Agree with Kno4te.
When you say nitrates are a little high, what does that mean?
I consider a reading of 10 ppm high enough to to warrant a significant water change.
To hold my tanks nitrate at what I consider "healthy" levels for sensitive fish, I usually do daily 25% water changes, or if I'm slacking off, 40% every other day, in my 180gal connected (in line plumbing) with a 125 gal,
But with a tank as small as a 55, its harder to hold nitrate low, because the small volume of water quickly gets overwhelmed by metabolism byproducts, so the more water changes the better.
When you say nitrates are a little high, what does that mean?
I consider a reading of 10 ppm high enough to to warrant a significant water change.
To hold my tanks nitrate at what I consider "healthy" levels for sensitive fish, I usually do daily 25% water changes, or if I'm slacking off, 40% every other day, in my 180gal connected (in line plumbing) with a 125 gal,
But with a tank as small as a 55, its harder to hold nitrate low, because the small volume of water quickly gets overwhelmed by metabolism byproducts, so the more water changes the better.