Struggling to keep Nitrates higher than zero

[jd-woodlands]

I removed my purigen tonight... Nervous about nitrates going too high with addition of 2 fish but hey.. If i have to add it back not the end of the world.

If I let it dry out it will be okay to re-use correct?

Supposed to rinse with RO and put in a zip lock to stay wet. Instructions say not let the media dry out.

 

[No nick]

you don't need to remove anything leave it alone as long as tank is stable.

 

[Hallowhead]

Supposed to rinse with RO and put in a zip lock to stay wet. Instructions say not let the media dry out.

thanks for this.

 

[Hallowhead]

Update:

I have not done a water change in two weeks.... My nitrates are slightly above zero.

My corals look outstanding. I have removed my purigen & run skimmer for 8 hours a day.

I will be doing a small water change after the weekend.

ammonia = 0
nitrite = 0
nitrate = 1-5
alk = 7.6 dkh

 

[ScottB]

Yeah your corals will be much happier with some nutrient in there.

You've pulled a couple levers in a row here I think -- but maybe I am confusing OP versus contributor comments:
a) purigen removed
b) fish load increased
c) skimmer schedule decreased
d) WC schedule decreased

I agree with each individual step, but if you did 2 or 3 or 4 of them, you will have to keep paying close attention. In a 30g system changes can happen fast, and fast can be troublesome.

Lastly on testing:
a) you can skip testing ammonia and nitrite unless you have fish death
b) Test alkalinity often. Changes to your WC schedule will affect this measure
c) get an occasional PO4 test via Hanna ULR
d) Keep watching your corals

 

[Hallowhead]

Yeah your corals will be much happier with some nutrient in there.

You've pulled a couple levers in a row here I think -- but maybe I am confusing OP versus contributor comments:
a) purigen removed
b) fish load increased
c) skimmer schedule decreased
d) WC schedule decreased

I agree with each individual step, but if you did 2 or 3 or 4 of them, you will have to keep paying close attention. In a 30g system changes can happen fast, and fast can be troublesome.

Lastly on testing:
a) you can skip testing ammonia and nitrite unless you have fish death
b) Test alkalinity often. Changes to your WC schedule will affect this measure
c) get an occasional PO4 test via Hanna ULR
d) Keep watching your corals

1.) I saw a dead hermit crab hence the test.
2.) I've been testing alk as water changes have been decreased. I am mainly waiting for the tank to level off as I know it's going to with all these changes.
3.) I will also throw PO4 checks in.

I think the fish load has helped a ton

 

[LARedstickreefer]

Start feeding some high quality frozen food that doesn’t need to be rinsed. I just put in more than my fish will eat and let the rest rot. I also put in some reef roids once a week.

Don’t turn off skimmer, you don’t want to affect pH. I’d also keep up with water changes so you keep your trace elements stocked.

 

[bigdrew]

Start feeding some high quality frozen food that doesn’t need to be rinsed. I just put in more than my fish will eat and let the rest rot. I also put in some reef roids once a week.

Don’t turn off skimmer, you don’t want to affect pH. I’d also keep up with water changes so you keep your trace elements stocked.

@LARedstickreefer why do you say shutting off the protein skimmer will affect the Ph? I haven’t heard this before. I’m attempting to get nitrates up in my tank too, but hadn’t considered this affect...

 

[LARedstickreefer]

@LARedstickreefer why do you say shutting off the protein skimmer will affect the Ph? I haven’t heard this before. I’m attempting to get nitrates up in my tank too, but hadn’t considered this affect...

Water aeration.

You could just take off the collection cup if you are concerned that you are over skimming. Leave the skimmer on but without the collection cup for a few days.