Nitrate Help!!

A lot of people like the Aqua C Remora for the size tank you have,there are also other good HOB types availible that would work well.If cost is a problem you might be able to buy used.There are often some good ones listed on ebay but do a little research first so you know what to look for as there's also some junk for sale on there.Buying something new for a cheap price may be a waste.As said above clicking on skimmers in the forums section of this site will show you a lot of threads on HOB skimmers,should help a lot.

 

I agree with most of what has been said. I would add a skimmer first. Then work on getting rid of the mechanical filtration. Just do it slowly. Start by taking the bio wheels off the wait a couple weeks then take one filter off, wait a bit......you get the point. The live rock should take care of what your skimmer gets out. Just make sure you test the water as you change/remove things. Make sure to get a decent liquid test kit.
I also do think you are a little overstocked (I am too).

Good luck

 

Any ideas besides taking out all the LR to get the damsels out there pretty fast!
I did a complete cleaning of the canister filter and changed out one whisper filter on each and vac. the sand bed along with a 30gallon water change, everything seems very alive nitrates are lower but still a trace, protein skimmer will be my next investment, just after I figure out to sump or not to sump?

 

well honestly, if you are awesome with a net and have 6 hands you should catch him in about 2 years.... lol sorry my attempt at a joke. I had a damsel in my tank and the only way I could catch him was with removal of LR.

As for the Sump or not to sump. I say get a sump or do a DIY sump. you will love it, for all it can do and give to your tank. look on craigslist or something, most of the time you can pick up a very cheap tank to build a sump from.

 

fish food in a net.

 

It has been running for months but you just bought it 2 weeks ago? Did you move it? Were all the corals and fish a package deal? It sounds like a cycle to me. If so you should move the livestock and let the tank cycle for a month or so to stablize on its own with out water changes. Then slowly reintroduce the bio load.
Good luck

 

Cycle? What's that?

 

I just successfully caught one of my Damsels last week. I left a net hanging in the tank for a few days to get them used to it, held off on feeding for a few days more than normal to get him really hungry, then stuck the food in the net and presto, 1 damsel to go.

 

That's awesome I'm gonna try that, I've been so close, I'm ready to try anything