please help nitrate issue

[clownin_around]

first off forgive me i am new, but i have done alot of research before i began. i have a jbj nano cube 12g.
10lb of lr
6lb fiji
4lb bali
1 true ocellaris
2 nassarius
water temp. 76 constant
my ph 8.0
no2 0
amonia 0
but my nitrates will not drop below 80
i do 10 percent water changes twice a week.everything in the tank seems fine my clown is eating my snails are moveing around vigorously and all the little shrimp from my bali Lr are still looking to be ok as well as the two sponges on the Lr( i got a great piece 4lb completely covered in coraline from a friend for 10 bucks).
i am concerned i cannot bring down the no3 levels.

what can i do and will the high nitrates adversly affect my tank they have been this way for a week.

oh my tank is 3 months old.

[Ninong]

Hi clownin_around,




You say that nitrate has been 80 ppm for a week. What was it before that? Did it suddently spike up to 80 ppm?

[clownin_around]

hello, they were hovering around 40 ppm and over a wweeks time rose to 80.

i treated the water w/seachem reef buffer and my ph is now 8.2
i did a 20% water change and no3 is still 80.
i am at a loss.
i also lost a snail today
could my tank just be overstocked?is there something big inside my new LR?

not to sure what the little creatures are i thaught were shrimp.i will try to get a picture.

[TimH07]

what is your source water? tap? ro/di?

[clownin_around]

my water if from the the reef hot spot its the best place within a 3 hour drive of my home. i do not mix my own.
i started the tank withn their water and use it for all my changes.
i test the water every time before i do the change and the no3 is never above 20 ppm.



can someone also let me know if they are reputable. i would like to know i am getting my fish from a good source.
Saltwater Fish | Buy Saltwater Fish | Exotic Salt Water Fish - Reef Hot Spot

[returnofsid]

20ppm from an LFS water source is unacceptable. You need to invest in an RO/DI unit and start making your own water. You should have undetectable nitrates, in your mixed water, prior to adding it to the tank.

What are you using to top off evaporated water? Same source or tap water?

You can also convert an Aquaclear HOB power filter into a mini-fuge, with Chaeto macro algae in it. This will consume your nitrates.

I would suggest that either your live rock is leaching nitrates into your system, or you're seriously overfeeding. Somehow, you're adding nitrates to the system.

[clownin_around]

I use my drinkiing water to top off. i have tested and the nitrates are 0.
I have seen pics of tanks that have a small plastic container w/ slits cut into it stuck to the tank filled with chaeto macro alge. can i do that i am sort of on a tight budget for a while and that seems like a cheaper way to go if it is safe.

is the api master saltwater test kit accurate?
I only feed my clown once a day now and i rinse the brine shrimp i also slowly feed it and make sure to stop when he lets the first piece pass him w/ no reaction.
I think there may be lots of dead stuff in my LR
i do use a new sterile turkey baster to blow water into the crevices of the LR every two days (is that to much?).i have not seen anything expelled from the stone in a week.

Thank you for your time.

[returnofsid]

API aren't that accurate. I would suggest getting Salifert or Elos. They are more expensive, but much more accurate.

Blowing the rocks to get all the detritus suspended in the water colum, especially while doing a water change is a great idea.

Yes, you could rig up any type of container, as long as it's "food safe," to hold chaeto. You wanna make sure that the chaeto is still getting plenty of flow and light.

[clownin_around]

thank you for the timely responses. i have one last question.
i am not very happy with the way my LR is set up i have been looking at it and have a much better set up in mind. when would be the best time to rearrange them?at a water change or any time as long as i go slow and careful.