inherited tank help!

Hello...I recently moved into a house and inherited this tank:
approx 90 gal fish only tank
red sea prizm protein skimmer
2 hot magnum cannister fliters
power head
crushed coral substrate (with sand below this)
blue tang, yellow tang, some type of brown looking tang, small puffer, 2 clowifish
my water parameters are ok but nitrates are EXTREMELY high. I've done 2 partial water changes so far.
Im very new to this and need any and all recommendations on what equipment to keep, get rid of, etc? price isnt an option but because of the tank location I have to use hang on type equipment (nothing can go below).
Thanks in advance

 

First, do more and larger water changes until you get the nitrates down. Second, make sure all the canister filter media is cleaned or replaced. Dirty filters can be a major source of nitrate.

In the long run you may consider upgrading to a better performing protein skimmer and dropping the canisters completely. You didn't mention whether the tank had live rock. That makes a difference, too ... although I assume it does since you didn't mention a wet/dry filter.

 

Hi...no I dont have any live rock in there. If I drop the cannisters what should I put in their place?

 

live rock, lots and lots of live rock, you could dump the media in the canisters and fill them with live rock

 

one note on the live rock...if you decide to go that route, make sure that the previous owner did not put Copper in the water to control parasites on the fish. The copper is not compatible with the rock. Rock is not cheap, so you want to make sure you are set up for it before you drop the $$.

 

so if I put a bunch of live rock in there do I still need some type of filter? and if so what? a power filter?

 

You still need a very good protien skimmer and current such as powerheads, a sump would be good if you could or modify your canisters or you could just change the filter media and carbon in the canister every week I run a modified canister

 

I agree about a bigger / better skimmer helping the situation and some water changes. I like my Turboflotor Multi skimmer and it can hang on the back if you have 7" from the tank to the wall. Not always an option though. :-/

Some typical suggestions would be more difficult since you already have fish - usually people say to swap out the crushed coral with sand. If you keep the crushed coral, I would siphon some of the detris out with a gravel vac when you do water changes. This should also help with the nitrates I'd think.