High Nitrates, could be substrate?

[weeder]

but if he gets the nitrates down with the water changes and spends the money on lr instead of a skimmer his tank will get rid of the nitrates on its own. then he would only have to do small water changes every two weeks to keep the nitrates below 40ppm. a good skimmer is over $200, that could by about 30- 40 lbs of lr. and the lr could be bought over time instead of coming up with $200 all at once. i started my tank a little over a year ago with 10lbs of lr. i added my last chunk about 3 weeks ago. and my bio-load is about the same if not a little more.

 

[snipe]

Also the bioballs will raise nitrates You have to clean them freguently or replace with live rock.
So far it is the lack of skimmer, bioballs, substrate, water change all 4 of thoughs can raise your nitrates.

 

[weeder]

hey snipe,
where are you in missouri. i'm about 20 miles south of st. louis on the illinois side.

 

[snipe]

I live in southern missouri about 45 mins from the arkansas border. 3 countie to the easy of springfield.