Can a inoperable protein skimmer cause high nitrates?

[Jimmye4fish]

Just got my API test kit in and everything looks fine except the nitrates were at 40ppm. When I went to add RO to the sump I noticed one of my little girls must have been messing with it and the skimmer was pulled out of the sump. I put it back how it's supposed to go 2 days ago and there is no buildup inside the cup like usual. It has tons of bubbles but it doesn't seem to be producing like usual. I need to get the nitrates down. I just did a PWC on Sunday (2days ago). Any thoughts?

 

[bskerrichard27]

That fast two days is say no , if it was a week or two yea because the skimmer would not be pulling waste and instead breaking down in yur tank causes nitrates....how my h do u feed and how often

 

[Jimmye4fish]

I've got 2 small clowns, small tang and an engineer goby. I feed every night. Ive been feeding one frozen brine cube (small cubes that push out of the foil packet) every night. Is that too much, it's a 75 gallon tank if you needed to know the size.

 

[bskerrichard27]

Do u rinse the cubes off befor you feed if not do you notice the cloud the cube causes during feeding ...that's a lot of stuff u don't realy want in yur tank rinse thefood and feed every other day imo that's were yur nitrates are conning from

 

[Jimmye4fish]

I just thaw it out then feed it with a spoon. The majority of the liquid stays in the bowl and doesn't go in the take. I will be doing. PWC tonight.