Nitrate questions

[EDJFA]

Since I can't have anyone in my office right now, it's a great time to try to get caught up on some tank maintenance.

My battle right now is with water quality. I've got a 210g display with another roughly 40g in my sump, for a total of about 250g. I've done three 40g water changes in the last week and my nitrate levels are still off the charts. I'm using API tests and they go from yellow to orange to red. The brightest red shows 160ppm. That's where I'm still at after these three water changes. I didn't expect to see it drop down to the 10ppm levels from where I started at 160ppm+, but I did expect to see some change in that number.

Do I just keep doing these water changes at trust that they will eventually drop back to where I want them? Or is there some other option that I can try in addition to these changes? Is it advisable to do a large, like 100g change all at once?

I'm determined to make good use of this time with my tank. I'd like to be proud of it again.

[mkart]

High nitrates don’t go down quick in my experience. In the past I vacuumed my sand bed really well and vacuumed my rocks well with a 5/8 hose when doing water changes. After that I blew all the crevices and rock out with a power head to get remaining detritus out and into the sump socks. I would change your sump socks daily if you can. Good luck. If you remove what breaking down the number will drop.


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[Pife]

I would suggest getting more accurate test kits if you don't shake the crap out of the nitrate test kit for API it doesn't function correctly in my opinion. You also need phosphate to bring down your nitrate naturally, in my systems I've always used microbacter7 as long as you have a skimmer 2 help combat nitrates naturally and get them in balance with your other nutrients.

[clevername]

I would suggest getting more accurate test kits if you don't shake the crap out of the nitrate test kit for API it doesn't function correctly in my opinion. You also need phosphate to bring down your nitrate naturally, in my systems I've always used microbacter7 as long as you have a skimmer 2 help combat nitrates naturally and get them in balance with your other nutrients.

solid advice