8g Biocube nitrates up

[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 :-)