I'm using the API saltwater test kit. Ive taken my water samples to a few sources that it also tested high with, I'm ganna take it again maybe today to verify again.
Yes pictures would be good with blue lights turned off.
If you take a water sample to the LFS have them test nitrate and phosphate. Since there is no livestock in the tank I would first try and do almost a complete water change. If after changing all the water and your nitrates and phosphates again are high it the rock leaching nitrate and phosphate. If that is the case I would either pull the rock and do a bleach cure and/or lanthanum chloride then completely recycle the rock or buy 20 pounds of live gulf rock. If you go this route you can bypass a lot of problems that you will have from starting with dry rock and you will be able to keep coral faster if you want coral
The issue is: the tank was used. Came with the rock and sand. The sand and rock maybe was never cleaned before it was moved or after. We dont know how long it had high nitrates before the OP purchased it. When i see dust cloud after a water change , my thinking is, a lot of junk in the sand. If thats the case I'll bet the rock is in the same shape. This could be the source of the nitrate problem since the OP has changed the water and has not produced good results.
Hopefully the LFS did not sell a tank to a new reefer knowing it has problems needing to be attended to without telling them what the problems are or how to fix them
Well that could be part of the reason why he got rid of it. There were dead coral skeletons when I got it, I had removed them as well.
This i understand. They can store waste which is then converted to nitrate, is what i should have said.
I am just using powerheads at the moment. I have a CAD lights skimmer without a pump and they don't reply back to their customers it seems to try to send me the right pump for a PLS 50, so I'm tempted to just buy a brand new one, I just don't know exactly what to look for that would fit. The AIO area is 4 and a half inches depth, 16 tall and 29 wide with 3 dividers. Ive found mostly HOB's that will fit, I just don't know what's good and what's bad except that a lot of people really dislike SKIMZ nano skimmers lol.
I also have sponges I've stacked to the top of the tank in the refugium section where water falls into. The main problem I have as well is the water isn't moving fast enough for me to feel comfortable in the refugium, it's nearly still and makes me thing the water isn't being cycled through the tank enough, I just don't know how to fix that.
If you are comfortable with a HOB configuration, I personally and highly recommend the Seachem Tidal series. The flexibility of these HOB units is awesome! I would probably do a Tidal-75 in a 35-gal tank.
I planned on using a skimmer and chaeto combo, I don't really see people use traditional filters in saltwater, it seems skimmers are more efficient and ideal, but Im just going off observation.
