nitrites

[esvashoreman]

   wondering what to do  conditioned my filter for a month, started shedding great then  nitrates got real high, changed out half the water added ridex it just got worse. the next day changed all the water, the levels dropped to nothing fished up lunch time the next day they were right back where i started. any suggestions

[ChrisS]

Describe your filter.

It may be too small.

[esvashoreman]

 im only running 12 floats on a 1800 gallon filter with shells in it. I  was wondering how much ridex i should add for that much water. the box says it treats 1500 gallon septic tanks so i put in 2 boxes. any advice?

[ChrisS]

Your filter is 1800 gallons?

[esvashoreman]

 sorry i hit the wrong number its aproxx 1500 gallons

[ChrisS]

Your filter is 1500 gallons?

How big and how many tanks do you have?

[ChrisS]

Try Bio balls, mix 50/50 with oyster shells.

Bioballs are way better the shells

[R D]

Too much ridex,use no more than 1/2 a box,do you have a skimmer?,How many crabs are in the tanks?I run in to it every 2 or 3 weeks and just change half to 2/3s of the water but I don't have a skimmer on the system yet.

Try Bio balls, mix 50/50 with oyster shells.

Bioballs are way better the shells

His shells are doing fine Chris,everything is working and converting to nitrates,they build up to toxic levels irregardless of what all the PH D's in marine biology say and there is no way to reduce them.

[esvashoreman]

Thanks chris and rd however rd its not my nitrate level thats getting high its the nitrite level my filter must not have enough bacteria built up to handle the amount of crabs im putting in the system. I checked the water this morning and the level is getting better but im still loosing a few crabs. Im gonna change out half the warer this morning and see what happens.

[ChrisS]

ESHOREMAN,

I believe the bacteria turns your harmful nitrites to less harmful nitrates, as RD said.

You may have answered your own question, saying your filter isnt primed.

Also, with high nitrites comes high ammonia.

There's really no way to reduce the ammonia, but the best way, as RD suggested, was to replace the water.

[R D]

Thanks chris and rd however rd its not my nitrate level thats getting high its the nitrite level my filter must not have enough bacteria built up to handle the amount of crabs im putting in the system. I checked the water this morning and the level is getting better but im still loosing a few crabs. Im gonna change out half the warer this morning and see what happens.

Misunderstood,first post said nitrates,Chris is right,system wasn't ready for a load,I use hard crabs to season mine2 to 4 bushel scattered out overnite,take them out and put fresh ones in the next day or two.

[esvashoreman]

sorry about that rd it is the nitrites ,replaced 900 gollons this morning by 5 this afternoon they are back up to about 5ppm. i guess i should just keep swapping out water till shes right? darn shame cought 500 rank crabs today looks like its gonna be better tomorow. any other suggestions?

[genecrabman]

sorry about that rd it is the nitrites ,replaced 900 gollons this morning by 5 this afternoon they are back up to about 5ppm. i guess i should just keep swapping out water till shes right? darn shame cought 500 rank crabs today looks like its gonna be better tomorow. any other suggestions?

Sell your peelers to those RICH Guys in Maryland...

[R D]

Add another 1/2 box of ridex

[ChrisS]

You could add a couple hundred minnows and small fish.

[still fishing]

Like RD said add ridex & u might want to try & add some oxygen to your water . I use a oil less air compressor & large airstones in my tanks & filters
check this link out

http://nsgl.gso.uri.edu/mdu/mdug88004.pdf

[R D]

I used the excess pump pressure to make a waterfall for more O2,reduced down to 3/4 and drilled 1/4 in holes.

[Crabbyd]

I used the excess pump pressure to make a waterfall for more O2,reduced down to 3/4 and drilled 1/4 in holes.

new tank looks nice ronnie.  why did you change?

[R D]

All concrete,no rust D and it's  a little bigger,plus I have a lot higher walls on this one,everything is now set up to keep pumping and shedding even with 3 ft of water in the yard with a hurricane.

[esvashoreman]

I dont have a do meter however. I do have in line aspirators before each float. Last season the system ran beautifly i had minimal loss and shed crabs all summer. replaced 1200 gallons yesterday looks like im gonna have to do the same today, lot of work but not loosing but a few crabs. yea ha happy crabbing

[still fishing]

Hope it works out for you , we got alot of fresh influx in the bay it might be a rough summer for us in the upper part of the bay . I see alot of streaks of red water in the rivers & its not hot YET .

[esvashoreman]

  still changing 1200 gallons a day but at least  there shedding.

[flounderpounder]

You could add a couple hundred minnows and small fish.

or plants....my plants take care of my nitrates

[esvashoreman]

what kind of plant.

[esvashoreman]

  finaly got her right , very helpfull company called aquatic eco systems they have everything you need. any one with a closed system should contact them and get on there mailing list. they have the right bacteria for half the price of riddex and recomend not using ridex.