My 125g tank has been cycled and set up for about 4 months. I have a total water volume of about 180g including sump and fuge. I purchased aquacultered LR from FL. I have a CUC that consists of crabs, snails, cucumbers and 3 brittle stars. I can not get my nitrates to stay under 20ppm. I do water changes and they come down to between 5-10 and then the next day they are back to 20 again. They have never been over 20...which is good I guess. I want this to eventually be a reef aquarium, but am afraid to add corals or anything because of the nitrates.
About 2 weeks ago I added 1lb of Chaeto to the fuge. There is also LR rubble in there, but no sand.
I have a DAS Ex-2 skimmer. I have a TLF Phosban reactor. The media in there is as old as the tank. I also run carbon in a reactor and change that every 2 weeks. I use a filter sock that stays on for 2-3 days and then off for 2-3 days.
ph - 8.1
salilinity - 1.024
ammonia - 0
nitrites - 0
alkalinity - 9dKh
temp - 78 - 80
Any other suggestions on what to do to bring them down and keep them down??
About 2 weeks ago I added 1lb of Chaeto to the fuge. There is also LR rubble in there, but no sand.
I have a DAS Ex-2 skimmer. I have a TLF Phosban reactor. The media in there is as old as the tank. I also run carbon in a reactor and change that every 2 weeks. I use a filter sock that stays on for 2-3 days and then off for 2-3 days.
ph - 8.1
salilinity - 1.024
ammonia - 0
nitrites - 0
alkalinity - 9dKh
temp - 78 - 80
Any other suggestions on what to do to bring them down and keep them down??