Rick is such a miracle worker.

How on earth did the Trates get so high?? Do you have a bunch of filter media in those tanks? The highest I have ever seen is 120 and all of her fish were dying!! Have you ever tried the denitrator media by sea chem?? I'm glad you are getting them lowered. Peace Rob

Trates @ 160 and the cheato won't grow..........WTF!!! Next time you guys come to town bring me some water. What is your water source for water changes?

i pump sacramento river water into my galvanized trashcan and haul it to paradise. they say the river water is super pure and great for reef tanks.

Ya, that river is about as pure as a puddle of water running off my fertilized lawn hahahahaha............Great for feeding algae I assume you were joking...................well I hope you were or I have to remove my foot from my mouth!!

um yeah i was kidding. that water is so contaminated its not funny.

160 NITRATES :shock: WOW I would pull all filter socks and sponges. Try pulling the Chaeto apart to stimulate regrowth. Check your water source for nitrate contamination. Definelty cut way back on your feeding regimens and do major water changes frequently (40% twice a week) until they are back down. I have had success using AZ NO3 to reduce my mitrates from being consistanly around 40 to ZERO, but it takes about a month. The vodka method also works (provide a carbon source for the growth of plankton in the form of alcohol), but it also takes a month to show affects. I set up a remote deep sand bed in a 5 gal bucket alittle over a month ago and so far my nitrates are hovering around 5 even though I stopped using the AZ NO3 about two weeks ago. It seems to be working...... As for the Nitrate Media, the only one I am familiar with that works in SALT WATER is put in a calcium reactor and is Sulfer based. I believe it requires the lower pH present in the reactor chamber in order to work. It is suppose to work really well but its expensive stuff.