I had a FOWLR for about 7 years setup on my 150. Around March 2016 i lost interest as i had recently moved and lost most of my fish during the move. I didn't do a water change for about a year. In april of this year i decided i wanted to get back up and running but this time i wanted to do a reef tank. I had a 6 inch sand bed and did not know much about how they work. Before i did my water change i tested my levels and noticed i had a little ammonia but my Nitrate and Nitrite was at 0. I removed all my live rock and attacked the sandbed with my python (Big Mistake). After my water change, Ammonia and Nitrite were zero but Nitrate was off the charts (over 100ppm). I used a Red Sea and Salifert No3 tester. Both had same results. I bought a Low Range Phosphate checker from Hannah and my Phosphates were around.55ppm. I ended up signing up on here shortly after and learned about the deep sand bed and figured that was my issue. I drained my tank, removed my sand and added about 2" of new Samoa Pink Sand. I also put on a GFO reactor and have been doing about 45 gallon water changes weekly. My Nitrates are about 20-25ppm now and my Phosphate is about .20ppm. It's been a pretty steady battle but i am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel now. lol
