Reducing nitrates

[ahiggins]

hello all,
I have a 25 gallon with live rock and sand.
My most recent testing is:
Nitrate: 25
Ammonia: 0.25
Calcium: 470
Mag:1410
PH: 8.0
Alk: 11.2
Phosphate: <0.003

Notes: after realizing that the Red Sea coral pro is the reason for my high alk, I am transitioning to Red Sea regular salt (blue pail).

My question is, how to get rid of nitrates!? I've been able to keep my nitrates below 5 with water changes but then I added a bicolor blenny (already had a clown, 6 line wrasse, and a orchid dottyback). Ever since then it's been climbing. I know that's probably the cause but I also rearranged the rocks around the same time and a lot of junk came off. Could that have been it?

All of the fish are about 2-3 inches right now. If I decide NOT to remove the blenny...will this keep creating high nitrates or was it all the junk off the rocks that got me?

Please help! I have a lot of collector corals I don't want to lose!

 

[ahiggins]

Note #2: none of my corals have been noticeably affected by the nitrates yet. I'll do a 10 gallon wc tomorrow.

 

[Speedy]

Its quite a high fish stock for 25g tank . Readings still showing amonia as well . Its likely the last fish broke the camel's back so to speak . How good is your filtration ? The level of stuff coming off your rocks indicated a lot waste not being processed . Id look at your bioloadvs filtration

 

[Speedy]

As well flow through the rockwork to avoid dead spots that become nitrate factories. Clean the sand and review you bioload. Hope that helps

 

[ahiggins]

Aww man, he's going to be a pain to catch lol but thanks for the opinion. I'm going to monitor for the next week after my wc to see how it tests.

 

[rayn]

If you are planning to remove, do a larger water change. Less water usually means less available swimming area and easier to catch. Now if he hides in the rocks that's a different story.

A larger change will also help with the nitrates. But of the bioload is the cause it will climb again. More flow into filtration may help.

 

[ahiggins]

I'm wondering if more frequent wc would compensate? Instead of taking him out...but then again...the 6 line and clown are still babies. So the problem is only going to get worse.
I think once I get my new 20 up I'll put the bicolor in there.

 

[ahiggins]

I got a different salt today that makes up to a lower alk, 8-9 instead of 14.
Can I do a 10 gal wc with the new salt? Is there such a thing as alkalinity shock?

 

[Speedy]

I think no more than 3dkh at any one time . Something like that .

 

[Nemguy123]

There are ways to dealing with a high bio load other thank removing fish fluidized bed filters and a good protein skimmer are great ways to remove exegesis fish waste that reduce nitrates I have kept plenty more fish than that in a 20 gallon tank with quite a few anemones that also raise bio load higher-rated filtration and protein skimmers will help with your problem they will also reduce the amount of water changes you will have to do

 

[ahiggins]

Hmm I have a nano skimmer on it now. Can't remember the name for the life of me. It's works well but when the sponge gets dirty it's hard to keep it at the "right" level.

 

[Nemguy123]

Nano skimmers don't work that well I recommend a hang on back like a remora or something similar rated for 40 gallons I've had one since my first small tank 10 years ago and it still works amazing today

 

[Speedy]

I use the aqua one skimmer . Oversized for 120l but does a great job

 

[ahiggins]

I'll check both of those out, I have a pretty small area where it can go...but I've gone as far as thinking about a hob refugium

 

[Nemguy123]

Fuges do work wonders you could always add a canister filter with bio media or try adding something like special blend to you system weekly and see if that helps there's a lot of things you can try so you don't have to get rid of any fish I hope you can find something that works for you!