pulling my hair out over NITARTES

OK let me start by saying I'm a newbe and new to this forum. I bought a used 75gl system that was up and running . here's a list of what I have. Light 4 bulb t5 ( 2, 65k 1, coral wave and 1, blue wave) . Filter is a wet/dry with Bio balls. Skimmer is a marineland pro 100 . As for the tank it has about 3" sand bed and 65 to 70 lb of live rock. It is a fish olny no corals. Water chemistry I am limited on my test kit but this is what I have

Calcium - 520. Ph -8.2. alkalinity-17. nitrite - 0. ammonia - 0. and salenity - 1.026.
Nitrate - 40 and there lies the 1 of the problems .
I've had the tank for 3 months and this is the lowest I've gotten it. After reading your forum I've been doing weekly water changes. I use water from my lfs and test his water nitrate are 10 .last 2 time I've changed 50gl and with in 2 bays it back up Help!!! Part 2 my coraline is dieing off slowly. From what I've see on the posts phoshate have a lot to do with it . I don't have a phosphate test but the lfs said it was ok (he tested it with a dip stick test and he also said nitrate where ok ) I'll have a phospate test kit this weekend . thanks for taking the time to look at this and hpoe I can get some help.

 

Man, I went through the same thing!! Do u have a canister filter? If so, grab some Seachem matrix and definitely purigen. The main way you're gonna have to get them down though is water changes, which you seem to be doing. Also, look for any detritus- that's gonna cause nitrates

 

from what I've read on here, bio balls are notorious for nitrates and stuff(and i don't think you need them if you have live rock). i would replace some of your bio balls, but not all. I don't want to be wrong, cuz I'm still learning as well, so i hope someone else chimes in. But thats definitely what i would do.

 

Yeah, i was right. Bio balls are nitrate factories. heres another thread to help! http://www.3reef.com/forums/refugium/bio-balls-vs-refugium-103345.html

 

Thank for jumping on this I do have a canister filter I can pull of my fw tank and I bought a 30gl set up. In plans of using it as a refugium but I'm going to do some more r/d on it first.

 

+1 on the bio balls. I would assume you will only use them if the tank is all fake with no natural rock.

Do you have any current? And arrange your rock to where water can flow evenly around them. Do you have a good clean up crew? they help eat up detritus.

 

I agree, if you don't have enough flow, you might want to grab a powerhead

 

umm you're buying water starting at 10 nitrate! Why in the world is the water starting at 10 nitate? But a rodi unit! maybe prob solved!

 

ok after reading the thread! I'd maube start from scratch! ditch the sandbed! keep the LR! But ya def need to start your own water! Buy a cheap RODi unit! And then do massive water changes!

 

Here ya go, this is the same one i have. 129.99. arrived on time and ready to use. 75 GPD RO/DI 4 Stage Economy System - English