tips on lowering high nitrate levels

[Eyford01]

Unfortunately scallops are exclusive filter feeders and aren't photosynthetic so they don't host the algae that supposedly helps, this is also why they can be so very hard to keep alive, and I agree about adding chemicals, personally I would add more sand a deep sand bed is reconmended to be at least 3" deep and will have anaerobic areas that grow bacteria which can break down nitrates into nitrogen gas although that won't be an immediate fix it may help as a preventitive in the future, and seeing how your tank is relatively young it is possible that this is still just a mini cycle on the way to stability

[burrows14]

awesome! im hoping it is just a mini cycle too ill add the skimmer today and add some more sand and hope all goes well! thanks for your help it is much appreciated!

thanks
ray

[mat167]

Vodka (or carbon) dosing is another possible solution if you haven't been able to manage the problem with other methods. I've had good success with it in the past, but it is rather cumbersome. So far my favorite method is a brightly lit refugium with macroalgae.

[burrows14]

ive heard of vodka dosing but have no idea what it is. ive seen some mods of putting a ref in the back of the biocube and i think it looks great and would be something i would really consider.

[Skimmerking]

for a smal tank like that do 10 gal per week test then do 5 gal per week that will bring you Nitrates down, with a small tank water changes are the best way to go. and your corals are always getting the best for their buck.