trap and eat them as they walk on the zoas. that'll give them the extra nutrition they need.
Click to expand...

One of the funnest things to do with a heavily populated zoa/paly tank is to cut all flow, and add a cupfull of live baby brine shrimp to watch all the polyps catching meals. And the hilarity that ensues if you have and cardinal fish in the tank as well. :-)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top