"Peter Pan" wrote in message
. ..
Well last week, after a partial water change, my Nitrates were 20PPM. I
did another partial WC and still was way to high. I tried Amquel + but
after 3 days of using it, the only thing I had was higher pH levels.
I reduced the water level to 40% of the normal level, then did a series
of several 50% changes until I got my Nitrate to 10 - 15 PPM. I then
added water to the tank to 75% level and another series of water changes
until I was at 0 - 5 ppm, then I filled the tank. My pH rose to 8.9 I
used some pH decrease and dropped to 7.8 I am now at 8.3 as of this
morning. My tank is beginning to get back to normal.
I'll be doing my partials more often then my normal 20 - 30 day intervals.

How often do you clean the neck in the skimmer?

Jim