Nitrates

[Fishnoob]

So my nitrates are still creeping up slowly ~5-10 (going from ~5 to ~15) ppm a week. I'm controlling it with regular water changes, but I need to figure out the source.

 

All other parameters are really good.

 

I have 15lbs live rock

 

CUC:

80 Dwarf Ceriths

5 Nerites

4 Florida Ceriths

12 Nassarius

1 very small Blue Hermit (they thought he was a dwarf cerith when they mailed him)

1 Emerald Crab

 

BioCube 14

Chamber 1: Heater

Chamber 2: Filterfloss, purigen, chemi-pure elite.

 

Any ideas?

[bluefrog]

live rock may be leaching if its new maybe,

are you putting any food in the tank?

[Fishnoob]

live rock may be leaching if its new maybe,

are you putting any food in the tank?

 

The only food that gets added is a few sinking pellets for the nassarius snails.

[violinist]

ro/di fo WC's?

[Fishnoob]

ro/di fo WC's?

 

Yup. Straight from the LFS.

[violinist]

Ever test the water for nitrate? Maybe it's their water.

[bluefrog]

The only food that gets added is a few sinking pellets for the nassarius snails.

 

how often? enough pellets on a daily basis could do it or possibly some snails dying off, since you have so many? those are my best guesses, i wouldn't feed the nass but maybe once a week. either way keeping up w/ the water changes like you are should eventually fix the problem as your system catches up to the load as long as you don't overfeed

[Fishnoob]

Ever test the water for nitrate? Maybe it's their water.

 

I've gotten it from 2 different stores. But I haven;t tested their water. I'll do that next time.

 

But Bluefrog is probably right. Just gotta keep on top of my WCs and hope the system stabilizes.

[lakshwadeep]

You really have 80 dwarf ceriths, in addition to 21 other snails?!?!!!

 

Normally invertebrates have a minimal impact on bioload, but 101 snails plus a hermit and emerald in a 14 (actually smaller) gallon tank sounds like enough to show a measurable impact. I think this is the main issue.

 

Also, did you do any modifications, like removing the stock filtration equipment? If not, go to the all-in-one forum, and read the biocube resource thread.

[nanodude87]

Why in the world do you have such a large cleanup crew? I'd sell some of it off if I were you. That's wayyy overkill.

[Fishnoob]

Why in the world do you have such a large cleanup crew? I'd sell some of it off if I were you. That's wayyy overkill.

 

I know. I ordered 10 dwarfs, I got 80. I need to give the extras away.

[rhunter513]

"Chamber 2: Filterfloss, purigen, chemi-pure elite." This could be trapping waste causing it to break down and increase nitrates. People love to stuff their rear filter chambers with mech/chem media but don't realize that anything that acts as mechanical media will trap nutrients and cause elevated nitrates. If you are going to use a lot of filter media you will have to rinse it in old tank water during each weekly water change.