reached bio-load already?

[rawb_one]

Greetings again,
my 29 gal tank's nitrates wont go below 40, and usually in the ~80 range. I only have 1 osecellaris clown, 1 sally lightfoot, and a cleaner crew (10 small snails,5 turbo snails,20 small hermits). The tank has been set up for 2 months, with the cycle taking 2 weeks. I have 130 watts pc lighting ~80lbs lr and 40lb ls.
Ive been doing water changes, cleaning my aquac remora, and i think im doing everything right...
Is my tank to young still or do i need something else
ive read about clams
im guessing youre gonna say get a fuge (but dont have room)
or over feeding but ive been watching that
Thanks

 

[loopy]

Hi, I am a newbie and totally stupid with sw fish....heck fish in general...

I DID overload and I did it fast. I have nitrite levels that are so high that they are beyond reading. I don't even have to finish putting in the drops and it turns blood red. Working on getting that down.........ya....geez. I was surprised at how few fish one can have, and a little dissapointed, so now I am adding an additional small tank. BUT...I did not do enough research and allowed people who I trusted to help me... turned out they had no clue, so now I am paying for it...literally, and spending a lot of time trying to correct problems. I will be interested to see what the experienced people tell you.

 

[kogle]

I don't think you're bio-load is too high for a 29 gallon. Are you using LS or LR in the tank? Also, post your other reading nitrites, amonia, etc. How often are you doing water changes and what % are they?:thinking:

 

[rawb_one]

~80lb lr
~40lb ls
ammon 0
trites 0
trates 40-80 (test strips suck but lfs tested and said same)
ph 8.2
sal 1.024
i read salifert are good so i ordered those...
been doing 4 or 5 gals a week water change

 

[meadbhb]

Hiya,
Are you using RO water or tap water?
Meadbhb

 

[larrynews]

i'm no expert but i think water movement may have something to do with it search bio load in the forum search and see what comes up...

 

[rawb_one]

im using ro water from the lfs

 

[snipe]

to bring your trates down you will need to do a bigger water change that is the only way? Also do you clean your filters often "anything that can harbor trates should be cleaned weekly during a water change or monthly" (I.E. Bioballs, mesh on powerheads, filter pads, anything) Since you dont have crushed coral you shouldnt have to worrie "unless you have some under your sand"

 

[ophiura]

How much and how often are you feeding the tank? You are not maxed out in bioload but you may be overfeeding.

 

[snipe]

I agree with above that may be it to.