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Hello, Im new to the ReefForum, I have a 29 gallon tank with 60lbs live sand 60+lbs cured live rock, Rena xp1 filstar filter, penguin powerhead, coralife 130W lights. been up and running for 2.5 years, with 3 clowns a yellow tang a scooter blenny, and a bicolor blenny, just recently started adding coral and things look GREAT, however tested water and my nitrates are Sky High, been doin small water changes and waiting on a skimmer. what else can I do???????   Have Anthelia, Frogspawn, yellow polyps,green,purple,and blue shrooms, some zoas and a blassa musa?????? either way, I am extremely concerned with this issue! 

I also have countless crabs and snails doin cleanup

define sky high? what is the reading that you are getting for nitrates?

tons of reasons for high nitrates. good for the water changes but I would test the water you are using for the water change. Also make certain the test kit you have is true. maybe compare it to a friends test kit or take a sample into the LFS.

make certain all filter material is clean, canister filters are really bad increasing notrates.

less light I heard lowers nitrates.

try some cheato (sp?)

hope this helps.

I have an API Reef Master test kit, I use R.O water from meijer that I fill 5 gallon jugs with. the reading I get is between 80-160 ppm, like as red as it gets. The weird part is, all my fish and corals look happy. I want to build a homemade sump, is a 10G reg, or 15 gallon show or high big enough? My in-cabinet dimensions are like 28L,25H, but only 11&1/4 deep, so Im limited to what I can fit.