how can I reduce these nitrates?!?

[trgirl]

I have tried everything to reduce the nitrates in my 40 gal community tank. I did countless water changes, I've been skimming. In order to clean up waste in substrate, I put in 20 hermit crabs today. Is there anything you'd recommend to reduce this problem?

 

[jacques]

I've been having the same problem. I've done countless water changes, added bacteria, removed aqua chargers and done more water changes. I'm not overfeeding, so I'm not sure what the problem is. Here's my setup: 29 Gallons with just over 30lbs. of live rock and a substrate sand, cc and argonite. Its running a Fluval 404, a SeaClone skimmer and a submersible Rio for water movement. Its inhabitants include a fire and cleaner shrimp, a small and medium star, a dwarf angel, a clown, a damsel, a sponge, a tubastrea, some loose mushrooms, a bubble, two leathers and a fox coral. All of the corals are small to medium in size. I also have an emerald crab, about 15 hermits and some snails. The guys at my LFS are puzzled too. Any info would be helpful. Thanks,
J

 

[old salt]

How long have your tanks been running? It's possible that you haven't finished cycling yet...

 

[beth]

Crushed coral sandbed and a canister setup with standard media are basically nitrate factories.

 

[jacques]

I took the Fluval off, added five more lbs. of live rock and did yet another water change. The inhabitants are looking better, but the nitrates are still above 80.