| Do whatever it takes to keep the nitrates below 10 ppm.... zero to 5 ppm is the goal. Removing diterus, useing a good skimmer, keeping a low bioload, not overfeeding, and doing regular water changes is the key. If you keep all filters rinsed and clean every couple of days you would be ok....but having dirty bioballs, biowheels, sponges, etc.... only allows for the diterus to stay trapped and breakdown via the nitrogen cycle which ofcourse results in nitrAtes. HTH |