I am struggling with very high nitrate levels (in the 160+ range) in my tank. I know there are plenty of threads on this board that address this topic. I've managed to read a handful of them only, so I apologize in advance if this is redundant to a lot of folks.
I have a 90 gallon reef with about 90+ lbs of live rock, and an inch or so of sand. I am running a wet/dry underneath with an undersized Aqua Clear skimmer. I've had the tank running since 2002, had to tear it down and set it back up when I moved in 2005. It's been operational in my new home since.
The threads I did read regarding high nitrates had a common theme - remove the bio balls. I removed about a third of the bio balls every few days until they were gone, and that was on the 18th of January. I've been testing the water every other day, and the nitrate levels are not dropping (still around 160). The fish load in my tank is low (large Regal Tang, medium sized Purple Tang, medium Sailfin Tang, Pearly Jawfish, three Pajama Cardinals, and a Maroon Clown). I also have a liter of Seachem De-Nitrate in the sump, along with two bags of Chemi-Pure. I have a very small amount of LR in the sump. I also did a 30 gallon water change the first week in January.
I also cleaned all of the nasty waste which had collected on the bottom of my sump when I did the above mentioned water change.
As a result of the high nitrates, my xenia are toast, the zoos are dying off at a rapid pace, and my green star polyps colony is shrinking. However, my frogspawn, hammer, candy and meat coral are all looking better than ever!
My questions: what do you recommend I place in the section of the sump where the bio-balls were? Do I fill it with Nitrate Sponge? More live rock even thought I have over 90 lbs in the tank? I do plan on upgrading my skimmer to a ASM G2 in the next few weeks. I'd like a fancier skimmer, but can't afford the additional costs as I have a five month old daughter going through diapers like a machine!
Thank you in advance for your time!
I have a 90 gallon reef with about 90+ lbs of live rock, and an inch or so of sand. I am running a wet/dry underneath with an undersized Aqua Clear skimmer. I've had the tank running since 2002, had to tear it down and set it back up when I moved in 2005. It's been operational in my new home since.
The threads I did read regarding high nitrates had a common theme - remove the bio balls. I removed about a third of the bio balls every few days until they were gone, and that was on the 18th of January. I've been testing the water every other day, and the nitrate levels are not dropping (still around 160). The fish load in my tank is low (large Regal Tang, medium sized Purple Tang, medium Sailfin Tang, Pearly Jawfish, three Pajama Cardinals, and a Maroon Clown). I also have a liter of Seachem De-Nitrate in the sump, along with two bags of Chemi-Pure. I have a very small amount of LR in the sump. I also did a 30 gallon water change the first week in January.
I also cleaned all of the nasty waste which had collected on the bottom of my sump when I did the above mentioned water change.
As a result of the high nitrates, my xenia are toast, the zoos are dying off at a rapid pace, and my green star polyps colony is shrinking. However, my frogspawn, hammer, candy and meat coral are all looking better than ever!
My questions: what do you recommend I place in the section of the sump where the bio-balls were? Do I fill it with Nitrate Sponge? More live rock even thought I have over 90 lbs in the tank? I do plan on upgrading my skimmer to a ASM G2 in the next few weeks. I'd like a fancier skimmer, but can't afford the additional costs as I have a five month old daughter going through diapers like a machine!
Thank you in advance for your time!
