Will a protein skimmer help with nitrate levels?

[calebsmith7]

I have recently been having a nitrate problem and was wondering, will having a protein skimmer lower the nitrates? I have a five gallon nano tank, I don't really want to buy a skimmer, but I will if it will help with the nitrate problems. I have been doing water changes quite frequently and still have problems, so will the skimmer help?

 

[Spare time]

Yes and no. Alone, it will help prevent nitrate accumulation by removing waste before it becomes ammonia (and then nitrite and nitrate). With carbon dosing, it can. What ppm is the nitrate level and what test kit do you have? What fish and what all do you feed? In a 5 gallon, a bucket of water would reduce the nitrate by 100% (albeit thats a bad idea to do a massive water change all at once since it stresses everything out).

As of now, I would look at adding some sort of bacteria to help with it. Waste away gels, pns probio, etc. may help.

 

[calebsmith7]

I have one coral frag but no fish or anything, and the ppm is between 10-20. I have done probably five 80% water changes yet it has still not even gone down.

 

[homer1475]

In 5 gallons of water, if you have done 5 80% WC's, you wouldn't have any nitrates.

With that said, have you measured nitrites?

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

How long has the tank been running, and have you tried another test kit to confirm?

 

[fishface NJ]

Yes try a different test kit. What brand are you using now?

 

[calebsmith7]

I use a Salifer test kit, and before that I have been using test strips, and it’s been running for over a month now

How long has the tank been running, and have you tried another test kit to confirm?

 

[Reef.]

You need to have nitrites at zero or a nitrate test will give an incorrect reading.

As said above, those water changes would have your nitrate at zero, so it’s either a error by the test or you, or you have some nitrites in the water.