can someone help :/

[PufferBabe]

i bought a saltwater master test kit and came home and tested my 75gallon. and my results are...

ammonia 0.25 ppm
pH 8.2
nitrite 0 ppm
nitrate 80 ppm

which is sooo strange because i just got some more live rock and did a 50% water change saturday...

i only have 3 gsps in there..i know its too much for the tank but they are still juveniles..and im working on a bigger tank..

idk what to do i have about 30 pounds of LR

i dont yet have a protein skimmer

but im running a bio wheel filter

what could i do to get the levels down??

btw the s.g is 1.022

plz help

[trekenk]

Water Changes, water changes and more water changes. Was the new live rock cured?

[Pufferpunk]

Yes, lots of WC! Where did you get the LR?

[PufferBabe]

i bought most of the LR from my lfs and it was cured it had been in the tank for a super long time but like 4 pounds of it i bought on petco but cured it myself and the ammonia was 0ppm.

i just ordered a Sea-clone protein skimmer on petco.

do you guys have any reviews on that kind of protein skimmer?

[PufferBabe]

i bought most of the LR from my lfs and it was cured it had been in the tank for a super long time but like 4 pounds of it i bought on petco but cured it myself and the ammonia was 0ppm.

i just ordered a Sea-clone protein skimmer on petco.

do you guys have any reviews on that kind of protein skimmer?

[Pufferpunk]

Sea"clowns" are complete garbage. Get a Backpac. How long did you cure your LR? What about nitrite?

[RTR]

With a seriously overstocked tank, you have to expect poor water quality without very frequent 50% water changes, even with very cautious feeding.

IMHO you need to at least double the tank size and also increase the LR mass by the same factor (more would be better). Also look into a 24/7 lighted macroalgae refugium w/passive return to the display (i.e., pump in and passive return).