Nitrates and skimmer

[james-lee]

So I a bunch of Xenia that are starting shrink. I run my skimmer during lights out and do a 20% water change on sat. My nitrates are always at zero. I feed fairly heavy once a day. Will not running my skimmer at all help increase the nitrates? I have all softies in the tank and they are all doing well. Had a bunch of nice macro algae that suddenly died a few weeks back. I know Xenia dies for no reason but they seem to gradually be shrinking so I'm guessing they are starving. Thanks for any input. Btw all parameters are spot on and it's a 29 BC.

 

[theMerchant]

Skimmers don't reduce nitrates. Just removes excess nutrients before they become nitrate

Sent from my SM-N910T3 using Tapatalk

 

[Fly5150]

Why are you doing WC if your nutrients are at zero?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[xmas_one]

Zero nitrates is not spot on. You need some nitrates in the tank. That is why your macros died and your xenias are not happy. I would suggest you feed a little more and do less of a water change or less frequent water changes or both.

 

[theMerchant]

You probably don't want xenia anyways because they can take over you take . That my opinion.

You should look into a ' upflow algae scrubber'. Easy diy that I'm in the middle of doing.

Sent from my SM-N910T3 using Tapatalk

 

[russ13]

If you feed heavy I would think it would be very hard to have zero nitrates. I always try to run my system as clean as possible

 

[james-lee]

Ok thanks guys. I meant if I didn't turn on the skimmer the excess would up the nitrates. I'll try running my skimmer during lights out every other day, do a 20% every two weeks, and feed a moderately twice a day. The reason I do the water changes is just force of habit. Since I don't dose anything I figure doing the water changes replenishes trace elements and calcium and what not used up by the tank. Regardless I'll test nitrates every other day and see what happens and maybe adjust some things here and there until I get to say 10-20 ppm.

 

[theMerchant]

I understand now. Do you test for Alk or PH ?
How about salinity?

BTW what kind of skimmer do you have?

Sent from my SM-N910T3 using Tapatalk

 

[james-lee]

Yeah ph is 8.2, alk is 9, and salinity is 35 ppm. The skimmer is a cpr sr2. I don't test mag and calcium though. Figured the water changes would keep those things in check.

 

[theMerchant]

adding some phytoplankton would not hurt
http://www.socalireefs.com/forums/showthread.php?25206-FS-phytoplankton