Please help: Controlling Nitrates & Phosphates

[Djasak]

Hey guys,

What's the best way to keep nitrates and phosphates under control? I can't seem to get mine to settle down. Im running a simple sumpless system which I'm sure is adding to the problem but I'm making it work with what I have. Nitrates consistently read high week after week. Phosphates I've been able to bring down to what I would consider acceptable at around 2ppm but I think most would agree that's still pretty high. Nitrates just tested extremely high at 20ppm. Im waiting for my salt to mix while I type this out so I can do a water change, but I feel like it's not going to have much of an impact. I'm going to try converting an old canister filter into an algae scrubber probably next week when I have some money but I'm just curious for other people's opinions. I have to be budget conscious.

 

[Crustaceon]

Do a weekly 10% water change, making sure to siphon your sandbed each time and feed less per day (1 cube per 5 small fish or so). It’s that simple. Don’t fall into the “magic bullet” quick-fix trap. Stick to doing simple and repeatable things and above all else, be patient. Do this and you’ll have your nitrates and phosphates under control in a month or two.

 

[Djasak]

Do a weekly 10% water change, making sure to siphon your sandbed each time and feed less per day (1 cube per 5 small fish or so). It’s that simple. Don’t fall into the “magic bullet” quick-fix trap. Stick to doing simple and repeatable things and above all else, be patient. Do this and you’ll have your nitrates and phosphates under control in a month or two.

Yea I was hesitant to do anything rash because the corals look fine, no signs of stress same goes for the fish. I'm hoping the algae scrubber will be a long term fix.

 

[Halal Hotdog]

2ppm for phosphates is super high, are you sure about this number? Nitrates of 20 is high, but not crazy. Water changes will be effective at reducing nitrates, otherwise there are other things you can try like carbon dosing/biopellets, refugium, and a skimmer. Water changes are not terribly effective at reducing phosphates because it does reach a point where rock and sand start absorbing it, then releasing when amount in water column drops.

 

[2Sunny]

Is this photo accurate? To me the gravel looks too big to be "alive" and helping with biological balance. Right now the gravel looks to me to be a simple detritus trap. How deep is the gravel in your tank and how often do you siphon it? Would you consider removing it? Also was the rock you used "Live Rock" or dry rock that you cycled?