Having trouble with nitrates...

Well I did an 8 gallon water change in my 29 gallon biocube for 2 days (4 gallons on 1 day, 4 on the other). My nitrates were at 20, and now that I'm checking my water, they're still at 20???

 

If you are using tap water that most likely is your problem. Try feeding less, cleaning/replacing filter material every two weeks, thoroughly clean all filtration including the sump and skimmer, use a skimmer if you are not, make sure you have removed all standing detritus in the display including on your rock.

 

20 ppm isn't too bad unless you have corals that are harder to keep. SPS, clams etc.

How long has the system been set up?

What kind of filtration do you have?

 

I would also have to ask what substrate your using....sand, crushed coral...etc

 

Well, I'm just using live sand, have a wet dry filter and protein skimmer, and I don't feed that much, only about 2 times a day. And yes I do use tap water, so I'm assuming that's the problem.... been establsihed for 2-3 months

 

We have very little info to go on.

I will guess it comes down to two things.

Based on post count, I'd say this is a newish tank situation. IME, it can take 6 months before nitrates will finally 0 out and stay. Tank needs to be a little mature to do this part of the nitrogen cycle.

And it is probably being aggravated by the largeish bioload (IMO, just a hair overstocked - lose the damsel or chromis) which may be leading to a bit of overfeeding.

But I'm just guessing wildly Good luck

P

 

I feed about 2x a week

Not sure on the chromis as I've never had one, but the others don't even need to be fed daily... let alone twice....

 

Well IME tap water will always keep nitrate in your water. I could never get rid of mine until I started using RO/DI water. Over-stocking and over feeding will also increase waste in the water.

 

Are you serious???? Well I just got a sixline wrasse so I'm getting rid of both the damsel and chromis, so I'll just bring it down to 3 fish in the tank for now.

 

You will need to get a RO/DI unit to get the nitrates way down. Chromis need to be fed daily so you can cut back to once a day and no more than the fish can consume in 2 to 3 minutes. These changes will be a big help. You will need to clean the media in old water when you do water changes and you should do this every two weeks or sooner.