someone in carolina forrest for nitrate check

[seanh287]

i have no clue why my nitrates have not dropped. my nitrates are 0. after like 50 gallons of water change this weekend (15 saturday,25 sunday) its stayed at 40....

maybe my test strips are bad? could i bring water to someone i dont want to drive out of carolina forrest for this...

 

[chad508]

i never trust the test strips for water checks. they are okay for quick test but never give a true reading. your nitrates might have been alot higher even over a hundred with the problems you have been having. i would get some salifert test kits the next time you get any.

 

[seanh287]

i cant figure out why my fish are just dying off though....maybe theyre higher than 40? thats kinda why i would love someone to check in carolina forrest.

 

[chad508]

id bet your nitrates are well over 100. keep doing water changes even if you cant test the water against another test kit.

 

[Rpierce]

IMO, you really need to get that protein skimmer fixed or buy a new one. That protein skimmer will help take out all the sh!t that is causing these nitrates and nitrites (plus more) while adding oxygen to your tank.

If you have to purchase one- look at an ASM. Most of us in this area have one. I wont ever own another brand of skimmer.

Just my opinion.

Rick

 

[seanh287]

thanks rick i will keep that in mind everyone told me i needed a new protein skimmer. i think i looked up asm and the cheapest one was 340 bucks. i know a protein skimmer is sometime considered the heart of a tank, but we will see.

im still trying to make my mind up about getting a bigger tank or a smaller one.

i like the tangs, but i like the look of the small cube tanks. i have so much rock to go bigger than 90, but i might just store the rock away until im ready for the big tank

would it be mean to have a mini blue hippo and a very small yellow tang in my aquarium? if i got a 40 cube or a little bigger of a cube. i know they say gallons, like minimum 75 for certain tangs, but i thought it was swim area.