I've been running the Rena xP4 as my second filter for a couple months now. I'm rinsing the media from one filter at the weekly change, alternating so each filter is rinsed every other week (every once in a while I don't have time so I'll get it the next time, pushing it to three weeks- but I'm trying hard not to let that happen).
Each time I replace the Cichlid Lake Salt I've removed with the water and add Cichlid Trace..and of course my Prime.
Parameters:
Am:0
N02: 0
pH: 8.0
......N03: 80.....
UGH!!!!!!!!!
To get my nitrates to twenty I have to take out 75% of my water every week. I don't want to do that in one sitting so sometimes I do a 50% change followed by a second 25-30% change the next day. I don't care about the cost of the chemicals and water but I hate the stress and pH fluctuations that go along with it, so I don't do it every week.
Even then, the nitrates are back at 80 within the week.
The only way I've successfully kept them down has been using API's NitraZorb. It's temporary and I hate using a chemical to keep my tank in check. The fact that it would run me $40 a month doesn't help. I worry about rebound as it wears off so I quit using it.
I am beginning to feel like I shouldn't have this tank since I can't give my fish a healthy environment. No other tanks in my house do this and I use the same substrate and rocks and media in them.
To make things worse, my tank LOOKS dirtier now. The water is always clear but I often look over and see poop floating around. The flow coming from the filters is strong...I don't think it's decreased but I can't exactly measure. I've cleaned the tubes from both filters and nothing changed. I can clean the tank Sunday night, thoroughly sifting through and vacuuming every inch of sand, and early Monday morning I can see poop gathered between the rocks and lying on the sand.
A few of my fish, particularly my Star Sapphires, have started to look like crap. Their fins are starting to get ragged and they don't have good color.
What should I do??? I feel like an awful fish mom!!!!