Nitrate

[juan jose]

I´ve been having 25-50 nitrate reading on my salifert test kit. I would like to know if you think I have overstocked my tank:

1 Foxface
1 Surgeon Clown Tang
1 Dwarf Lionfish
1 Blenny
1 Goby
1 Tomato
1 Stripped damsel
2 Yellow tip damsel
1 Blue damsel
1 Six line Wrasse

It´s a 95 gallon tank with a small sump. I believe I have enough flow 2 seio 1500, 2 rio 1000, 2 rio 600. I was using as mechanical filter a sponge which I changed every week but I have decided to try without it. I also believe I have enough liverock. I´m upgrading the sump and including a refugium for macroalgae this next week. I´ve been using RO water which I tested and didn´t report a nitrate reading. Water changes are done weekly 10%. I can´t think of anything else to do, any suggestions.

[Yinger]

the clown tang and the foxface are probably enough to give you that high of nitrates... What kind of skimmer do you have and how often do you feed? Also, your not using bio balls are you?

[garyw68]

the macroalgae should do the trick. I had high nitrates as well about a month ago. After adding macroalgae to my refugium, it came down to zero.

[Stidd]

The Fuge with Macro Algae will definately help... A Good Skimmer will also do the trick however...

[juan jose]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7768200#post7768200 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Yinger
the clown tang and the foxface are probably enough to give you that high of nitrates... What kind of skimmer do you have and how often do you feed? Also, your not using bio balls are you?

I have a redsea skimmer which I know It´s not the best choice but when I bought the tank it included it. I´m trying to upgrade everything on the tank but I´m on a budget. I was thinking on an asm skimmer. I feed little portions twice a day, spectrum pellets and flakes. No bioballs. Should I keep using a sponge as mechanical filter?

[juan jose]

I have purigen, has anybody given a shot at this to reduce nitrates. One person told me it´s not suggested on a reef tank.