Best way to lower nitrates?

Im about ready to throw in the towel with this hobby. I've battled a complete loss due to velvet, digitate hydroids, ALK/CAL crash, high phosphates and now high nitrates. I don't understand it. My nitrates are somewhere between 20-50, I only have a nitrate API kit, so you all know how hard that is to read. My phosphates with the Red Sea kit are less then .16 but more then .08 (somewhere in between the color wheel). I dose NOPX, run ROWA and chemipure elite. I feed twice a day, usually spiralina/mysis and ROE. I also feed nori daily.
What about water change I do 10 percent a week and no problems!
 
@Breakthecycle2 with the changes in salts, how long did it take to see a difference? did you drastically change them or through lesser, more frequent water changes? also, have you had any fish or large snails go missing? change the flow pattern? maybe have a huge pile of detritus in a dead zone? I'm all for giving the sand thorough vacuuming. I'm a heavy feeder myself but blast my tank with max flow for 5-10 minutes a day to loosen and clear any debris left over. don't quit brother, adapt and overcome!
 
@Breakthecycle2 with the changes in salts, how long did it take to see a difference? did you drastically change them or through lesser, more frequent water changes? also, have you had any fish or large snails go missing? change the flow pattern? maybe have a huge pile of detritus in a dead zone? I'm all for giving the sand thorough vacuuming. I'm a heavy feeder myself but blast my tank with max flow for 5-10 minutes a day to loosen and clear any debris left over. don't quit brother, adapt and overcome!

Actually, I have had many dead snails over the past 4 or 5 months. No fish though. I'm running a Gyre at about 60%, I have switched it to the "pulse" rather then steady flow, but this issue was happening even before that. As far as the salt goes, I started with 15-20 gallon changes.
 
Wouldn't happen to thaw your frozen food with tap water?

Another thought is the coral pro mixes at something like 13 dkh so that could give you a little alk swing when you do water changes? Doubt it would be enough to cause problems, but something to be aware of.
 
I think the bad weather up here is making me cranky, so I hope I don't offend. If I do. well I apologize and everyone can deal with it. A few things I noticed.
1) It wasn't until post #28 that your system volume was given
2) It wasn't until post #30 that you revealed you have switched salts 3 times in the last 6 months or so
3) I was waiting for someone to ask about your stocking list, and I see CBB and Moorish Idol
4) Finally around post # 37 someone finally asks about the CBB and Moorish
5) Low and behold in post #39 you reveal a Moorish had to be removed because of picking at corals

I'm sorry maybe I shouldnt have said anythng, and not read the 3 pages of this thread. Feel like I was sent on a wild goose chase. Maybe give a few more of the pertinent facts upfront so we all have a better idea of what we are dealing with. Up until the end of page 2 I thought your system was a nano and for sure you had a nutrient issue. Boy was I wrong.
 
I do actually...because I have two picky fish...CBB and a Moorish Idol that will only eat ROE.

Then there would be one of the cause of high No3. I myself have an anthias (sunburst) which in theory need frequent feeding ... by frequent, they say 3 times per day. Do some droplets of mysis or brine ad wait ... they don't need to eat as much as you think they would. They got small stomach. If you got the spare time, do small portion of feeding but at more frequency. I.e. 1 frozen cube separated to 2 - 3 interval. This way you are limiting those food that left uneaten and will become the source of your No3.

If you done this and normal husbandry tasks and not seeing any improvement on your No3 level for several weeks, then start looking at carbon dosing. By carbon dosing, I would advise that you also to look for additional porous media to house your growing aerobic and anaerobic bacterias which you are about to increase by mean of Carbon dosing. Remember when you carbon dose, you'll be needing a powerful skimmer to do the export of DOC.

So from the above, the theory is feed less (less import) but more export (carbon dose porous media, bacterias & skim).

I hope that helps.
 
This problem isn't nitrates. Lots of changing variables and "swings." It may take a couple months to notice all your coral improving.
 
Wouldn't happen to thaw your frozen food with tap water?

Another thought is the coral pro mixes at something like 13 dkh so that could give you a little alk swing when you do water changes? Doubt it would be enough to cause problems, but something to be aware of.

No, I use tank water only.
 
I think the bad weather up here is making me cranky, so I hope I don't offend. If I do. well I apologize and everyone can deal with it. A few things I noticed.
1) It wasn't until post #28 that your system volume was given
2) It wasn't until post #30 that you revealed you have switched salts 3 times in the last 6 months or so
3) I was waiting for someone to ask about your stocking list, and I see CBB and Moorish Idol
4) Finally around post # 37 someone finally asks about the CBB and Moorish
5) Low and behold in post #39 you reveal a Moorish had to be removed because of picking at corals

I'm sorry maybe I shouldnt have said anythng, and not read the 3 pages of this thread. Feel like I was sent on a wild goose chase. Maybe give a few more of the pertinent facts upfront so we all have a better idea of what we are dealing with. Up until the end of page 2 I thought your system was a nano and for sure you had a nutrient issue. Boy was I wrong.

No one asked me about volume, stocking or salts until then. I said in post #1, "ask away".
 
I think the bad weather up here is making me cranky, so I hope I don't offend. If I do. well I apologize and everyone can deal with it. A few things I noticed.
1) It wasn't until post #28 that your system volume was given
2) It wasn't until post #30 that you revealed you have switched salts 3 times in the last 6 months or so
3) I was waiting for someone to ask about your stocking list, and I see CBB and Moorish Idol
4) Finally around post # 37 someone finally asks about the CBB and Moorish
5) Low and behold in post #39 you reveal a Moorish had to be removed because of picking at corals

I'm sorry maybe I shouldnt have said anythng, and not read the 3 pages of this thread. Feel like I was sent on a wild goose chase. Maybe give a few more of the pertinent facts upfront so we all have a better idea of what we are dealing with. Up until the end of page 2 I thought your system was a nano and for sure you had a nutrient issue. Boy was I wrong.

Also, he hasn't been in the tank, I still have that problem, in fact, it's been a little worse since I took her out. She was not the problem I have now.
 

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