what will be the best and quickest way to drop NO3

my nitrate level is still high actually it was 10 but today its 20ppm and i got a do something but what? get rid of the bb(bio balls) i have RSM. i know i can also do WC but it doesn't really helps much, i have to find the main source. may be fish waste BTW why my CB taking a lot of shiii... all the time, its like green and big, is it normal? calcium 500 ph 8.3 phosphate 0-0.25 dkh 10

 

A couple back to back water changes best and safest way to reduce high nitrates in a hurry.

May have to increase frequency and amounts of them until you figure out what is source to keep them under control.

:-/

 

how many fish are in the tank??? what type. High nitrates are caused by importing too many nutrients and not exporting enough. Underskimming and over feeding are the two common causes. Remember, you have control of how much gunk you put into the water.

 

The best way is to find the source of the nitrates and fix it. Nitrates should always be zero unless theres a problem.

 

Somewhere in your system, you have fish waste, coral waste, and uneaten food rotting. Now you just have to find out where.

Do you ever periodically turkey baste and/or powerhead off your LR to get waste into the water column before a water change? Is there detritus clogging up your bioballs?

Many wet/dry's have a floss prefilter before the water hits the bioballs. How often do you clean that?

 

Most of us will never see our tanks have nitrates of zero, and thus, are forced to do continual water changes to keep them in check. However, a good fuge with some nitrate-loving algae can help bring it down to much more stable levels.

 

have you consider adding any clams to your display? they are beautiful, and a great addition they feed up on nitrates. except for the maxima, it is very difficult to keep

 

Evry one has battled with nitrates at one time or another.
Either by over feeding and thereby rotting or,
( to much feeding or tank is to over loaded with fish producing too much waste )

Each tank has it's ups and downs to it ( all seem to be diffrent in some way )

Trick is to figure the "source" of your nitrates and figure out a soulution to correct it.

If you suspect your over feeding , reduce feeding amounts and intricals

If you suspect to many fish per gallon (in your tank) then correct by removing some.

DSB's can "hold" and collect uneaten foods, If your dead set on the "upside" to DSB's then you must help it by turning it over and providing a good clean up crew for the waste build up that will occur.

Dead or dieing coral/s can do the same thing ( but the above causes useualy cause the demise of corals.)

You might try increasing the size of fuge you have.
( should you be dead set on keeping all the fish and continue to feed as you do )

I my self use clams in my fuge to help control nitrates , easy yet effective.
No light is needed for this "species" of clam i use, No maintanance is needed other than i turn the sand over every now and again to check the clams out.

My general outlook on keeping a reef , is the less ya mess with it' the better off you are.
I try to choose methods that help you more than provide more work for you to do.

But the those are general reasons i mentioned above ( what generaly happens to people )
I'm sure others can chime in and provide other causes. , perhaps with how systems are set up or the type of equipment that might be employed in "your system".

 

What type of clam are you referring to?

Z