Lucas's 20g nano

What's your plan to manage nitrates in the future? Water changes are a band-aid, you will need to address the source of the nitrates and a way to export or reduce nitrate proactively before it is able to creep up to a high level
 
What's your plan to manage nitrates in the future? Water changes are a band-aid, you will need to address the source of the nitrates and a way to export or reduce nitrate proactively before it is able to creep up to a high level

wouldn't the source of my nitrates be the fact that I didn't do a water for like 5-6 weeks?

It could also be my ro water. right now I am buying ro water from walmart. I would not be surprised at all if that's where my nitrates are coming from.

I am getting a skimmer up and running.

does it get to a point where your nitrates stay normal and you don't have to do water changes?
 
wouldn't the source of my nitrates be the fact that I didn't do a water for like 5-6 weeks?

Sorta. It's husbandry related as much as water changes (which just fix issues with husbandry. That's why I can go 2-3 months without a water change.
It could also be my ro water. right now I am buying ro water from walmart. I would not be surprised at all if that's where my nitrates are coming from.

Maybe, I've seen those have moderate TDS amounts, but usually it's not the water source.

I am getting a skimmer up and running.

does it get to a point where your nitrates stay normal and you don't have to do water changes?

Skimmer is good. Yes, I don't get nitrates, despite feeding pretty moderately. It comes with tank maturity, aquarist maturity, and skimming. I think my Marinepure block helps, and vodka helped keep nitrates down for me the last year or so, and when I set the tank up, I set it up with a refugium, which helped. Food = Nitrate + Phosphate. You need to find a way to remove the inputs from food and keep the system balanced.
 
Update

Update

Pretty much the same as the last one. I did another 5 gallon water and I am getting my water checked tonight. I hope my nitrates are under 10. I did receive my brand new mp10wQD in the mail so i cant wait to set that up and then I am getting the 4 stage RO/DI plus unit from BRS for christmas so that will help tremendously.
 
My uncle who was in town has a 75 gallon reef tank and he took the two frogspawns off my hands to give them a better place to live for a little bit. I might however try some softies, just to keep things basic
 
It also occurred to me this morning reading your comments, do you have your own test kits? I'd often trust my own test kits primarily, and then if I was getting wonky results, then I'd go to the LFS. One of the LFS I used to visit in south FL used to just use the dip stick tests, which were terrible/inaccurate for salt water, knowing full well that it was saltwater.

I'd pick up a good set of salifert test kits for nitrate, alkalinity, and calcium, if you don't have them already. Then if you're having issues, I'd reach out to the LFS to double check (ideally with a higher-end test kit).
 
It also occurred to me this morning reading your comments, do you have your own test kits? I'd often trust my own test kits primarily, and then if I was getting wonky results, then I'd go to the LFS. One of the LFS I used to visit in south FL used to just use the dip stick tests, which were terrible/inaccurate for salt water, knowing full well that it was saltwater.

I'd pick up a good set of salifert test kits for nitrate, alkalinity, and calcium, if you don't have them already. Then if you're having issues, I'd reach out to the LFS to double check (ideally with a higher-end test kit).

I have a Red Sea test kit for Alk Ca and Mg.
I have my own refractometer
But I do have petco test my nitrates, they just have this dip stick.
So that's bad I'm guessing
 
Yea, go buy a Salifert, or even API nitrate test kit. Dip sticks are terrible.

I guess when I tell people that alkalinity and calcium are the two most important things to check, I'm overlooking the basics like salinity, nitrates, and to a lesser extent, pH (really, for pH to be a problem, you have to have some major issues with the other parameters, so I still say meh to pH).
 
Yea, go buy a Salifert, or even API nitrate test kit. Dip sticks are terrible.

I guess when I tell people that alkalinity and calcium are the two most important things to check, I'm overlooking the basics like salinity, nitrates, and to a lesser extent, pH (really, for pH to be a problem, you have to have some major issues with the other parameters, so I still say meh to pH).

I think I'll probably buy an API nitrate test kit, I think you had said at an earlier point in my thread that is really all you need for nitrates
 
I'm back

I'm back

I will still be pretty busy until March, but the busiest part of my job is over. I want to dive head first into the salt water world again. I now have a 4 stage RO/DI System set up and I have been doing water changes left and right. It is really sad to say this but all corals have died and my flame tail blenny died as well. Currently I have my GBTA and my clown fish pair. I have thought very deep on whether to just take down my tank because I have no time or to try an easier going route and give it one last hoorah.
Here are my plans...
Replace the flame tail blenny with a yasha goby and shrimp pair.
All equipment "knock on wood" is good to go.
In terms of coral. I want to do some recordia mushrooms and maybe a green toadstool. One or two torches, one or two hammer and if those go well I wouldn't mind having a some stylophora at some point. Also want to try out some acans. And these plans will go into affect one I get can control my nitrates


As always, I am willing to listen to any opinion and hopefully from here on out, this will be the start on a trend for my tank.
Thanks guys!
 
Good news

Good news

Tank is going well, nitrates are staying down and water changes are super easy with having a brs rodi system. I got a new haul of corals and in, they love the tank so far and it is nice to have a decent looking tank again. pictures and update will be posted soon!
 
Update

Update

Hey guys its been awhile. It has been going really well. nitrates are low. corals are alive and thriving. I even picked up a diamondback goby who keeps my sand bed crystal clean.
Work is slowing down and I am looking to be on here more often! I plan on posting some pictures soon. I am excited to see a lot of 10 gallon and 20 gallon nuvo fusions on here. hopefully my thread can help others!
 
Just got a second AI Prime to run over my tank. This will get rid of the shadowing on the sides. I am super excited about this extra light. I am looking into what skimmer to get for the tank, It is between the ghost skimmer and the eshopps nano skimmer. anyone on here have any opinions about this? The tank is in my room so i would like the skimmer to be a quiet as possible.
 
Current FTS

Current FTS

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There is a current FTS, things are pretty much completely different from the last time I posted a FTS. Back in January, maintenance was at an all time low and nitrates were at an all time high. I got an RO/DI system and maintenance is now at an all time high. The tank has been running strong since Jan 13th.
 
Rainbow Trach?

Rainbow Trach?

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Please correct me if I am wrong, this was labeled as a "Wellso"? at a frag swap. I think Rainbow Trach is the right name for the coral.
 
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