high nitrates

[Monkeyfish]

Sugar works well for reducing nitrates if done properly. I currently add half a teaspoon a day to an overstocked 75g FOWLR and it dropped the nitrates from 90 to 20 in 8 weeks.

Like everything else in this hobby - go slow. If you add too much sugar too fast you'll get a bacterial bloom and reduce O2 levels. Also, if you decide to stop adding the sugar - do NOT do so all at once. Sudden cessation can lead to starving bacteria = dead bacteria = lousy tank water. Gradually reduce the amount and frequency of sugar added to the tank.

You may also want to consider looking at the source of the problem. Too many fish, too much/too many feedings, mediocre (okay, lousy) skimmer, etc. A better skimmer, adding a refugium and/or remote deep sand bed, lower bioload (the tang is eventually going to have to go anyway) and weekly 10% water changes will go a long way towards preventing the problem.

 

[celano]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9291195#post9291195 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by xxseawolf
celano, my tank is close to 8 months old.

After doing a quick google search on the skilter250 I'm convinced this is were most of your problem is. I did some quick reading and it sounds like this skimmer just isnt enough for your 55. I have a Seaclown150(wait Seaclone) on my 30 gallon. Its rated for 150 gallons but as many people will tell you....it cant even come close to that. Hell it cant even keep up with my 30gallon. A good skimmer is a MUST in this hobby.
If you cant afford a better skimmer try modding yours. I came across This site in my search.

Also water changes are a must. Once every 4 months just isnt enough. Doing water changes not only makes the tank look better, but adds back those trace elements that so many of our tank inhabitants rely on. I do a 20% change every 2 weeks on both my tanks with great results, if you cant do this atleast try and do one once a month. You wont regret it.

HTH celano

 

[xxseawolf]

i have an opportunity on purchasing a coarlife skimmer. is this a good product?

 

[xravenzx]

My cousin has a set-up like yours with a 55g and he had high nitrates. He picked up a HOB refugium, filled it with live sand, live rock rubble, and chaeto with a 12 hour light. After he started pruning the chaeto away for a bit, his nitrate eventually went down and would hover around 0.

 

[xxseawolf]

ty xravenzx

 

[celano]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9309328#post9309328 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by xxseawolf
i have an opportunity on purchasing a coarlife skimmer. is this a good product?

I cant really comment on the CSS skimmers much as I've never owned one, but I have read that for a low budget skimmer this one works good. It seems to work alot better in sump though not as good if you use it as a HOB unit.
I'de say that if its the most you can afford go for it. Its better than the skilter by far plus there are several threads on the DIY forum about how to do some easy mods and make it perform alot better than OEM.

 

[Monkeyfish]

I have a CSS 125 on an overstocked 75g FOWLR and it appears to be working quite. I get several cups of dark, stinky skimmate every week. For a "budget" skimmer it's probably the best out there. It did take several weeks to completely break in and fine tune, but now I rarely ever adjust it.

 

[JNye]

the keeping of algae in a fuge or sump is the best thing you can do for any tank IMO. with this method ALONE people have put together some nice tanks supposedly without the use of a skimmer. i guess its possible though i would be way to scared to try it. regardless it would be my first offensive. also bi-weekly water changes...prevention.
lastly the coralife superskimmer...i have read some really good reviews about it from people who use it...on a different forum, they all are happy with it and loved the price, i guess its affordable...dunno
good luck tho.

 

[cristhiam]

I agree with the posts, refugiums with cheato, denitrators (I just installed one my self a dyi cost me around $40), DSB or RDSB should help, you could do several water changes to help. and I do recomment the CSS 125 good skimmer for the money.

my weekly skimming