Nitrates

[gotteeguy]

My 29 gallon saltwater tank has nitrate levels of 20-30 mg/L. The ammonia is 0 and nitrites are 5 or less. The pH is either 7.8 or 8.2. It's hard to tell. Are the nitrates too high? Right now I have 5 hermit crabs, 1 spiny mole crab, and 2 ghost shrimp in the tank. Damselfish and a clownfish have died in the tank before. There's around 30 pounds of live rock.
For filtration, there is an Aquaclear 50, Elite Stingray filter (large), and a 530 gph powerhead. The powerhead is from a "skimmer" which I haven't got to work properly.
There is white beach sand 1-2 inches deep.
Am I doing anything wrong?

Also, I am beginning the vodka dosing on my tank to reduce nitrates.

And the sand I got from the beach and sifted through to get any debris out.

 

[three-fingers]

Nitrates aren't that much of a problem for those fish or inverts (you would struggle even with soft corals though). But nitrite is toxic, and that really needs to be sorted out, nitrite levels should always read at 0ppm.

How long has this tank been running and where did you get the live rock?

For now, do more water changes.

 

[seffieuk]

How long have you had the tank? What are the inhabitants?

As TF says, if this is not a new tank in a cycle do a 25% water change or more if possible

seffie x

 

[gotteeguy]

I have done a water change today.
I'm pretty sure it just finished cycling. Last week the ammonia was 5-10. Now it's 0. I said the nitrites were at 5 mg/L or less because I can't be EXACT. But the test tube or whatever read closest to 0. I'll do another test now.

 

[Buddyboy67]

which ULNS supplements are you using to counteract the vodka dosing???...
If tank is only cycled this will be responsible for the remaining traces of nitrite that are appearing..
Also have you sponges, etc in your filters acting as biological filters producing these excess nitrates ??
Where are you based to collect the beach sand...the sand on uk beaches will be no use in a marine tank

 

[gotteeguy]

Yes, the nitrites are indeed 0 mg/L. I live in Destin, Florida (US). The sand has no shells in it and is very white.
The two filters do have sponges. Should I take them out? Then what would trap all the wastes and crap inside the filter?
I'll try to get a good skimmer sometime.
I forgot to say, a couple hours ago I got a small percula clownfish and 4 more pounds of LR. One of the live rock has a very small anemone on it. I have no idea what kind of anemone it is or how to care for it, other than feed it bits of shrimp. It is very small. Smaller than the bottle cap of the saltwater test tubes that you use to test for pH, nitrates, ammonia, etc.

ULNS supplements? I didn't read up on those. What do they do and where do I get them from?

 

[Buddyboy67]

as long as the grain size of your sand is around .5mm to 1mm you will be fine as it can't compact into a solid base then...
Does the anemone retract back into the rocks if you touch it??..if it does you may have an aiptasia which is best to remove before maturing and spreading as they are a pest anemone that will sting any corals added....
Best to remove these sponges and replace them with filter wool that can be removed and replaced when required before becoming live.

 

[gotteeguy]

The clownfish unfortunately died. Everything was ok when I measured it yesterday but I found the nemo stuck to the powerhead this morning, dead.
I think I do have an aiptasia. I put boiling water in an eye dropper and squirted it at the anemone at least 20 times but it is still alive. Can't I just leave the live rock in shallow water, so that the part with the anemone is sticking out of the water and it will dry out?

What are ULNS supplements?

 

[ben1987]

The clownfish unfortunately died. Everything was ok when I measured it yesterday but I found the nemo stuck to the powerhead this morning, dead.
I think I do have an aiptasia. I put boiling water in an eye dropper and squirted it at the anemone at least 20 times but it is still alive. Can't I just leave the live rock in shallow water, so that the part with the anemone is sticking out of the water and it will dry out?

What are ULNS supplements?

ULNS - ultra low nutrient system

Boiling water doesnt usually do much to my aips. Soldering iron!

 

[gotteeguy]

I had to go on vacation for a few days. When I got back I tested the water. No ammonia, nitrates were still 30 mg/L and nitrates are now 1 mg/l.