One of the main causes of algae and other problems in saltwater fish tanks is high nitrate levels. Nitrates are the by product of fish waste and decaying food but there are ways to reduce them to acceptable levels. The end result of lowering nitrates will be a cleaner tank with healthier fish.
Frequent Water Changes- Doing regular water changes is a great way to reduce your nitrates. If you are using tap water make sure that you test it for nitrates. Some cities tap water has high nitrates and will defeat the purpose of a water change.
Nitrate Removal Filter Media- There are many filter materials on the market that will help you reduce nitrates in your tank and most do a very good job. They are mainly made of zeolite and while they do a good job of reducing nitrates they should not be thought of as a ultimate solution.
Clean Your Filters- Your tank filters will trap and remove fish waste, uneaten food and other solid from the salt water fish tank water. If left to rot this waste and old food will contribute to your nitrate problems. To avoid this problem make sure you clean your filter pads at least every two weeks but in some cases once a week might be needed.
Feed Carefully- Since uneaten fish food contributes to your problem you need to take steps to eliminate the amount of food that gets uneaten. You can do this by turning off all water pumps and filters when you feed your saltwater fish and only add small amounts that they quickly eat. Do this for a few minutes to ensure your fish get enough to eat.
