high nitrates

[angelsj247]

my nitrates have always been between 20-40 ppm. and i can never get them down. i think this could be the reason why all but one snail has died. Now im starting to get more diatoms bc of no snails. How can i get them down. I would like to get them down before adding my last fish.
i have a cascade power filter.. 5 lbs live rock, (ordering 15lb more soon) only 15 watts of light, one 145 gph powerhead. also i got 10lbs of this stuff for substrate..
http://www.petco.com/Shop/Product.a...t&Nav=226&N=24 116&sku=378860&familyID=15439&
mixed with 10lbs of i think it was something called
Tideline Natural Coral Sand Pure Marine Substrate

in a 20 gal tank. I have 2 clown fish and 2 peppermint snails and now 1 turbo snail (which has been staying around the same spot for bout a week now, im assumming its dieing).
thanks for all the help.

 

[Amphiprion]

Nitrate levels at the amount you have would not have caused a snail to die. Sounds like you may have gotten a temperate water snail, which will not survive at tropical temps. For your sand, you should have plenty of worms, etc to keep it clean, etc. You may want to take some from fellow aquarists--some are more than happy to give them to you Try some Astraea sp. snails and various Cerithid snails, the latter of which will help with your sand bed as well. Also, look into getting a good protein skimmer, such as Coralife's Super skimmers.

 

[TekCat]

I'd second getting a good protein skimmer. After you add new LR and skimmer get rid of power filter. If you still want to run it, remove bio-media and run only mechanical/chemical media if you must. One thing to remember, you need to clean often your power filter, otherwise it will become source of nitrate problem.

 

[angelsj247]

what do i need to clean out of it.. just the parts.. theres a sponge and carbon compartment. is that what i need to clean?

 

[jer77]

I agree with getting a skimmer for such a small tank. I would also do a big water change to lower the nitrates. As for the snails, you say you have turbos, which aren't temperate, so they should have been fine. The nitrates may have killed them, or they might have eaten some bad algae. I would also look into starting a refugium whether it be a hang on the back kind or one in a sump. This would lower your nitrates plus add more water to your overall total. The sand you have is good and should be no problem. The cascade filter may be creating your nitrates since it is a nitrifying filter, but it also is the only filtration you have for your small tank so I would leave it until you get more live rock and maybe add a fuge. How long has your tank been running?

 

[angelsj247]

its been running about 3-4 months now

 

[TekCat]

carbon needs to be replaced every 2-4 weeks depending on bio-load. when it becomes saturated and couldn't absorb more it starts leaking junk back.
sponge is your bio-media, when you put enough LR in tank, just throw it away.

again, invest in good skimmer they do wonders

 

[angelsj247]

Thanks for all the great help. the carbon i do replace every month and the bio-media ive never replaced but have just rinsed it off sometimes. thanks again

 

[jer77]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7391532#post7391532 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TekCat
sponge is your bio-media, when you put enough LR in tank, just throw it away.

Sponge is not bio-media. This is the mechanical media. The carbon is chemical, but still has most of the nitrifying bactria.