Nitrate at 20 ppm

[celebrity2be]

I noticed a dead crab in my tank and a dead snail, My anemone also started looking sick. So i tested my water parameters and all were perfect except for the Nitrates being 20ppm. I immediately did a 10 percent water change (this is yesterday). How can i get those Nitrates down? Can i do another water change today? I dont want my anemone to die. ( i have had my tank for a year and a half, and every other previous week it had been normal 0 ppm) Please advise
Jim

 

[thegrun]

Did something die that is hidden off in a corner? Look around. If it has been running for a year without problems, something had to change. I would recommend a 20% water change, and then another in a couple of days until you get the Nitrates down. Has anything else changed in the tank recently?

 

[celebrity2be]

The two major things that died, i got out of the tank - the crab looked like it had died a while ago because it looked like it had been eaten and the same with the snail. I didnt notice the crab because it was under a rock, and didnt notice the snail because it was upright (until i saw a small hermit crab come out of it). I also added 5 lbs of fully cured live rock. but i had taken the crab and the snail out before i put that in. (the LFs had cured this rock for 3 weeks and i had smelled it before i bought it - it smelled fine)

 

[surge19us]

20ppm of nitrate is not the reason for the die off. It may be partially a result of the die off. What was it before this started?
Continue with some water changes the next few days and add some carbon. There may be something else going on. A one year old tank should easily handle a crab and snail death. Are you sure the crab died? It may have been a molt you found. If that is the case then things are probably fine. Snails die so do crabs. The 20 ppm may be your sand bed needing some maintenance or a few other things.

 

[celebrity2be]

ok this is the first time i have heard of Maintaining the sand bed. I have two snails that bury themselves in the sand, i also have a sand star to sift and clean the sand. What should i actively be doing to maintain the sand bed above and beyond those creatures activities?

 

[kraze3]

How deep is the sand bed?
If its a shallow sand bed you should be fine. If its a deep sand bed thats a different story, you only want the top layer sifted. Some nassarius snails should be able to handle the sand bed, if shallow, just fine. I have 6 or 7 in my 20 gallon. The sand sifting star will help as well. Another option is a sand sifting goby.

Clean all your filter socks, sponges, and pads on a regular basis. I clean mine twice a week. Clean all your Phs and pumps. Cut down on feedings, feed less. Do this and keep up with the water changes you should be able to get them down to almost 0.