Canister Filter Nitrate Factory

+1 on everything pgh said but adding...if your using carbon you should change it every week or two. You really should clean the whole canister once a week ( filter pads, carbon, inside off canister). I would throw the filter pads out after a couple months or go get a big bag of pillow stuffing from micheals for 4 bucks and just throw it out everytime you clean your filter. You could put the pillow stuffing on the bottom (if thats where the water comes in at) then carbon and thats it.

 

Good point haha. no more salads for me. would nassarius snails help. If not what would help clean up the waste?

 

Sorry if I repeated anything said you guys got in 4 posts before I got one..To busy watching american dad lol

 

Oh and why should I take out the bioballs?

 

Bioballs are known to trap denitris. Liverock rubble is also far superior and mroe appropriate for a SW tank. Canister filters and bioballs have their place in FW

 

I have some leftover dry rock. Should I put that in my tank. Also it it ok to do water changes to get the nitrates lower and then start my maintenaince? What should I do with all of the fish poop laying on the sand. Those are probly causing alot of nitrates too.

 

You should be alright on live rock, maybe save it for if you decide to add a sump unless you feel it will help your aquascape, too much rock isnt good either (in the dt that is). On your next wc you could vacum up the poo, you will get a little sand but not much. I wouldnt do a large wc but may be do 10% every other day 3 or 4 times then do your maintenance every week after.

 

+1 to many of the good suggestions here.Don't go crazy trying to get zero nitrates,just follow these suggestions and also cut back on feeding,the more food the more poo.Your fish will be fine if you cut back.I went through the same situation,cannister and all and the nitrates were very hard to reduce until I cut back on the food.I still use the cannister,have been for years and my nitrates run between 5-10 with monthly 20% water changes.You could add more cuc soon,nessarius snails are good scavengers and also fun to watch when they're out and about.They tend to stay buried if your substrsate contains enough food for them