nitrates getting me down

[paul87]

I just can't seem to get ahold of my nitrates in my 35 gallon tank. All other parameters are perfect. I do a 5-10 gallon water change weekly and I am running an aquac remora Skimmer, half gallon refugium with chaeto algae, and a penguin 200 with carbon inserts. I have 2 fish (mccoskers flasher wrasse & ocellaris clown), a few of different types of snails (nerite, trochus, matgarite, & nassaris) and 2 shrimp (peppermint & cleaner). I wouldn't think the bioload would be too much on my tank. I have plenty of live rock and about 3 inch bed of sand. I also have corals including many zoas, mushrooms, polyps, and a Duncan. I just did a WC and my nitrates are at 18 ppm! Other params are calcium- 410ppm. KH- 161.1ppm. Phosphate- 0.10ppm (which is another thing I don't like). Salinity- 1.245. Temp- 79°f. Any ideas why my nirtrates wont go down and stay down and also the phosphates?

 

[paul87]

Oh and I also feed my fish twice a day. One or the other of the following: Hikari marine S. Or frozen prawn roe I think it'd called ova Mar or something like that. Its tiny little eggs. Frozen squid or krill.

 

[crister13]

Your feeding too much. Feed every other day.

 

[paul87]

Really?? Every other day huh? It says on liveaquaria to feed him 2-3 times daily.

 

[crister13]

Most people feed every other day and some have been over 10 years:

 

[Convict2161]

I feed every other day. Your definitely over feeding IMO.

Also did I read correct, only 2 fish? Put it this way I have.

2 clowns
2 cardinals
1 orange spotted goby
1 six line
1 blue dot

And they get fed every other day. The ONLY exception I make is every Wednesday they all get live baby brine that my LFS gets in fresh that day.

I feed a variety of cubed, reef nutrition and rods food. I soak the food in Selcon and even though highly debatable I use garlic on occasion.

 

[paul87]

Yea I just looked it up. It say the best way to mimic nature is a small portion or two everyday. But some people feed once every 2-3 days. I also read its different for herbivores and carnivores too. Some carnivores like eels and such can go with weekly feedings while herbivores like a tang need a nibble few times daily. Both of mind are carnivores though do I will definitely try out the every other day feeding it whatever. They did eat everytime I fed them though. Especially the wrasse. Thanks.

 

[melosu58]

I`ve been feeding every other day for 14+ years now. Also I would not be overly concerned at 18 ppm. The goal is 0 but dont stress out at 18ppm. You are at a decent spot now. Just try to tweak it a little at a time and you`ll be at 0 before you know it. Feeding every other day will be a good start.

 

[paul87]

OK. Thanks. It should help a bit kinda common sense as far as that goes. I just want my fish and tank to be happy. I didn't really know how high it could allow with the corals and all. At what ppm should I really start to worry? My goal is 0.

 

[paul87]

U wish my LFS sold live brine shrimp. They could live in the tank causing no harm huh? Well up until they get eaten

 

[paul87]

*I wish

 

[Convict2161]

U wish my LFS sold live brine shrimp. They could live in the tank causing no harm huh? Well up until they get eaten

I guess. He gets them Wednesday and there gone by Friday. There in a tank with a air stone in it. There definitely live though. I turn my pumps off and there all swimming around.