Detritus

So I've got a bunch of detritus in my 40gal FOWLR and it's making my nitrates stay up. Not bad but around 30ppm. I have a protein skimmer 46lb of rock and a koralia powerhead. I only have 3 small fish so I know that's not the reason why the nitrates are high. I'm thinking about getting either a mechanical filter or a battery powered grav vac. Any suggestions or input?

 

Do you have a cuc

 

I have 2 snails but my chocolate chip star keeps eating them.

 

This is what I do. I take a turkey baster and blow as much detritus off the rocks, behind rocks and on the sand bed as I can. I then proceed to do a water change. After the water clears I clean all mechancial filtraton ( sponges, floss) and repeat again minus the water change. I do this every 2 weeks and my tank stays pretty clean of detritus.

Sometimes I use a power head if I am feeling spunky.;D

 

That is genius I don't know why I didn't think of that. So more than likely tho I should probably get a mechanical filter huh?

 

I just stick a piece of sponge somewhere that is getting the flow from the tank ( not blocking it ) let it collect the stuff and remove the sponge and clean and dry and do it again when I do the next water change.

Sponge meant for aquarium use only though

 

Man so u had saltwater tank in 83? That's older than me! I bet you really appreciate all the new advances in technology these days huh?

 

Your funny ;D

I grow at Lake Tahoe, only trout and beavers so when I saw my first SW tank I was like OMG, then when I saw my first reef system with the mh lighting and the skimmer it was love at first sight and it still continues today.

 

Aw I want a reef tank eventually but I'm still pretty new to all this. The reef tanks intimidate me a bit to tell you the truth.

 

Just keeping sticking to the forums, read as much as you can, get as many opinions as you can, and start simple.

Keeping soft corals can some times be easier than keeping fish, not so much detritus