nitrates

[Droskie20]

any reasons y my nitrates would go up? I've been doing weekly water changes but I tested my water and my nitrates went from 0 to 20 did a 5 gallon water change yday and another 5 gallons today and still at 20-40 what gives?

 

[Nanna]

Maybe your tank is still cycling. Try a few larger water changes and see if that helps. Hopefully someone else will chime in with more suggestions.

 

[Spaz059]

Any other information you could give on the tank (filter, tap water, sand bed depth, stock list etc...) there are so many things that could affect nitrates.

 

[Droskie20]

29 gallon tank used filtered tap water 2 months ago to start my tank, my tank cycled in 4 weeks I have a 2-3 inch live sand bed and about 35-40 pounds of live rock, I also have a h.o.b quietflow 30 filter, damsel fish to brake in my tank (not to cycle) I have a feather duster a few snails a few hermits and a couple frags

 

[Spaz059]

Filtered tap water?? Not RO?? The tank is pretty young yet, 20-40 is not too high but I would say continue with your weekly water changes things should begin to drop. Someone else may have some other ideas, there are quite a few posts about this in the forum, you may be able to gather some more information from.

 

[yote]

10 to 1 that your nitrate problem is coming from that Quietflow.
About the only way you can keep those filters from causing a nitrate problem is to completely change the cartridge every week.The media in those cartridges trap and hold waste which breaks down inside the water column.That's where a good HOB skimmer really shines.
A good HOB skimmer and plenty of flow and good quality live rock are all it takes to filter a reef tank.

 

[Droskie20]

10 to 1 that your nitrate problem is coming from that Quietflow.
About the only way you can keep those filters from causing a nitrate problem is to completely change the cartridge every week.The media in those cartridges trap and hold waste which breaks down inside the water column.That's where a good HOB skimmer really shines.
A good HOB skimmer and plenty of flow and good quality live rock are all it takes to filter a reef tank.

that makes perfect sence! have any tips on where i should look for one? or any specific type i should look for?

 

[yote]

that makes perfect sence! have any tips on where i should look for one? or any specific type i should look for?

Look on craigslist,ebay,any of the online reef suppliers,local fish store.
Any good HOB skimmer will work.Just make sure you get a good one.If the budget is fairly tight,look at the Corallife super skimmers.If you can afford to spend a little more,look toward the reef octopus HOB's.