high nitrates - help

I should clarify that it wasn't disturbed a lot but I did move rock work around so the surface area was disturbed somewhat. I did have a post to one of my threads that suggested I be careful in not disturbing it too much because of gas being released.

 

Ahhhh good questions asked by all.

Yeah you have a nitrate factory going currently.

Sounds like the level has been climbing for awhile add to that use of tap water.

I would do a 5 gallon water change every other day until you turn over the volume.

Good job on not disturbing the sand bed.

I had no idea this tank had been running that long.

 

Mine were this high in my 20 gallon a while back and this is what I did and what worked for me, I changed teh water everyday doing 20% of teh toal volume making sure to watch the PH so it did not drop to much. The frozen food I was using was the problem with why it was os high. My fish and corals that were in teh tank did not show any real issues but they were soft croals. go slow with it take you time they have probably been up longer than you think and have not done any real damage. Also with th API liquid kit make sure to shake the bottles really really well as this always affects the results.

HTH

 

Hello i too run a fluval 305 canister filter. Im using carbon purigen and some rock. I've git a really good skimmer reef octopus hob that pulls out alot of junk..but im at maybe 5 ppm on the nitrates.

 

Why not just add reactor with NP Bio pearls, you could connect it to your pump return, I'm using a cheap kent reactor which is also a HOB if you have nowhere else to place it.
NP bio pearls keep pace and thats up or down with your nutrient levels and need no tweaking to work, just some more added when they start to disappear.
As far as I'm concerned they are the best thing since sliced bread, water changes are great but for your needs you'll be doing a lot of them before you see any result and the nutrient levels will soon be back once you stop.
I ran a tank for 25 years and was always battling nitates and phosphates, the new system I have with the pearl reactor gives fantastic water quality, I wish they was about 25 years ago, they would have saved me a lot of work and money.
Anyway good luck on what ever route you choose.