ditching the canister, need advice

[2XAl]

hi all, i need some help as I'm venturing into new territory. I have had an ongoing nitrate battle even with regular water changes and filter cleanings (fluval 305). i have a corner tank so good flow has always been a challenge too. i have done a lot of reading on the site about ditching the filter altogether and just sticking with water changes. i have plenty of light and my fish and corals are healthy, i just know theyre not doing as well as they could. approx once a month i get some cyano on the sand bed that i skim to get rid of. This morning i was doing the filter cleaning, then it wouldnt seal so it kept leaking, long story short it ends with me pitching the filter out the window, literally. i want to try running no filter to see if that was the cause of my nitrates, but I dont know how much live rock i have since the whole system was set up prior to me acquiring it. i did a 30% water change this morning and right now my nitrates are at 30. Any advice on what my next step should be, before i go down the wrong path? right now im running 3 powerheads and a HOB skimmer.

Thanks in advance.

 

[chichimom79]

Try doing water changes every two-three days until you are reading zero and see how fast it is actually rising. Pitching the canister may have solved your problem. Sorry, but I had to laugh at you throwing it out the window. :rofl: Are you running your protein skimmer only occasionally or all the time? You may need to replace one or two of your powerheads for stronger ones.

 

[2XAl]

Hey Angie thanks for the reply. I assure you my wife would have been laughing if it weren't for the frustration on my face. I am running the skimmer 24/7, I figured it wouldn't hurt anything. That's seems like a good idea to see how fast the nitrates start rising, that should give me a good idea as to the filtration capacity of the LR I do have.

 

[yote]

Our easiest tanks at the LFS are the ones that are using good skimmers and have plenty of flow. No mechanical filtration what so ever.
If you can post a picture of your tank,we'll be able to tell you weather or not you have enough rock.

 

[2XAl]

my laptop isnt cooperating, heres an attempt from my tablet, sorry if the pic is huge...

http://s1152.photobucket.com/albums/p489/2xal/?action=view¤t=photo.jpg

 

[Bifferwine]

Here you go: :)

 

[2XAl]

Thanks Biff!