Problem lowering nitrates

[Mikro]

I cant seem to lower my nitrates below 20, even right after a water change (~26%).

Could I be overstocked? This is whats in my 75gal tank:
One Blue Green Chromis
One Black Cap Basset
One Blue Eyed Anthias
One Fairy Painted Wrasse
One Percula Clown fish
One Cleaner Shrimp
One Yellow Tang
8 Astraea Snails
18 Blue Legged Hermit Crabs
One Bubble Anemone
Small frag with yellow polyps
One Lg. frag Star Polyps
One Torch Coral (group of three)
One frag Zenia and Anthelia (about five stalks)
One Emerald Crab
One Queen Conch
Six Jumbo Mexican Turbo Snail
Two Scarlet Reef Crabs
80 lb. Live Rock

My other parameters:
Temp 78 f
sg 1.024
ph 8.2
dkh 8.0
Calcium: 410 ppm
Iodide: >0.10 ppm
Nitrate: 20 ppm
Phosphate: .03-.10 ppm
Magnesium: 1155 ppm

 

[Secondgen]

What is the source of your water? I know in some areas tap water has a certain amount of nitrates already in it.

 

[Mikro]

My water is ro/di. And just to be sure I tested it for nitrates and the result was 0.0

 

[johnvu713]

i'd try lowering your phosphate level and add a fuge. Do a 50% WC over a 24hrs period. Dont forget to vacuum your sand and use PH to blow off any detritus on LR. Also use a sock to catch everything in water column

 

[nazzy_19]

Hmmm, if you think about the math, a ~26% water change isn't gonna do you anything much. 20ppm on nitrate and 1/4 water change. That only lowers the nitrate to ~15. And 15 and 20, your test kit isn't gonna be able to tell the difference unless you are using some real good test kits, but I wouldn't really do a 50% water change just to lower nitrate/phosphate from that level. That, IMO, would just stress the animals. Feed a little less than normal. Make sure when you defrost the food, you drain out the water (assuming you are defrosting the food in water) through a net. Clean your skimmer and filter more often. Skim a little wetter than normal. This would act as tiny water changes every now and than. Use a sock or fliter floss on your drain pipe. Just hook it where the water comes down to the sump (assuming you are having a sump). Could add a fuge like johnvu713 said, but make sure you harvest the macroalgae out or else it does you nothing good. Taking out the macro = taking out nitrate/phosphate etc. For phosphate, IMO, a phosban reactor works the best along with Rowa. It brought and keeps my phosphate undetectable in less than 3 days.

 

[Swanwillow]

or-live with it.

phosphate isn't a bad thing-if your growing macro algaes. neither are nitrates.

but, having nitrates at 20 (not alot higher... then ya start worrying) isn't THAT bad... the only thing in your tank I'd worry about is the anemone.
otherwise, NOPE, not overstocked-good job!!!!

and what is your ammonia and nitrites at?

 

[hasjef]

try a water change of 25% times three or four days. your stock is at the high end for the volume

 

[Puffer Queen]

This thread may be of interest to your nitrate problem:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=595109


Kelly

 

[dastratt]

What kind of filtration are you using?

 

[johnvu713]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6510570#post6510570 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nazzy_19
, but I wouldn't really do a 50% water change just to lower nitrate/phosphate from that level. That, IMO, would just stress the animals. .

Sorry but that's not entirely true. You can do a 100% if the new water parameters (PH, SG, alk,areration)are the same as the water your replacing. People on RC have been doing 100% WC in the past with no loss. BUt 50% a day is good enough in most cases.

 

[Mikro]

I have a wet/dry converted to a fuge (removed bio-balls) with some floss pad. And a Penguin filter running charcoal.

 

[Mikro]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6510580#post6510580 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Swanwillow
or-live with it.

phosphate isn't a bad thing-if your growing macro algaes. neither are nitrates.

but, having nitrates at 20 (not alot higher... then ya start worrying) isn't THAT bad... the only thing in your tank I'd worry about is the anemone.
otherwise, NOPE, not overstocked-good job!!!!

and what is your ammonia and nitrites at?

Ammonia 0.0
Nitrites 0.0