Need help with high nitrates

[Splutter]

Hi all, I'm having this problem with nitrates being at about 50ppm. Even doing a 30% water change doesn't seem to change it at all. I tried using nitratlock and gowing algae too, but it just doesn't go down.

I've read about using bioballs causing high nitrates, does the same thing happen if I have too much live rock? I do have quite a fair bit considering my tank size. I'll appreciate any help I can get, thanks all in advance!

[Achilles Tang]

You have to evaluate logically... what causes nitrates? Overstocking? Still cycling bio-filtration? OVerfeeding? Inadequate skimming?

So you know the source... reduce it.

Stop-gap measures like using a denitrating agent is just that.... stop-gap. Get the balance right and it'll become less worrying and time-consuming.

Maybe your tank needs time to balance itself. We have no clue if your tank is one day or one week old.

Try to give more detailed info, yeah? Help us to help you... right now we can't even guess what tank size, equipment you have, dude!

[Splutter]

Thanks AT, my tank is pretty small, 2x1x1.5 with the same dimensions for sump tank. I think I have quite alot of rocks though, something like 25kg. I have 7 small fishes in it and I don't feed much. Tank is about 3mths old. Previously my nitrates were doing fine at mostly 3-5ppm, but nowadays it stays at 50ppm. What's puzzling is that it stays at the same even if I measure it right after water change.

[Achilles Tang]

there should be a drop esp after a water change... unless you are using a cheap/faulty/expired nitrate test kit or you use poor quality salt mix.

[reeftask]

well, with 7 small fishes in such a small tank will makes you having nightmares. Your tank is too young and too small to house 7 fishes. Sooner or later you will have to change water every few days.

It also depends on what type of fishes you have. If they are the hardy types, just let the nitrate climb to 120 ppm in a fish only tank. They wont die. It happened to me 7 years ago. They will die in a few days/a week if you use cheap and lousy salt.

[XPeriment 626]

suggest you test tap water and freshly mixed salt to see the results. if the first is very high nitrates, you probably have a faulty test kit. if only the second, you have issues with your salt mix. if neither is high but after water change your tank water is still high in nitrates, you have a super high concentration which will require a lot of dilution (ie repeated water changes).

what kind of filtration do you have? are you running any skimmer?

[reeftask]

well, he has a 2ft sump which I think cant do much and furthermore 3 months is still too new. 7 fishes are alot