Skimmer
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whiskey
Guest
What kind of filter do you have? When was the last time you did a water change?
There are many things that can cause a nitrate spike.
There are many things that can cause a nitrate spike.
scopus tang
Active Member
Skimmers help with nutrient levels, but seldom solve the problem on their own. I would say that you need to look for the source of the problem as whiskey said. Find the source, you eliminate the problem.
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Member
I had a heater explode in my tank in early December. My LFS is baby sitting my fish for me. We did a 5 gal water change a day for 10 days to get rid of the smell and hopefully the bad water. I have done several more changes since and the nitrates just won't come down. all of the other levels are fine, (can't quote numbers at the moment). We took out all of the filters in the lower tank, the bio media and the sponges and put live rock underneath. I bought a new external pump to increase the water flow. I have added carbon in a bag in the bottom and also some white stuff (can't think of the name) in a bag that is supposed to reduce nitrates.
The nitrates will not budge - there are snail flourishing, laying eggs etc, all the crabs are quite happy running around and there must be a couple of hundred tiny starfish that are very much alive.
The only thing we haven't tried is to replace the skimmer as mine very obviously is not working.
The nitrates will not budge - there are snail flourishing, laying eggs etc, all the crabs are quite happy running around and there must be a couple of hundred tiny starfish that are very much alive.
The only thing we haven't tried is to replace the skimmer as mine very obviously is not working.
scopus tang
Active Member
How big is your tank? If your skimmer is obviously not working (not collecting any nasty green goo? and you've checked your air supply and adjusted it?) then I would say you might want to get a new one. Obviously you are going to want one that works! However from what you've said it sounds like you did some major changes to your tank after the heater exploded, if that is indeed the case, your tank will have to cycle, just as it did when you first set it up, which can easily take a month or longer. Water changes and patience are the only thing that works here (although the carbon will help - its effectiveness however will be determined by how much water is actually flowing through it - if its just setting on the bottom it can only pull nutrients out of the water it comes in contact with). Most of the inverts you described are not harmed by high nitrate levels and so should be doing fine.
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whiskey
Guest
The last water change you did was in early December?
scopus tang
Active Member
Most sources recommend a single 20% water change once ammonia and nitrites have reached zero. I would definetly do more than you have been doing, but I personally wouldn't go as drastic as 50%. That could have a major effect on your other water parameters.