I am having the hardest time keeping fish alive in my 37 gallon salt tank. I've tested water samples and have determined that the nitrate level is way too high (and I also noticed hair algae growing, another sign of high nitrate). What should I do?! I'm going to start trying to do a water change about every other day, but are there any products I can get that can help me lower the nitrate levels? I don't want to lose any more fish to this problem :(

OK remember nothing good happens fast so slow down for a minute. We need to know a few things before we can help you out.

#1 How long has the tank been running

#2 What exactly are you useing for filtration?

#3 How much LR and how much flow?

#4 What are you useing for water tap or RO/DI

#5 What type of fish are you trying and loseing?

#6 What are you useing to check you salinty a hydrometer or refractometer?

#7 What are your actuall test results as in actuall numbers?

1. The tank has been running for about 2 and a half months.
2. I have a MarineLand Penguin overhang filter fit for my tank and an Eshopps nano protein skimmer.
3. I don't know LR and flow.
4. I'm using tap water that I've used for 2 years on a smaller tank that I am treating with water conditioner.
5.I recently lost a saddleback clown, royal gramma and pygmy angelfish.
6. I'm using a hydrometer.
7. Test results:
Nitrate: high range 100 low range 20
Nitrite: 0-0.05
Ammonia: 0.25 is what I got but my tank meter reads <0.02 ppm
Alk: normal at 1.7
pH: in range at 8.4
These numbers come from my marine lab test kit from Red Sea.

Dang that is high nitrates. Do you have any live rock in this tank at all and how much sand is in there? Do you have any powerheads and if so what kind? How often do you clean/change you filters? I think all of the above is causing your nitrate problems. In my opinion I would remover the filters in one of those filters and put chetao in there with a light on it. That will help lower nitrates. It is a new tank and looks to be going through a cycle still. Also never hurts to get a fresh water test kit to test your tap water just to be sure what you are working with.

I would reccomend purchasing a RO/DI system Aquarium Water Filtration Page this is a reputable company that is very economicaly priced they offer 0PPM check it out

LR is live rock. You should have at least 50lbs. Don't replace your fish until you have your problem corrected. Your problem is that your tank is unstable and hasn't completely cycled in. Your Ammonia and Nitrite both need to be at 0 before you add fish.

Flow is water circulation within your tank. It is usually accomplished with powerheads. Most of us use either Korallia pumps or SureFlow modded Maxijets. This is of secondary importance at this point.

What you need to do is to make sure that you have enough live rock and reduce feeding to once every two days. Also a large water change will help to reduce the toxins in your tank. Take your time and move back to the basics. Good luck!

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Doc

Dr Hank's 200 gallon Reef Tank
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I have to agree with the good Doctor here. This tank needs to go back to the basics. With in itself is not a bad thing. Best way to do this is start with about 20% water change weekly for a few weeks. With RO water. If you don't have a local fish store to get it from there's always Walmart or large market chains. This will begin to break down your a Ammonia and your nitrites.

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If It Is To Be It's Up To Me!!!
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I dont entirely agree with doc here but do not dissagree. I have not used amonia test kits from red sea but I do know alot of test kits are hard to read. .25 is high but could be the test kit. Take water to a lfs to be tested and repost the reults. Two and a half months is a really new tank but imo amonia should be gine by now however that dont mean the tank has completed the cycle. That as doc stated is of upmost important so please get another test done by an lfs that are used to there test kits. Secondly I agree with getting an rodi filter air water ice is a good site aswell. However I have had nice tanks with tap water but I will not recomend it. Flow imo is second on the priorty list to complete the nitrogen cycle and with enough live rock will help bring nitrates down. You have to have flow for gas exchange google flow in the saltwater reef tank there is a ton of info on this. Lastly if you dont know about live rock and flow or what they are you need to do alot and I mean alot more homework before getting more fish. I agree with water changes I would do 30 percent water changes twice a week till your levels come down. In that time it will take to bring them down read read and read some more. That honestly is going to be your number one priorty.