8g Biocube nitrates up

[Shelley]

Hi all,

I have a two month old 8g biocube with a few zoas, hermit crabs, coral banded shrimp, blue neon goby and six line wrasse. Within the last couple of weeks my nitrates have risen a bit (from 0 to around 10 ppm). Regular once per week water changes with r/o - all other parameters good. Last week when nitrates up I did a full 20% change a couple of days early and now four days later they are up again so did a partial 1g change only. If I use a nitrate destroyer without a protein skimmer (not made small enough for an 8g) will I always have to use it?

[Proteus]

How long ago did you add livestock.
What do you have for nutrient exportation

[Shelley]

Hi Titus 99,

Thanks for responding. The two fish have been in two and a half weeks at least I think. I don't have a protein skimmer as they don't make them for the 8g. I think I may be overfeeding so will cut down or go to a little bit twice per day. The livestock eat washed mysis voraciously and gobble it all up within about a minute. My friend has been doing this for years and just called to chat about it and he's bringing me some cheato later in the week. I'm not going to use the nitrate destroyer after all and will take it back unopened.

I should clarify that I do a 25% water change weekly and the nitrates started rising in relation to the fish addition obviously. They had been zero with just the soft corals in there. I have started a larger tank with a protein skimmer and it's just settling in.

Any other suggestions would be helpful and thanks again.

[Proteus]

I would think that new fish and over feeding are the issue
For the cheato from your friend I would use a hob style filter with a reading lamp over it. Just replace the filter media with cheato
There are skimmers or dyi that could suit your needs but are unnessecsary in your case.
Spot feed your fish so you don't have organics going to waste in your tank and keep up with water changes

You could also look into dosing a carbon source but it would have to be very percise with a small water volume

[Dearth]

Have you considered a hang on filter like Aquaclear? While its not a protein skimmer it would help in getting rid of some of the larger floaters out

[Borderjumper]

I too would be really careful dosing in a tank that small.. Try just upping your water changes and it should resolve itself.

[kien]

Originally Posted by Shelley

Hi all,

I have a two month old 8g biocube with a few zoas, hermit crabs, coral banded shrimp, blue neon goby and six line wrasse. Within the last couple of weeks my nitrates have risen a bit (from 0 to around 10 ppm). Regular once per week water changes with r/o - all other parameters good. Last week when nitrates up I did a full 20% change a couple of days early and now four days later they are up again so did a partial 1g change only. If I use a nitrate destroyer without a protein skimmer (not made small enough for an 8g) will I always have to use it?

Great suggestions so far from everyone. I would also add that unless you are growing really sensitive corals (SPS/Acroporas for example), 10ppm nitrates is not necessarily something to panic about. Yes, it would be a good idea to get it down and definitely follow the above suggestions but I wouldn't consider it something you need to stress about. In other words, don't panic :-)

[425nm]

<a href="http://s22.beta.photobucket.com/user/Amemaru/media/2013-02-17232159_zps392170be.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b311/Amemaru/2013-02-17232159_zps392170be.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 2013-02-17232159_zps392170be.jpg"/></a>

Skimmers for small tanks are very easily made. You will need a air flow valve though (not shown in picture).

[Skimmerking]

Originally Posted by 425nm

<a href="http://s22.beta.photobucket.com/user/Amemaru/media/2013-02-17232159_zps392170be.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b311/Amemaru/2013-02-17232159_zps392170be.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 2013-02-17232159_zps392170be.jpg"/></a>

Skimmers for small tanks are very easily made. You will need a air flow valve though (not shown in picture).

waste of time and money for a tank that small.

[Skimmerking]

Originally Posted by kien

Great suggestions so far from everyone. I would also add that unless you are growing really sensitive corals (SPS/Acroporas for example), 10ppm nitrates is not necessarily something to panic about. Yes, it would be a good idea to get it down and definitely follow the above suggestions but I wouldn't consider it something you need to stress about. In other words, don't panic :-)