Chemical Filtration Views

DarthFred6996

New member
Would you use Purigen, Chemi-pure, Carbon, Phos-zorb on a 14 gallon nano-reef?

ph=8.2
SG=1.0245
Ammonia=0
Nitrite=0
Nitrate=20 after neighbor fed fish for a week.:eek2:
Calcium=420

tank pic in other thread
 
If I were you, I just do a big water change to bring the nitrate down. Unless you have a chronic problem with nitrate and phosphate, I would not use these chemicals and resins. A 10% weekly water change or 20% biweekly water change will keep the small tank healthy and looking good. It's probably cheaper than using these chemicals, too. It's easy to mix and change one to two gallons of water every week or every other week, too.

Purigen, Chemi-pure and activated carbon take care of pretty much the same things - they adsorb dissolved organic compounds. Purigen is a type of resin and Chemi-pure is activated carbon with some deionizing resins.

Phos-zorb and Phosguard are both alumina based phosphate removers. They bind phosphate well, but Dr. Randy Holmes Farley reported a possible adverse effect on leathers.

Since your tank does not look plagued with cyano or any nuisance algae at the moment, I don't think you need any of the stuff you mentioned for now.

Tomoko
 
The pic is pre-vacation. I have red slime on my sand now. I have more hair algae. I did a 20% WC and ended up with nitrates=20 still. I still have red slime on my sand. I will do another PWC this weekend.
 
It helps to do a few large water changes for a few days in a row to bring nitrate down. Once you get the nitrate down, the cyano should disappear. Your phosphate may be raised slightly, too. You might consider using some GAC to take up some nitrate and phosphate in addition to the water changes.

Do you have a cleaner crew such as turbo and astreae snails? If not, I recommend that you get an assortment of snails including Mexican turbo snails.

If cyano and algae problems persists, check nitrate and phosphate to determine the next step.

Tomoko
 
Back
Top