Filter/nitrates

[fishy7]

I tested my water last night and my trates are elevated. Not to dangerous levels but around 10-20. My tank is usually at 0 but has steady gone up.
I use filter pads in 3 places in the sump: I run it a week and then change. When I do cange the filter pad all 3 are dark brown with all sorts of things collected in the tank. Do you think this is causing the problem? :notsure:
Water changes: by weekly 50 gal.
I do not over feed. the tangs get algea sheets all the time and fed 2x's a day small pellets.
Detail info:
215
Temp 80
Calc 480
Ammonia 0
Trates 20
trites 0
PH 8.0
Mag 1500
dkh 5.4
SG 1.026

 

[fishy7]

bump

 

[rusting]

I would cut back on feeding, Tangs will graze off your live rock. Try doing, a 25% water change every week.

 

[mudplayerx]

Since this is in the reef forum, I'll assume you have about 5-10 pounds of live rock per gallon and 20-25x water turnover. If that is the case then there really is no reason to utilize filter pads/cartridges. If you do use them, then you will have to wash them daily if you don't want them to contribute to elevated nitrates.

 

[fishy7]

Hey Mud, have not seen you post in a while.

This is what I have:
280lbs of LR
200lbs LS
turnover 14X
Any reconmendations on equipment upgrades. I will wash the pads daily.

 

[mudplayerx]

I would get that turnover up to 20x. Also...do you have a good-quality skimmer? How often do you do water changes?

 

[fishy7]

I need to find the best way to get that up to 20X's I did post a thread for suggestions.https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/224685/how-to-increase-turnover-advice-needed
My skimmer is an Aqua C ev240 with a Iwaki MD40RLT
I have a 215 and do a 50gal change bi-weekly.

 

[nereef]

Originally Posted by FISHY7
I have a 215 and do a 50gal change bi-weekly.
do you mean bi-weekly or semi-weekly? in other words, twice a week or every other week?

 

[dogstar]

Nitrates come from the bioload/food. To reduce them....reduce feeding, extra/bigger water changes, denitrification from DSB or no flow/oxygenated areas in the tank, and macro algeas to absorb them.