How do I keep nitrates down?

[klaudia]

Ammonia is 0, nitrite is 0-0.05, and nitrate fluctuating from 2 to 20. My coral and anemones look miserable. Would the nitrates be the reason? If so, how do I bring it down?


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[thegrun]

Certainly your nitrites at 0.05 will poison your corals if those test results are accurate. Has the tank been fully cycled? If so, for how long? What types of corals do you have in your tank? Some are very forgiving of nitrates, others quite are sensitive to nitrates. Feeding the tank less and more frequent water changes are a good start in reducing nitrates. Tell us a little more about your tank, how long has it been set up, how many fish, tank size, filtration....

 

[JUNBUG361]

Agree with gruns comments. What type filter system are you using?

 

[klaudia]

Red Sea Max Nano setup. Cycled since January, added 2 perculas in February, added coral and anemone since then. Orange torch, green/purple frogspawn, wall hammer, gonistrea, bubble tip anemone, brain coral, blasto


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[mcgyvr]

Those types of corals should tolerant those lower nitrate levels without any issues..
I'd expect the nitrite result was incorrect too..

You can reduce nitrates a few ways..
One is just by performing more water changes..
And with a tank that small water changes are all you need..

 

[Crooked Reef]

Tank is a bit young for an anemone. Does it move around? it possibly may not be related to the water quality at all, but would need to know your calcium, mag and kh levels as well. Stony corals need calcium and mag levels correct to grow.

What type of lighting do you have? Spacing between coral specimens? If they are close to each other they could be sending sweepers out and fighting each other while you sleep. The nem could also be moving around and stinging the corals.

How often and what percentage of water are you changing out also?