Nitrate

[Coach Pete]

I can't seem to get my nitrate below 40. I've been doing water changes every 2 weeks for last month. My tank is about 6 months old. I've had a few fish but can't keep them alive. I have a shrimp, sand sifter star and anemone right now. Should I change water once a week?

 

[danbstrong]

I can't seem to get my nitrate below 40. I've been doing water changes every 2 weeks for last month. My tank is about 6 months old. I've had a few fish but can't keep them alive. I have a shrimp, sand sifter star and anemone right now. Should I change water once a week?

What are you using as filtration ?

 

[danbstrong]

What are you using as filtration ?

Are you using ro/di water?

 

[Beengirl]

Also, how big is the tank and how much water are you changing?

 

[Coach Pete]

What are you using as filtration ?

I have an overhang filter. That is probably the beginning of my problem. I didn't change out the filter for first 4 months.

 

[Coach Pete]

Also, how big is the tank and how much water are you changing?

20 gallons, changing 5

 

[twoodrough]

More water changes. Less fish. Less food. Might help.

I do 25-50% every week and my trates are less than 10. More fish = more ammonia. The tank should look a bit bare. Too much food = too much waste = more ammonia. I feed lightly once a day now. Good luck! I have had trouble keeping fish alive and am just starting to "get" it.

 

[danbstrong]

More water changes. Less fish. Less food. Might help.

I do 25-50% every week and my trates are less than 10. More fish = more ammonia. The tank should look a bit bare. Too much food = too much waste = more ammonia. I feed lightly once a day now. Good luck! I have had trouble keeping fish alive and am just starting to "get" it.

Hob filters are nitrate factories and need cleaned once a week thats probably your main issue my waterchanges are about 10% total volume per week also a refugium with macro help my nitrates never have a reading using salifert test kit

 

[Coach Pete]

More water changes. Less fish. Less food. Might help.

I do 25-50% every week and my trates are less than 10. More fish = more ammonia. The tank should look a bit bare. Too much food = too much waste = more ammonia. I feed lightly once a day now. Good luck! I have had trouble keeping fish alive and am just starting to "get" it.

Yeah, I used to have a 60 gallon and it seemed so much easier to maintain. I think I allowed it to cycle longer than I did this one before introducing a bunch of fish.

 

[danbstrong]

Yeah, I used to have a 60 gallon and it seemed so much easier to maintain. I think I allowed it to cycle longer than I did this one before introducing a bunch of fish.

If you cant do a fugi try biopellet reactor very effective at removing nitrate

 

[mr_X]

Clean the filter weekly like suggested and possibly increase flow inside the tank so that particulate matter doesn't build up in dead spots. Weekly water changes are also a good idea.