Help! Nitrates are high

[lowtide]

I have a 55 gal. fish and live rock tank. I just can't seem to keep the nitrates low enough. I recently ( 3 weeks ago) set up a 20 gal. refugium to try and control things. The plants are doing great in the little tank, and the water exchange seems good between the two tanks, however, the nitrates are just as high as they were before--Help!
I have several fish, and a cool stars & stripes puffer, but he is such a slob when he eats, and I'm sure that doesn't help!
Any suggestions will be welcomed.
Thanks,

[WetWilly]

water changes :) feed less if popssible. get a better skimmer.

[reeferdude]

Try having your LFS test the water. I had the same problem and found out the test kit was flawed. Give the refugium time it will bring them down, you may also want to try to get your hands on a mangrove. My nitrates went from off the charts to 0 after removing my bio-balls and adding a 10 gallon refugium with caulerpa and a Florida red mangrove.