Giving up.. nitrates will not come down.

[jtp7004ft]

What test kits are you using? You may be getting false readings. Add a pouch of ChemiPure Blue or Elite which will lower nitrates and keep them in check thereafter

As @vetteguy53081 asked, What test kit are you using ?

 

[sfin52]

My tank has been running for nearly a year and I haven’t had much growth from any of my coral. I started with easy stuff like mushrooms, duncans, and candy canes. Some stuff earlier on grew a few new heads I had also gotten a hammer and torch after a while and they didn’t make it more than 2 months. I realize that I should’ve had my testing done with much better results before getting anymore coral so now I’ve given up on buying anything new.

The tank is a 20 gallon long with a 10g sump. I have the middle chamber setup with chaeto and also running a filter cup with filter floss. Water changes are 5 gallons weekly. Every time I do water test my nitrate comes back with around .50 ppm. My urchin and fish have done well in these conditions, but I’m not enjoying the hobby anymore due to my failure with keeping ideal conditions and coral.

.50ppm is nothing. Increase feeting more. You cheato may very be the cause of low nitrate and phosphates. Cut the light time by half and see if that helps. If its still not going up cut lights to 1/2 hour.

 

[Thatdude156]

As @vetteguy53081 asked, What test kit are you using ?

It’s the NYOS test.

.50ppm is nothing. Increase feeting more. You cheato may very be the cause of low nitrate and phosphates. Cut the light time by half and see if that helps. If its still not going up cut lights to 1/2 hour.

That was an error. I actually meant 50ppm

 

[sfin52]

It’s the NYOS test.

That was an error. I actually meant 50ppm

50ppm isn't that bad.

 

[GHOSTLY]

Sorry I do mean 50ppm. Carbon dosing may be my only and last option. I don’t run a skimmer and my chaeto doesn’t seem to show much growth either. I run the light for 12 hours. I try to keep the sump as clean as possible, but I haven’t vacuumed the sand in my DT. I have different brands of test. Ammonia is just API and comes out at 0. Nitrates is Salifert. Alk is Hanna and comes out at 11dkh. Neos for phosphate and I wasn’t able to get a reading from it.

More Chaeto light, skimmer, carbon dosing, 100 percent water change. I run my alk 11 its fine. Only problem is new coral come and go fast from shock

 

[sfin52]

50ppm is nothing to worry about. heck mines above 180.