Nitrate 100 please help!

[dp122098]

The problem should go away once you add the refugium

 

[Tomorleans]

My Nitrates stay high. I have a Skilter (boo right?) skimmer. I do 6% water changes with R/O water every two weeks. Lowest I've seen my trates were at about 20. I have 30 lbs of LR, three chromis, and one diamond Goby, with snails. I feed them a small pinch of flakes twice a day. And mysis shrimp every other day. Could it be my bio filter is causing these high nitrates? to much feeding? I dont want to add any other fish or corals until I understand how to correct something when it goes worng. Ammonia is 0, Trites 0, pH 8, S.G 1.023, temp 78-80. Tank has been running for about 6-7 weeks. Also, is it possible to use macroalgae in the skilter filter tank? seems like it would work.

 

[jong101]

sounds like your feeding too much to me. i feed my tank everyother day and my fish are happy and healthy. beyond that since i have switched to every other day my nitrates have dropped tremendosly b/c my tank/refuge and clean up crew can keep up with it. i would feed less, and try using more mysis and brine, they are a more natural food sorce and break down more easily than flakes....just my thoughts.

 

[kevin2000]

Tomorleans ... you should consider uping the level of water changes. 12% water changes per month is too low ... I would shoot for 25% and move up if thats doesn't work.

 

[Tomorleans]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10081018#post10081018 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kevin2000
Tomorleans ... you should consider uping the level of water changes. 12% water changes per month is too low ... I would shoot for 25% and move up if thats doesn't work.

I'm sorry man.. It's not 6% it's, actually 33% every month.. 10 gallons a month on a 30 gallon.

 

[likhten]

Thanks all
The problem was - test kit reagents are bad.
I got Salifert test it was -10

 

[dp122098]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10080612#post10080612 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tomorleans
My Nitrates stay high. I have a Skilter (boo right?) skimmer. I do 6% water changes with R/O water every two weeks. Lowest I've seen my trates were at about 20. I have 30 lbs of LR, three chromis, and one diamond Goby, with snails. I feed them a small pinch of flakes twice a day. And mysis shrimp every other day. Could it be my bio filter is causing these high nitrates? to much feeding? I dont want to add any other fish or corals until I understand how to correct something when it goes worng. Ammonia is 0, Trites 0, pH 8, S.G 1.023, temp 78-80. Tank has been running for about 6-7 weeks. Also, is it possible to use macroalgae in the skilter filter tank? seems like it would work.

Hmmm... Sounds like you are definitely overfeeding. Keep in mind that fish in nature are foragers. They don't need to be fed every day much less twice a day. Cut back on the feeding and watch the nitrate spike go away. I have way more fish than you do and I only feed in the evenings every other day and it sounds like we feed about the same amount.