Nitrate

I have a 30 gallon hex tank with about 20lb LR. It's been up and running since january. I added fish too soon, but they have been in there for about 3 months now. All my levels are perfect, except nitrate!!!! Its about 40ppm. I can't get it down. I did a 5 gallon water change 2 weeks ago hoping that would help, but it did not. I didn't want to do too many water changes to stunt the cyle, if it's still cycling....is it still cycling??? We started the tank in Januray. What can I do to get rid of these high nitrates? Unfortunately, I don't have a QT to take the fish out.

 

I would try 6 or 7 gallon change once a week, maybe twice the first week...It is a careful balance of water changes that benefit a tank and those that disrupt the bacterial process. Also, you must remember the smaller the tank the more difficult it is to keep a tank in line, but it is certainly doable...How many fish are in this tank?

 

I have a coral banded shrimp, an orange spotted sleeper goby, a coral beauty angel and a six line wrasse. I had some snails and an emarld crab, which I believe the nitrates killed. I also had 2 clowns that just died on me, but I'm not sure if it was from the nitrates, but because they are so high, it's definately a possibility.

 

what kind of filtration setup are you running? Also 20lbs LR is a little light, usually want to have atleast 1lbs per gallon but can be offset by a heavy sandbed if you have 0 ammonia & nitrite your probably done with your initial cycle

 

I have a 50 gallon aqua clear filter, and a 100 gallon seaclone protien skimmer. I do have a thick sandbed, as the LFS recommended that.

 

are you changing the carbon pads in your filter regularly? those filter pads can retain some bad stuff sometimes

 

If your filter has any sort of bio-balls or ceramics remove them. The only thing you should run in your filter is carbon and floss (alternatively speaking). One month carbon, next month floss.

These filters can become nitrate factories.

Did you confirm that your cycle finished? Ammonia -0-, nitrite -0-, nitrates -0- (or very close to).

Did your nitrates climb to 40 or have they been there all along?

 

I changed out the bio-filter rocks, but not the carbon insert. i will try that.

 

I never confirmed, the nitrates have been high the entire time.

 

If the nitrates never came down then I would guess you're still cycling.