Nitrate problem

[CrashNT]

Thanks for all the input guys! I really appreciate it! I do lightly vacuum the sandbed when I do water changes. Usually just the first couple centimeters. My CUC consists of a SS starfish, about 10 nass snails, 3 turbos snails, 5 astrea snails, 5 zebra herms, 4 blue herms, 4 red herms and 4 pompom crabs(not sure if they count as CUC since they sweep the water with the nems). I'll keep up the weekly water changes though untill things start to level out. Also, I will make sure not to treat the NO3 with anything until I get a better grasp on the issue.

 

[jda123]

To the original question, I would just leave everything alone. Feed a normal amount for the fish, but skip the sloppy and coral foods. Most coral don't need fed that much anyway if you have DOC from fish in the tank. The bacteria will grow to form an equilibrium (mostly, unless you overstock), so just let them do their job... how long it takes will be different for every situation, but you probably delayed it with the water changes and chemicals and stuff.

I don't vac sand, but I do replace it. I just suck portions of it out with 1" hose and replace it with fresh sand. Not only does it bogged with sludge, it will bond with phosphate, so once it has bonded all that it can, I want it out. I would vac gravel when it had the larger hunks in my FOWLR. In any case, I would not disturb too much sand at once.