nitrate level

[tony]

not really an "emergency" but i wasnt sure where to post it

my 12g nano has been up and running for a few days now. i tested the water tonight and my nitrate level is @ 10 ppm. the only critters in the tank other than my cleaners are a fire shimp and an onyx clown. all other levels are great. has @ 15-20lbs of live rock and @ 15-20 lbs of sand

is this high enough level to worry about? i am planning my weekly water change next weekend should i do one sooner? i "think" the reason for the elevated levels might be overfeeding so im going to cut back a little on the food to see if that helps in the future

any thoughts/opinions are welcomed!

thanks,

tony

pic of the tank:


http://s87902990.onlinehome.us/tank2.jpg

[cbianco]

I wouldn't worry about 10ppm. Nitrate is not that harmful unless it becomes extreme. Water changes will knock the level back down quickly. Be careful though, you have a small tank. No big water changes!

Christopher

[tony]

thanks

im new to the nano experience so im sure ill ask many more questions pertaining to it

it is basically to tide me over while i work on my 100g setup

[BadPig]

The bio wheel can cause higher nitrate levels sometimes. If the nitrates never peek and go back down, then take out the bio wheel. This never happen to me when I ran a bio wheel though. My tank cycled just fine with one.

[Reef69]

Thats not an Onyx clown, its a black and white ocellaris..

[pilot_bell777]

Hye Purejoy....in my experience in the couple of Nano's I have had....even underfeeding you still get higher nitrate levels. I wouldn't worry about 10ppm. You don't have a skimmer and you are forced to use floss media, but it is still ok. Mine stay at around 10PPM even if I do a 50% water change. My corals and my anemone don't seem to mind and the fish could care less.

I did find a skimmer made for nanos if you are interested. Subber showed it to me and I'm thinking about getting one. I found them cheaper on Marindepot but don't feel like looking them up again. but here is the link...

http://nanotuners.nanocustoms.com/nanot ... cts_id=150

I've kept nanos with 10-15ppm nitrate levels for years, several of them with thngs that are suppose to be sensitive to nitrate and never had a problem...........Just my experience. but weekly water changes in a nano are critical. Mine is a 5 gallon so you can image! LOL and good luck. That is the only thing about a nano, you have to STAY ON TOP of them!!!!!!!! LOL

Check out mine in the image gallery....
http://www.maast.org/modules.php?set_albumName=pilot_bell777&op=modload &name=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php

[gjuarez]

You might want to try the Aqua Clear Mod Refugium if you have problems with your nitrates. THey are not that high but this is another suggestion you may want to try if you want to get them lower.

[hobogato]

i think someone has converted a small HOB filter into a fuge for a nano (cant remember the thread). that might help. i thing all they did was take out all the baffles and put in some chaeto with a light over it.

[tony]

i appreciate all of the info guys

i have a fuge on the way im hoping it will get here soon. i also have an 80w pc fixture to replace the POS built into the hood but cant install it until the new filter and fuge get here (it wont fit over the stock filter).

ive been keeping close tabs on the water prams and doing a 2.5 gallon water change weekly. All params look great except the nitrates seem to hang around 10-20 ppm.

the critters all seem to be doing great the black ocellaris (haha thanks for noticing that one, cant believe i didnt catch that but he is only my 2nd clown ever) eats like a pig as well as the fire shrimp. i hope to add a goby soon (i want to give another week or two to ensure the tank stays stable) and then i will be done adding livestock and will hopefully have my new light/fuge installed so i can start stocking some softies.

[Reef69]

C.Mydas in my opinion is the queen of all nanos. She has a kick-*** nano right now, and has kept more in the past. I would give her a PM. She used to have a pico not long ago, it was the coolest nano ive ever seen. It won TOTM one month..here it is (http://www.maast.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&re q=viewarticle&artid=21&page=1)..

[tony]

i forgot to mention that yes that heater is waaaay too big for that tank it came with it so no use in trashing it. cliff is supposed to be bringing me a smaller one soon (along with some frags, wo0t!)


C.Mydas in my opinion is the queen of all nanos. She has a kick-a-word nano right now, and has kept more in the past. I would give her a PM. She used to have a pico not long ago, it was the coolest nano ive ever seen. It won TOTM one month..here it is (http://www.maast.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&re q=viewarticle&artid=21&page=1)..

her tank is actually the one that inspired me to get this one

[C.Mydas]

Wow! Thanks guys!

Purejoy, all the advice on here has been excellent. A few notes, however..lol. When you do your water changes make sure the temp is the same in the new water as the old water, and dont worry about doing a water change that is too big. Personally, I do at least 50-100% water changes (50% if I do it weekly and 100% if I accidentally skip a week). I also, to avoid over feeding (since I have LPS and filter feeders that need to eat too), purposefully overfeed the tank with invert food right before I do a water change. That gives them an opportunity to eat a large meal, then I replace the water so it doesn't crash my tank. Softies are great in nanos, be careful with what kind you choose, however. Leathers are extremely toxic so you will need to run LOTS of carbon to keep the water clean for your other corals. Also, a 'mistake' I see a lot of people make with nanos is that they get in such a rush to stock them that they put any small coral they find in the tank. Be selective!! You have a small tank and IMO everything in there should be something you cant live without that is the only way you will achieve the look you are going for.

Hope that helps.