few questions

[spider8u]

My nitrates for some reason will not go any lower that 20 even when i do a water change. All week they stayed at 20 did a water change today about 20% and there still 20 why are they staying at 20 all i have in the tank is 5 LG turbo snails and 15 hermit crabs 105lbs of LR and 130lbs of sand tanks been up almost 3 months

Also looking to buy Ocellaris Clownfish wanted to know is it best to get them in pairs or will it be fine to just get one.Will be my first fish in the tank thx

 

[demonsp]

Any foam or filters not cleaned weekly will collect nitrate. Also overfeeding. The magnet cleaners left in also can help nitrates rise. A refugium with macro can help reduce nitrates.

Hows is your substrate ( crushed coral , sand ect.. )and what type of cleanup crew you have going.

A pic of the tank and substrate would help.

 

[jon99]

I agree. If you have any filter like the Whisper of Aquclear make sure to remove all sponges, polyfilter fiber, etc. Use the for circulation and to run chemical filtration such as carbon or purigen. The clownfish will do fine either way. But if you do want 2 add them at same time.

 

[Dubbin1]

Re: few questions

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10293667#post10293667 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by spider8u
All week they stayed at 20 did a water change today about 20% and there still 20

I don't know what test kit you are using but a 20% water change will only lower your nitrates by 4. I'm guessing that your test kit isn't accurate enough to decipher from 16 to 20.

 

[PJSEA]

Try a different test kit or take it to LFS for testing. I struggled for weeks with high nitrates. Bought new test kit and it was at 0.
Is your skimmer working properly?

 

[spider8u]

for my substrate i am useing caribSea aragonite sand and about 50lbs of LS.I dont have any foam or sponges in my canister just useing carbon and purigen and clean it out ever week.The test kit i am useing is Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Freshwater/Saltwater Nitrate Test Kit i have 2 off them saying the same thing. And my skimmer is working fine
useing a HOB dont have a sump will be getting one soon i hope

 

[demonsp]

Well if tank is 100 gal and 3 months onld then increase the cleanup crew alot and ill bet that substrate is brown ?
Some sand sifting critters will help that.

Also with no stock and coral besure you use the lights less untill you have more cleanup crew.

 

[spider8u]

some of my sand is turning brown what is the best sand sifting critter to get?