There is no easy way to lower nitrates. There are 3 ways I know of that work well 1 water change 25% or more if levels are very high. 2 have an open tank with no lid because the cycle is ammonia turns to nitrite / nitrite turns into nitrate which then evaporates if you have a closed lid it will work it's way back into your tank. 3 you can get some nitrate stuff to put into your filter I have it in mine and it works well. As for the tang when it gets big it will over crowd your tank bigger fish = more waste. I think pwc means precise water change let me know how you get on and look into a sterilliser
This is the same problem I've had with live sand. Its the live sand guys sorry. That stuff sucks. I've been making 1 gallon reef tanks for a while now and came to realize its the sand. Once I figured this out I've been washing out the sand a bunch of times before putting it in and never had the week and a half of waiting for the water to clear. I think your yellow tang is fine just keep up on your water changes out. All tanks are too small for tangs if people want to really get in to it. People have fish to look at them and as long as your water is good than what's the big point. That's my belief
Well, i will bring the tang back when he grows as i do with most of my fish.
iDreamInSaltwater said:ive never seen water that cloudy except when i added my sand/water. the tank should be clear by now. like i said the skimmer in a tank that small isnt worth it, most small skimmers dont do anything anyway.
two weeks is a somewhat short cycle, but thats besides the point now. if you want to leave the tang go ahead, but like i saw someone say on here once 'ive never been able to tell when my fish are happy or not' cabezon i think it was.
as for the additions, i would stop them. they may be contributing to your problem, a tank that small needs only fresh SW, any corals can get what they need from the water.
good call on the liquid API kit.
the lfs said what could be from overfeeding? the cloudiness? that could contribute, how often do you feed and how much?
I was referring to emotions which are absent in fish, not physical health. Sorry if I was confusing.