High nitrates

What is the best way to control high nitrates. We just spent an hour checking all parameters, nitrates was the only one out of range. We run a skimmer in the sump, a phosphate reactor and carbon. HELP!!!

It's a 65 gallon, we've been doing 15 gallons every 2 weeks.

65 gallon tank, 15 gallon sump, 3 year established 35 combined
with a 3 month cycled 65 in April. One clown, one coral beauty, one purple tang, one fairy wrasse, and 2 chromis. Several zoos, acans, Hammers and frog spawn. I have never done a complete water change. l

What are the nitrates prior to the wc and after?

Edited by Reefer4Ever - June 02 2015 at 11:04pm

No its not bad and I would suggest it if it's still high or above 10ppm. You can also add in some macro algae which is not a fix all but it does use nitrate and phosphate out of the water column. There are several hobbyist using a bio denitrater which removes nitrates.   

Where do you get macro algae?

If it's the green plants in the sump, I use 2 kinds, and have a light over it. I don't know if we'll make game might, we're trying to adjust our schedule to make it. I really appreciate all your help.

The husband says we'll make it to game night, and could probably use more macro algae, we're willing to pay for more, I use r.o. for top off, and red sea for salt. We'll take some pics, and red you there Thursday night for sure. ;p

Do you have a deep sand bed or filter socks?

All of those socks floss and sponges could be a big part of your problem. Particulates caught in those medium start to break down in days and will produce nitrates as they do. I run filter socks in my sump but they get changed every 2-3 days to help prevent the particulates from breaking down. Any media that traps particulates in your system should be changed weekly at maximum. Any time longer than that and they are just producing nitrates and aren't very efficient at catching more debris.

You can also run your sump light 24/7 to increase the amount of nutrients your algae are removing from the system.