Steady Nitrates at 75

[Andrew Pastore]

I have had a FOWLR tank for some about a year and a half, and I have been interested in putting some soft corals in for accent, and not really getting a full reef. My problem is that I cannot seem to get my nitrates to come down. They have been at 75 for some time. I have began using RO water, and feeding carefully. Anyone have suggestions?

45 Gallon with a penguin HOB filter
30# of live rock
250 GPH powerhead

1- Clown Tang
1- Maroon Clown
1- 3 stripe damsel
1- Niger Trigger

Ammonia-0 Nitrite-0
Nitrate- 75 Phosphate-.25
KH-11 PH-8.4
Ca- 400

 

[Anonymous]

3 questions

How long have you been using RO water?

How much do you feed?

Where is the skimmer?

 

[pwj1286]

I heard that Hang-On's make Nitrates like its nothing.
_________________
Ferrari 308 GTS

 

[Andrew Pastore]

I feed 1 block of frozen food per day (Ocean Nutrition) skipping every third day because I am a firefighter, and not at home for 24 hours. I do not have a skimmer. Should I look to get one? I have been using RO water for approx. a month now. The only thing that has been steadly dropping is phosphates.

Thanks

 

[Anonymous]

The only way to get nitrates down is to take out more than you put in.

Water changes with your new RO water should bring them down, the larger the water changer the better. A Skimmer will also take out the stuff that causes nitrates.

Also, if the fish eat all the food in a few minutes then you aren't overfeeding. Turning off all the pumps used for circulation will make sure none of it gets chopped up and wasted. You want as much going to the fish as possible.

Hope that helps....