SO MY TESTING KIT CAME TODAY AND I TESTED MY WATER LIKE 3 TIMES , PH IS A LITTLE HIGH, AMMONIA IS AT A GOOD LEVEL, NITRITE IS AT A GOOD LEVEL, BUT MY NITRATE IS AT ABOUT 15PPM, I THINK THIS IS THE REASON WHY MY NEW SHRIMP DIED WITHIN HOURS...ANY ADVICE? I WAS PLANING TO GO OUT AND BUY NITRATE PELLETS TO PUT IN MY CASCADE 1000 CANISTER FILTER:death::death:
Nitrate levels are around 15 ppm help!
- Thread starter llduce10
- Start date
slm32123
Reefing newb
Tell us the exact results of everything. Not just "a little high, or at a good level," Please and thank you :)
slm32123
Reefing newb
How are your phosphates. Your Nitrate level is not that high. Both of my reefs have about 5-10 ppm and everything is okay. I don't feel as if it's the nitrates that is causing the problem. However it is always better to have them lower. Buy some macro algae to grow in there, and make sure you do weekly water changes, about 10% at least.
Also test everything else that you can and post results please.
Also test everything else that you can and post results please.
slm32123
Reefing newb
Yes it would, get a phosphate test kit, and most likely some phosphate remover. If you go to a LFS, take some water with, see if they can test for phosphates, if they say it is high you will know you need some sort of phosphate remover, that way you only need to take one trip.
Also, what is your temp and salinity?
Also, what is your temp and salinity?
little_fish
Moderator
Having nitrates in the 10-15 range are enough to kill a shrimp, especially if they came from living in water without nitrates.
AmberSunrise
Reef enthusiast
Mine stays around 10-15ppm that is not that bad really. If you acclimated the shrimp long enough I dont think it would have killed it personally.
I have about 4 different shrimp I always acclimate them for at least an hour with a drip.
I have about 4 different shrimp I always acclimate them for at least an hour with a drip.
little_fish
Moderator
waterchanges or macro algaes will remove nitrates, protein skimmers prevent their formation
ErinCahir
Sausage Wrangler
YELLING!!!!
But +1 to everyone.
But +1 to everyone.
slm32123
Reefing newb
I don't see why 15 nitrates would kill his shrimp though. Especially if it was acclimated appropriately.
little_fish
Moderator
Nitrates are toxic to inverts. I also dont understand why its become ok to have nitrates on this site, you want your nitrates at zero for the best health of your corals and inverts.
i am starting to understand the whole water chem thing....not sure if this helps i have to hermit crabs, that are doing well, and molt regularly..i think it comes down to i did not let him accumulate long enough..i think it was for about an hour, with no drip...tested water today, ...ammonia at 0, ph 7.8, nitrite at 0, nitrate at about 5.0
slm32123
Reefing newb
IMO I don't really like where your PH is at. I believe most people try to keep it at about 8.0 at the latest. I think mine is 8.1 in my 27, and 8.2 in my 75.
Little-fish, I wasn't really trying to say its okay to have nitrates. I was just trying to point out that everything has been okay with mine around 10, I am personally trying to save up for a biopellet reactor to help with getting them to 0 for myself.
Little-fish, I wasn't really trying to say its okay to have nitrates. I was just trying to point out that everything has been okay with mine around 10, I am personally trying to save up for a biopellet reactor to help with getting them to 0 for myself.
little_fish
Moderator
Actually a pH of 7.8 is fine, but you should test right before your lights go out. I bet your pH will be much higher.
