Ok, im fairly new, been in the hobby roughly 1.5 years. I have 3 tanks, and have a nitrate mystery. Tank 1 1.5 years old. 20 gallon long. I somewhat have neglected water changes in this tank cause i was going to sell. Ive had a change of heart and been keeping up with it the last 2 weeks. 10% water changes. I have 4 fish 1 bta and some xenia. Checked nitrates just now on all tanks. This one was 0. Very close to it. No skimmer just 2 hob filters. Changes carbon pad every 2 weeks.
Tank 2...35 cube. Been up for only 6 to 8 months. I have a skimmer and 1 hob. Same change pad every 2 weeks. Nitrates 30!!!!! I know need to come down. In this tank 5 fish 4 btas. Had 2, 1 spilt into 3. This is my favorite tank.
Tank 3..... 7.5 gallon cube. I built for my 2 year old. And my 13 year old. Both helped me build it. So much fun! But 2 fish 1 bta. ( from another tank) can transfer fish and bta when they get big. Also a frogspown. But this tank is 3 months old. Used live sand and rock that was in my 20 long. And i put live pods in. Does have a skimmer, nitrates around 5. So how in the heck does the tank ive neglected have 0 and the tanks i cared about more and done my maintenance pretty good differ so much. Plus the 20 long has no skimmer!!! I am now planning on buying one but im thinking why??? Its doing so good. I know it could be the bioload thats causing this but the 20 long has 4 fish and a bta. Id say thats maxed out. Any ideas??? Is it really cause my 20 long is 1.5 years old and more stable????? Im at a loss. I know i need to get my nitrates down in my 35 cube. Its my favorite tank. Everything in it is doing great except 1 coral. Sorry so long...any feedback would be appreciated. God bless.
Tank 2...35 cube. Been up for only 6 to 8 months. I have a skimmer and 1 hob. Same change pad every 2 weeks. Nitrates 30!!!!! I know need to come down. In this tank 5 fish 4 btas. Had 2, 1 spilt into 3. This is my favorite tank.
Tank 3..... 7.5 gallon cube. I built for my 2 year old. And my 13 year old. Both helped me build it. So much fun! But 2 fish 1 bta. ( from another tank) can transfer fish and bta when they get big. Also a frogspown. But this tank is 3 months old. Used live sand and rock that was in my 20 long. And i put live pods in. Does have a skimmer, nitrates around 5. So how in the heck does the tank ive neglected have 0 and the tanks i cared about more and done my maintenance pretty good differ so much. Plus the 20 long has no skimmer!!! I am now planning on buying one but im thinking why??? Its doing so good. I know it could be the bioload thats causing this but the 20 long has 4 fish and a bta. Id say thats maxed out. Any ideas??? Is it really cause my 20 long is 1.5 years old and more stable????? Im at a loss. I know i need to get my nitrates down in my 35 cube. Its my favorite tank. Everything in it is doing great except 1 coral. Sorry so long...any feedback would be appreciated. God bless.
