Getting my high nitrates down

[shifty51008]

this is for an octo skimmer but they basically work the same way. unless you have a diff. type of skimmer like a air stone driven, downdraft, ect.

http://www.ehow.com/how_6505521_set-protein-skimmer-octopus-150.html

 

[jeff@zina.com]

Also, what type and color skim mate are you seeing, and how much? The junk in the skimmer cup is normally brown and nasty, and a little thick, if the skimmer is working right. If it's thinner, like tea, then it may need adjusting. Depending on size, you may need to clean the cup daily, but normally it will fill at least every few days and need cleaning. If you're going a week between cleanings then it's probably not working at full capacity.

A pic of the skimmer would help identify it.

Jeff

 

[Leronidas]

Here are some old pics i took before. i will take some of it working right now

 

[firerunner]

Patience is a virtue in this hobby. I think you need to stop using stuff like AZ-NO and leave the tank alone. Let it run, with skimmer lights, filter etc. Add a few silverslides (dead fish) to help with the cycle and just wait.

Check your parameters everyday or every other day and wait.

When its been stable for a week or so SLOWLY add new fish.

IMO

be good

 

[Sk8r]

What a cleanup crew has to do with it: if you have bought a tank and incorporated too much waste, if you have a tank in which live rock dieoff has produced too much waste, if you need waste 'processed', in company with bacterial action, bristleworms are excellent, and much better than crabs, who can only clean the surfaces. Nassarius clean under the sand, and will not overturn the sandbed in the process. A tank without an adequate CUC is very easily upset. In my tank, I could probably toss a dead smelt in and find it gone in the morning without much hiccup in my nitrate/ammonia situation. A really fat snail checking out under the rockwork without an adequate CUC *that is capable of reaching it* is a problem.
So yes, bristleworms have something to do with the question. This tank is not ready for fish, and needs chemical stability, first, then CUC only for a couple of weeks, then fish.

My question was to ascertain what living inverts may be in the tank at present.

 

[Leronidas]

Here are some new pics of my skimmer working. I appreciate the advice but i really don't want something that's that creepy in my tank i bought this to look at fish and relax i will get the snails and maybe 1 or 2 of those things but i really want to get rid of them when they tank is stable. its too late i have already been adding the Chemical it cost me a pretty penny so i intend on seeing if it works tomorrow is the last day its a 6 day dose if it doesn't work i will try your idea's guys and i am very thankful to all your advice its very helpful i will try the 50% water change as well

 

[jeff@zina.com]

That skim mate looks like it's all water, like your skimmer is pulling nothing out. I would say it needs some adjusting.

Jeff

 

[Leronidas]

that was on purpose i didn't want it to smell so i let some water in cup when i started it

 

[Sk8r]

Getting rid of your cleanup crew is likely to destabilize your tank once you have it going. The mini-slice of ocean you're trying to create has all sorts of creatures that are interdependent in function, and some of them, yes, are worms, snails, and squiggly things you use gloves to handle. Trying to maintain by dosing this and dosing that is not the best way to go.

 

[moondoggy4]

Maybe you can post the area you live in and if someone here that lives close by can check out your tank.

 

[shifty51008]

i can't say I have ever seen that type of skimmer so I can't say how well they work. but you will need to lower the water level in the skimmer a little bit to get the darker skimmateI have mine setup so the water level is about an inch from the top and I get nice dark skimmate, not to wet but not to dry.

 

[Pufferpunk]

Did everyone miss this?

the only other filter media is the Sponge things one in the overflow and one in the sump

Sponges are considered nitrate factories in SW. If you don't want to rinse them out every few days, then just toss them.

 

[Leronidas]

thanks Pufferpunk. I live in Ontario California so if someone is from there any help is appreciated thanks

 

[Leronidas]

http://www.purelyh2o.com/index.php?...tegory_id=45&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=118

So this isn't any good to use either? i really don't want a Infestation or anymore water changes i have spent more money on water changes than i have on fish so i am trying other ways i really want to stay in the game if it gets to expensive for me i will have to get out of it

 

[shifty51008]

if your talking about the Aquarium Water Cleaner 300 I would just buy carbon reactor from bulk reef supply.

as for a rodi filter I use the purelyh2o optima pro unit and have added on a 2nd DI but a cheaper unit would be the filterguys, bulk reef supply, or buckeye field they are also great units

 

[Leronidas]

thanks very much Shifty i will give it a go

 

[moondoggy4]

I am about 40 minutes for you on a good day, I can swing by if you like. Just PM me and we can figure something out.