[pistol37]

I am relatively new to this and have a quick question. My 48 gal tank has been up and running happily now for about 9 months FOWLR and Ive kept up on my water changes but my nitrate levels have been creeping and creeping and they dont seem to want to level off or slow down. My other tank parameters, PH, nitrites, and amonia are normal but my nitrates are up near 45 ppms. Any recommendations?

[demonsquirt]

Are useing tap water?
what type of fish and there type of food and feeding scedule?

[jimw369]

Whats your tank set up? What equipment? Skimmer and so on...

[spanko]

What is your substrate made up of? How much live rock? What is your water change and filter cleaning schedule?

As added questions to Lance and Jims.

[unclejed]

I will suggest that when you post and are asking for help or for ideas, please include all basic information. Basic information should include; all water parameters(Calcium,Magnes ium,Alkalinity,Ph and Nitrate and Phosphate levels) along with Temp. of your tank and Sg (specific gravity).Size of tank and complete set up meaning, filter type (sump, canister etc.),if you use a skimmer,lighting (what type and total output)plus what is your lighting schedule (how long a period are your actinic and daylights on) and if you have fish only with live rock and if you keep corals. Also how long the tank has been up. I know some of this is in your bio but many bios don't contain this info. How many times has someone posted and then there is this list of postings addressing the above. If you give the most info you can to give us a good profile, it will cut down on response time and mis-diagnosis or answers that don't fit and we will all benefit.

[pogodzib]

A couple more thing to add to the list above would be feeding habits (how much, how often, and what types of food) and your tanks bioload (fish types, quantities, and sizes). Once all of those items are listed, it is much easier to help diagnose problems and their causes.