Nitrates

[greg938]

I have a 75G LRWFO tank. Things got a little out of control after having a new baby. Currentyl working on getting back to normal. The following are my test results:
Nitrites 0.1
Nitrates 50 or 50+
pH 8.2
Temp 79F
Alkalinity Normal
Ammonia 0

I have 2 pink bar gobies and 2 clowns

Can I add snails and sandsifters to help clean at this time or should I do more vacumming and water changes to get the nitrates down, while continuing to run the Protein Skimmer? I am going to the LFS, however I do not trust everything they recommend. Thanks!

Greg

 

[nwrogers]

Vacuuming may raise your nitrates temporally. Do you have a sump? Are you using crushed coral for your sand bed? Perhaps you can set up a remote deep sand bed if you have a sump. If you don't have a sump you can add a deep sand bed in your main display. Any way if you have a crushed coral sand bed you will never be able to get nitrates under control IMO, no matter how much vacuuming you do.

 

[greg938]

I do not have a sump. I am using live sand. I have about a 1" sand bed that has totally hardened on the surface into a hard coral- like surface. I am going to do another water change after cleaning more of the sand bed surface while trying to remove the hardened sand. I will probably add more sand (not live sand). Should I have a depper bed? Should I add the sandsifters and snails now to help clean the bottom? Thanks!

Greg