Originally Posted by
arv99t
http:///forum/post/3050780
Before I trust the lfs again I want some advice. I guess I should have written down the exact numbers but didn't sorry. I know she said the Nitrates were high enough I am close to losing everything in my tank. I have a 55 gal tank with a Porcupine Puffer, humu humu, chocolate chip star, and an anemone(I found the star on it last night I think hes done hence the reason I am not trusting the lfs at the moment they told me this was fine). What could be the problems. I feed flake food once in a while (about 1 time a week), and frozen shrimp 2 times a day. I have read overfeeding being one which is a possibility. What do I need to do to fix the nitrates and PH? The lfs told me to do several water changes. Will this fix both problems?
Sounds like you are overfeeding -- IMO you should never feed twice a day and only enough for them to eat in a short amount of time.
What kind of filtration do you have?
Water changes will help with nitrates --- if you are using RO or RO/DI water. If you aren't your water source may be causing nitrates as well. Exact numbers with pH would be helpful -- pH that is a little off is ok as long as it's constant but unless you can test accurately (and hard to say their test kit is) you really shouldn't try to treat as you have no idea if your treatments are effective or correct.
Water changes, cutting back on your feedings will help --- a 55 gallon tank with messy tankmates won't take long for nitrates to build.
Do you run a sump? skimmer? macro algae? all of those can help as well.
Hard to adress pH without knowing an accurate number.