high nitrates

Hi everyone I am new here and had a question on my nitrates.
I was wondering what is my best way to go and lower my nitrates? Nitrates are around the 80+ range. I think its the way I have my rocks laid out in my reef. I just don't think I get enough flow in and around my rocks.



plan 1 was to take everything out and stir up the sand real good and then redo my aqua-scape.



Plan 2 just do a large water change and try and blow off anything on the rocks



Plan 3 take out a few gal of water and add it back to the tank a few times.



I don't want to do any vodka method and the chemicals I have don't seem the help much. I tried the instant ocean nitrate reducer, I added prime to the tank and also used Kent nitrate sponge along with a few water changes.



My tank is a 37gal reef with mushrooms, star polyps, some lps and 1 sps.



If anyone has a better way please let me know!!!

 

What test kit are you using?

Do you run a skimmer?

How long has the tank been running?

What is your water source?

 

+1 ^^ once we get some information then we can try to help. I can tell you, you do not want to do plan 1 for sure

 

We need info on the tank to help buddy. Nitrates that high with corals is an emergency IMO. Also a run down of all other params too.

 

API test strips, No skimmer 37 gal reef with HOB filters. Tank has been up for 2 1/2 years RODI water. as far as other test
pH 8.3
Nitrite 0
Amn 5
Phos .25
Nitrate 80
Calc 420
Salt 1.024

 

FWIW I once had an issue not reading my salifert test kit correctly: when using a high precision scale I failed to divide by 100 and thought my nitrates were at 75... If the test results are accurate, there must be a source of these high nitrates and ammonia/phosphate presence. Maybe a low/no flow zone in the tank or rocks...
Have you tried macro algae or carbon filters to deal with this? I really like Phosguard for keeping phosphate down and chaeto algae for dealing with nitrates.

 

I use phosban and that's about it. I tried the kent nitrate sponge no luck. and phosguard I think killed a lot of my stuff. I read it has some sort of aluminum or something that a lot of corals don't like.

 

These values are concerning

Amn 5
Phos .25


The Ammonia value must be wrong.

Have you changed the out the membranes on the RO filter?
Are you over feeding?

I would start with water changes, a couple 2-3 gallon water changes over the next couple days.

What is your stocking like?

 

Sorry ammonia test says it test for total ammonia (NH3-N) ppm (mg/L) it came out to 0.25. I have not checked my phos since adding phosban. the test kit is API strips
NO3 ppm (mg/L) 80
NO2 ppm 0
pH 8.0
total alkalinity/buffering (kh)ppm 300

 

I have 2 clowns and 1 damsel few crabs and snails I feed 2-3 times a week over feeding is not it I know for sure the food is gone in a few sec.