So, we have a hawkfish 3 inches, a six line wrasse 2 inches, a tail spot blenny 1 inch, a pygmy perchlet 1.5 in., a mandarin goby 2 in. and a target goby 1.5 in.
Tank is 55 and water parameters have been good with the exception of high nitrates repeatedly. Have a 10 gal fuge and found that we should be using a more powerful light on it [it had not gotten dirty very fast and have had some algae in DT.] Now that we got a powerful light [elite helped with this] and have left it on it is quickly getting to be the mess we want.
Yesterday with high nitrates and little confidence in my API test kit, I took H20 to Elite. They found the same problem with I beleive a Salifert kit? [pink rather than red]
So, I have continued reducing food. I give a slice of marine cuisine and husband watches time for 2 minutes.
We did 3 water changes 10 % in 4 days last week still getting high 80 + nitrates, then yesterday did a 20% and added Start Up, and Prime and have a nitrate reducing filter in the fuge since nitrate went up again last week and verifyed with Aquamart though their kit showed lower - still problem nitrates.
Today, nitrates are 40 ppm on the kit I don't really trust so I will schlep some water somewhere to verify.
Ooh, and in terms of food I had created a "pod environment" in the tank [small piece of filter, chaeto and rubble on top. I have added Alagae Barn's pod mix to fuge 2 weeks ago and and put their ocean mix in fuge each a.m. Mandarin and Target [target eats some regular food too] are both round and show no sign of starving. Thought I had better give the full picture.
Snails and crabs are okay and crabs growing from prior over feeding I am pretty sure.
Have used Marine Cuisine, Mysis at times and Phyto feast [stopped everything but small amount of 1 frozen food 2 x daily.
So, I sit here wondering whether to get a new test kit of another brand, how much more water changing and if I am still overfeeding. Blenny is smallest and newest and he is no longer doing okay. Now stays on bottom of tank, and I was aware that the nitrate may cause a causualty. I hope he lives.
Sorry for the novel, but wanted to try and give the whole picture. Everyone else seems to be thriving. I stopped target feeding except once weekly and keep that minimal - and will not do that at all until we resolve this.
Other forums have several posts about nitrate probs and seems most feel that other test kits are better.
So, 1. how much would you feed the above group, 2. what would or do you feed, and 3. would you do anything besides continue H20 changes. 4. What test kits are best? Lots of coral and most seem okay but not as lively as they had been.
Any thoughts appreciated.
Tank is 55 and water parameters have been good with the exception of high nitrates repeatedly. Have a 10 gal fuge and found that we should be using a more powerful light on it [it had not gotten dirty very fast and have had some algae in DT.] Now that we got a powerful light [elite helped with this] and have left it on it is quickly getting to be the mess we want.
Yesterday with high nitrates and little confidence in my API test kit, I took H20 to Elite. They found the same problem with I beleive a Salifert kit? [pink rather than red]
So, I have continued reducing food. I give a slice of marine cuisine and husband watches time for 2 minutes.
We did 3 water changes 10 % in 4 days last week still getting high 80 + nitrates, then yesterday did a 20% and added Start Up, and Prime and have a nitrate reducing filter in the fuge since nitrate went up again last week and verifyed with Aquamart though their kit showed lower - still problem nitrates.
Today, nitrates are 40 ppm on the kit I don't really trust so I will schlep some water somewhere to verify.
Ooh, and in terms of food I had created a "pod environment" in the tank [small piece of filter, chaeto and rubble on top. I have added Alagae Barn's pod mix to fuge 2 weeks ago and and put their ocean mix in fuge each a.m. Mandarin and Target [target eats some regular food too] are both round and show no sign of starving. Thought I had better give the full picture.
Snails and crabs are okay and crabs growing from prior over feeding I am pretty sure.
Have used Marine Cuisine, Mysis at times and Phyto feast [stopped everything but small amount of 1 frozen food 2 x daily.
So, I sit here wondering whether to get a new test kit of another brand, how much more water changing and if I am still overfeeding. Blenny is smallest and newest and he is no longer doing okay. Now stays on bottom of tank, and I was aware that the nitrate may cause a causualty. I hope he lives.
Sorry for the novel, but wanted to try and give the whole picture. Everyone else seems to be thriving. I stopped target feeding except once weekly and keep that minimal - and will not do that at all until we resolve this.
Other forums have several posts about nitrate probs and seems most feel that other test kits are better.
So, 1. how much would you feed the above group, 2. what would or do you feed, and 3. would you do anything besides continue H20 changes. 4. What test kits are best? Lots of coral and most seem okay but not as lively as they had been.
Any thoughts appreciated.
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