[cappy290]

Need help guys and gals my nitrates are kinda high and I want to do a 5gal to 7gal water change tonight. I have a 29gal biocube an was wondering if i could clean the bio balls all at once since my tank has been up and running for 5 months an I never cleaned the bio balls. Will this be bad if I clean the bio balls all at once tonight? I guess what im asking is can i clean the bio balls an be fine with really no change in the tank? Thanks for any an all the help here guys an gals...

[rlcline76]

Those dirty bioballs can be partly to blame for the nitrates in your tank. Those need to go the way of the dodo. You will still need to do a water change. I would be tempted to do a 5gal and then do another 5 gal in a couple of days. Get rid of those balls.

[glampka]

As Becky said - dump the balls. They're part of your problem. If you want to reduce the nitrates quickly try this method: An Instant Nitrate Reduction Method - A Multiple Step Water Change Procedure Just be sure your water is the same temperature & salinity as that in your tank.
How much are you feeding - that could also be contributing to your problem. Most people tend to overfeed.

[cappy290]

Becky and Gary thanks for the help I think i will go to petco today they have a tank there with all sorts of little rubble rock already cured so i will try and pick up a couple pounds and get rid of the bio balls.

[cappy290]

Gary i am feeding my fish twice a day. The first thing i do is feed them a pinch of flake food in the morning and than when i get home from work i feed them one frozen cube, I think maybe i will cut back and feed them once a day now and see how that goes.

[rlcline76]

That seems like a lot to me. I have 2 20 gallons worth of fish. I only feed them once a day and I only feed until I noticed that everyone had something to eat.
What do you have in that tank?

[cappy290]

Yeah I think you guys are right, I'm feeding to much now i will only feed once a day and see if the nitrates drop with some water changes and getting rid of the bio balls should help out alot... Sorry had to edit forgot to tell u what I have in the tank I have a clown, royal gramma, bullet goby, and a sixline wrasse. Everything is pretty small but growing well, so do you think one frozen cube of food might be to much for these guys? They seem to eat it all and whatever they dont eat seems to be taken in by the filter. I know four fish is alot for the 29gal bio cube but i am trying to get my new setup going but money is the key. I hope to have everything for the 90gal tank with in the next 3 to 5 months.

[glampka]

I feed mine every other day (if I remember). They're fine with that.

[cappy290]

Gary every other day works good for you? Maybe this would be a good thing for me to try I sure dont think the fish will starve or anything like that..

[glampka]

Fish in nature don't eat big meals every day. They tend to graze, go a few days without eating as well. You're not going to starve them. There are times when we go away for a few days - I'll feed before we go & when we get home. Never have had a problem.

[cappy290]

Thanks for the advice Gary I will do this to get the nitrates under control.

[ACE]

I feed my fish once every day till I notice all have had there share, and I will skip a day now and then (some times not intentionally) to get them to graze.

I think it helps to keep the tank clean.

[NATIVEVAMAN]

It might helpo thaw the cube out and let it "drip dry"before you drop it in the tank.I have to admit that my sweety feeds her red cap orandas a cube every day still frozen and we get a kick out of watching them play football with it.

[cappy290]

Ace and Nativevaman thanks for the advise. I do unthaw the cube with some tank water in a little cup I keep under my stand and than I usally just pour it into the tank a little at a time to make sure they will eat all the food. I might start skipping a day and see how that goes for a bit. I still have to get them darn bio balls out and replace with live rock just didnt have the money this weekend, Wife had me spending my money on two birthday parties last weekend Diferent story this week I get paid. Thanks again everyone....

[Marco0725]

Nice article... Thanks for passing it along.