Water Quality

[jeskremer]

OK,

Here is the problem. Nitrates are at 80 ppm!

I have had this tank set up for over two years now. It has never been this high.

49 gallon
Penn-Plax 700 Cascade Filter (185 gph) (I currently only use carbon)
76 degrees
Skimmer
Two Compact All-Glass fluorescent tube
Change 3-4 gallons of water every two weeks

ph 8.2
ammonia 0.0
nitrites 0.0
salinity 1.023

1 Valentini/Saddle Puffer
1 Clown
2 Yellow Tail Damsels
Several Snails-not very happy right now

I would like to get a serpent star and hermit again, but inverts obviously are not too pleased with the high nitrates. Green hair algae has also been hard to control and needs picking frequently. I have been shortening the light time from around 12 to 7-8 hours per day over the last week also.

Any ideas would be appreciated. I use tap water and it is starting out at 10 ppm nitrates.

Thanks,
jeskremer

 

[SkiFletch]

Well, start by eliminating tapwater, thats just a disaster waiting to happen. Get yourself an RO unit, there is no alternative out there IMO. Then, how often do you gravel vac and siphon detritus out of your tank? At two years old, if you dont do that religiously, detritus and nitrates WILL creep up on you . You may also consider running some phosphate remover like rowaphos as I'm sure phosphates are adding at least some fuel to your hair algae