Just about had it now!!!

[findingnemo1]

Okay i need some advice before i just pack it in.

I have a 90 gallon that is the downgrade of the 120. I have always had a nitrate problem. So in order to fix that i have sone weekly water changes. Cut down on the food. Downgraded my fish load. But i still frickin have them. I have a Montipora confusa that is sadly pretty much toast. All the flesh is receding from the top. And a birdsnest that is showing skeleton. And have lost a few more in the last month.
Oddly enough the acroporas are all healthy and thriving.

Here is my system in a nut shell:
90 Gallon
40Gallon Sump
Euro reef rs250 skimmer
2-400 watt halides.
2 of the biggest seio pumps
1 of the medium seio( sorry can't remember there size numbers right now)
Ball of cheato in the sump
2 phosban reactors running carbon and phosban
window fan keeping temp at 80 with halides on
Tests are as follows

Calcium 400
Alk 9
Ntrite 0
ph 8.2
Nitrate 60

So here were my thoughts. Before i just give up in general by flushing my money away

Either
A: a diy denitrator
B: Zeovite
C: A refugium tank set up beside the tank somehow feeding water back and forth
D: Reefresh
E: All or a combination of the above or
F: GIve up and sell it all..lol

Suggestions?

Thanks Craig

[Jason McK]

Is the Cheato in the sump have a light on it? is it growing and if so are you triming it?
Have you tested your source water for Nitrates?

what is your current fish load?

Sorry for all the questions but it will help everyone help you

J

[Reefer Rob]

You don't say how old your system is or what your bioload is. With a system like your's your shouldn't have nitrates. Are your rocks arranged nice and loose so water can flow around them well? Do you have sand that isn't vacuumed regularly? Areas of detritus collection? Lots of flow around your Chaeto?

[Delphinus]

How many lbs of rock do you have?

Are you using RO/DI or tap water?

[Scavenger]

Have you checked your source water for nitrates? Also checking your mixed water before adding might be an idea. Perhaps you have a contaminated bucket of salt. At the very least it would remove any doubt about what's going into the tank water wise.

[danny zubot]

What kind of test kit are you using?