Hi all, I have a 65 DT with a 20 high DIY sump. Filtration includes 80+ live rock, sump with (2) 4” filter socks, 1 large filter sponge, xport bio block, cheato, red macroalgea and a UV light. In addition I have a reaction chamber loaded with sea hem bio media and a reef octo HOB 90 skimmer.
I cannot seem to get nitrates under 30 consistently. Is this even bad?? My nitrates ping between 25-42 avg is about 35 ppm over the last several months.
I hear different opinions regarding these values but everyone at the LFS looks at me as if it’s the worst thing ever if my nitrates aren’t below 15-20. Should I be doing more to keep em down or if everything isn’t stressing should I just stay on my current schedule?
I change the filter socks and rinse large sponge once per week and I do water changes about every 2 weeks
yesterdays water test was
mag 1600
Cal 420
Dkh 8.3
Ph 8.0
Temp 78
Amonia.0
Trite 0
Phosphate.03
Salinity 1.025
Trate 37
livestock: ( this I’m sure is a contributing factor, but the only thing that looks bad in my tank is my bubble coral but I believe that’s just from me setting my lights to acclimate mode for a new hammer that got before lights were dimmer the bubble looked great)
vlamingi tang
Foxface
Orchid dottybsck
Diamond goby
Lyretail anthais
2 black clowns
5 chromis
Pencil wrasse
2 head duncan
6 head trumpet
Medium torch
Sm Rbta
3 patches GSP
Ricordea mushroom small
Bubble coral
Three different zoa colony’s 1 large 2 small
Sm
10 or so hermite
7-10 snails
I cannot seem to get nitrates under 30 consistently. Is this even bad?? My nitrates ping between 25-42 avg is about 35 ppm over the last several months.
I hear different opinions regarding these values but everyone at the LFS looks at me as if it’s the worst thing ever if my nitrates aren’t below 15-20. Should I be doing more to keep em down or if everything isn’t stressing should I just stay on my current schedule?
I change the filter socks and rinse large sponge once per week and I do water changes about every 2 weeks
yesterdays water test was
mag 1600
Cal 420
Dkh 8.3
Ph 8.0
Temp 78
Amonia.0
Trite 0
Phosphate.03
Salinity 1.025
Trate 37
livestock: ( this I’m sure is a contributing factor, but the only thing that looks bad in my tank is my bubble coral but I believe that’s just from me setting my lights to acclimate mode for a new hammer that got before lights were dimmer the bubble looked great)
vlamingi tang
Foxface
Orchid dottybsck
Diamond goby
Lyretail anthais
2 black clowns
5 chromis
Pencil wrasse
2 head duncan
6 head trumpet
Medium torch
Sm Rbta
3 patches GSP
Ricordea mushroom small
Bubble coral
Three different zoa colony’s 1 large 2 small
Sm
10 or so hermite
7-10 snails