nitrate spikes

[boyer]

i keep having nitrate spikes i just did a 5 gallon water change which brought my nitrate to about 0-5ppm about a week ago and i just tested my water because i notices my hammer head and mushrooms seem like there shrivveling and my

nitrate 40-45ppm
nitrite 0ppm
salidity 1.024
temp 79-80
alk - 250ppm
ph 8.2

i feed my fish a pinch or two of spiralina every other day and marine snow every other day.

what could be kicking my nitrate up?

should i feed every 2 -3 days?

 

[Avi]

I think that the feedings, most particularly the Marine Snow are too frequent. That's most likely the problem, particularly if you don't have a skimmer which you don't mention having....Get one, if you don't have one already and it'll go smoother for you all around. In the meanwhile, give the tank Marine Snow once every four or even five days or so. No more than that.

 

[boyer]

thanks i do have a skimmer its a skilter 250, cheap hang on.. i dont have room for a sump or anything but i may get a stand and then a sump but my main issue is overloading the circuit with the extra power needed to run a sump