Please help... I can't get nitrates down.

[Zero Nitrates]

I clean the sand to a depth of 1 inch. It is the same process as cleaning gravel in a freshwater aquarium except instead of gravel you are cleaning the sand.
Here is a video that will give you an idea of how to do it.
Aqueon Siphon Vacuum Aquarium Gravel Cleaner at PETCO

 

[Reefing Madness]

If your just worried about your Nitrates, just Vodka Dose. That'll take care of that in no time, provided we skirt the instructions alittle.

 

[Weehawken64]

Thanks zero, I wonder if I do that if id suck up my smaller snails that are in the sand. Thanks reefer but forgive my ignorance but what exactly is vodka dosing?

 

[Reefing Madness]

Melevsreef.com - Dosing Vodka to Lower Nitrate & Phosphate
Vodka Dosing by 'Genetics' and 'Stony_Corals' - Reefkeeping.com

 

[Salty heart]

I have a 125 gal reef tank--and had the same problem for awhile.My nitrates got all the way up to 80!!! We did carbon and nitrate pads and that didnt do anything for us!!! Finally we got a small refugium and put some miracle mud and healthy chaeto(the chaeto should be bright green not dark green) in it and i promise u it only took 2 days for nitrates to go down to zero--it was amazing!! nitrates have never been a problem since!!

 

[Aaron Gustafson]

I had another spike in my BC29 w/ InTank, so I completely disassembled the back and scrubbed everything (including the InTank). I did one 15-gallon water change followed by two more 10 gallon ones a few days apart. I also blew out the live rock, added a capful of Seachem Prime to each 5gal bucket of new water, and added a half-dose of Dr. Tim's Waste Away to replenish bacteria followed by a full dose one week later. I also turned off my sterilizer to give tge bacteria time to find a home.

After all that, I'm at zero again. YMMV.

 

[Weehawken64]

Nice job Aron. Seems like alot that you did but well worth it.