lowering 'trates?

[cmar]

hey all....i was just wondering how to get my nitrates down? 55 gal, 30 lbs. live rock, 1-1/2 " sand, skimmer, hob filter w/ sponge & carbon, 2 damsels, 1 tang, 1 clown, 1 coral banded shrimp, 2 hermits, half doz. snails:regular water changes, 15 to 20 %. nitrates stay around 20. any ideas? do i have to go w/ a refugium?
thanks!

 

[archer772]

What kind of skimmer and is it pulling good skim, how large are the fish especially tang and what is you feeding schedule like and a fuge wont hurt you at all also get the sponge out of the HOB and if you want to keep running it just put carbon in it and I would rinse it off about twice a week.

 

[archer772]

Forgot this but 4-6 inch sand bed would help out and adding about 20-30lbs more LR would also help

 

[cmar]

unfortunately, the skimmer is a sea cloan, but it does pull about 1/2" or so a day, watery pea soup consistancy. figured it was better than none. sizes? blue damsel- 2", striped damsel- 1-1/2", clown- 1-1/4", tang-3". i plan on adding more rock as i go, and have been. i thought the sponge was a good thing?

 

[archer772]

Sponges tend to trap food and waist and in turn can raise nitrates, also try to get the pump for the skimmer as close to the water surface as you can that will help. That tang sounds like it is getting a little big for a 55 and tangs do 2 things eat and **** which means alot of waist. I would try to add a fuge and put the skimmer on it as that will help. When you do a WC 10% will only lower the trates by 10% so if you want to lower them more try about a 30%-40% WC

 

[mrtuskfish]

20ppm nitrates is not really that high. This level may effect inverts in the long run,but fish should be fine. With your stock, I sure wouldn't lose any sleep over that nitrate reading. Are you using RO or tap water. If tap, have you tested it for nitrates? check #4 on this like http://saltaquarium.about.com/library/blank/bl_myths.htm

 

[wferr337]

I thought I had the same problem! No matter what I could not get ATES below 10ppm-LFS guy told me to get a new test. LSS-my test was bad ATES have been at 0 all this time? Just a thought maybe worth checking. My test was an API.

 

[cmar]

i know that 20 isn't too bad, but i'd like to get them lower before i move on. i have checked my conditioned tap water, and it is zero. which also makes me think that my test kit is o.k., but i will try a new one.
thanks everyone!

 

[salty420]

i had the same concerns as you in my 37g. i
#1 - got an RO unit
#2 - got some macro algae out of my 29
#3 - did a large (~50%) water change.

i'd say the algae worked the best for me. it is a pain 'cause it grows rampant but it seems to help a lot.

 

[cmar]

oh, i forgot, i have two baseball size clumps of cheato. what other kinds should i use?