nitrate help

[ricky1066]

My tank is a little over 4 months old since I started i have had nitrates at 20now they are always up to 40-60 I do a water change they go down 10 and right back up?

I just did a 25 gallon water change and it went down 10 points ( i was told the sandbed could be holding trates)

I have added a nitrate absorb and it is doing nothing.

any idea on what I can do I was told maybe chaeto but Not sure

it is getting frustrated. to keep buying water and doing changes with no help

I use distilled from the store or I use ro/di water

 

[ricky1066]

the sponge is out and I have the bag of nitrate absorb in it place

 

[Wes]

i don't see a protein skimmer in that pic. do you have one? If not, that would be the first thing i would add.

 

[ricky1066]

I had a hob bermuda skimmer i had nothing but problems with it So I just removed it two days agao until I get a new one .
it is a long story but the skimmer is new on the market and my experience with it has been a horror Bubbles all over sending dbris in my tank

So I am looking for a new one maybe Still not sure if I am keeping the setup If I could get the $800 I want for it all I woudl sell it . Bu I also don't want the fish suffering in nitrates while I wait.

 

[Scion_TC2005]

get the protien skimmer going when you do get it and still keep up with your water changes and see how they are after that. Your tank livestock is good its' not overcrowded. How is your feeding of the tank? how much? how often? and what are your feeding?

 

[ricky1066]

I had the trate problem when i used the skimmer I feed once aday 1 cube thats it

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

Did the fish finished all the food in let say 3 minutes?

Did you shut down the return pump when feeding?

Any cleaning crew to chew on the remaining food not eaten by the fish?

 

[ricky1066]

Well here is the thing I do not turn off the return pump NO because getting that suction going again and adjusting it drives me nuts As far as finishing all the food within a minute it is gone I drop in a little at a time and they eat every piece
I sometimes think it is not enough becuase if something is floating in he tank they all go after it.

I had the issue with all my snails dying I have about 10 hermit crabs I keep getting told to wait to put anyting in cause of the trates that they might have died from hight trates?
I am new and not sure?