high nitrates what to do?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7573215#post7573215 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rutz81
Rich:How long till the sand in my remote DSB becomes a "nasty festering mess?"
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I dont know. I've got a big scary skimmer, so I dont worry about my sand. If its being used as the primary filtration, then probably a year. If its being used as a backup, like I use mine, probably never.
 
well i only shut it off for at most 7-8 hours and that is between 12pm and 8 am...my sleeping time.

my skimmer cup is atleast halfway down in the top...the water is about 1/4 1/2 an inch up the tappering of the tub, to skim wetter.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7573221#post7573221 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by beeker
well if i could throw the aquabee on my CPR id rather do that.
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You'd rather spend $150 to make a junky skimmer work a little better, than buy a $175 skimmer that would solve most of your problems, and work through any tank upgrades you made?


Also, I agree with the above saying you're running it on and off is making it worse. If you had an overpowered skimmer, I'd say cool, but you're already using a poor skimmer, no reason to handicap it.
 
well i thought you said the HOB octopus was the same as my CPR just with a better pump...so if i buy the best pump then i would have a 200 dollar skimmer right...lol

well i can't sleep with the damn thing on and if i could i would...even with the air valve closed on it and the pump just being on i can't sleep.
 
I personally would worry about 0 nitrates. I would worry about getting them much lower than they currently are.
 
well i removed all the sand in my tank and am making it a BB tank for now...my skimmer has been working 100% better with no sand in there...my nitrates have already gone down in 1 day since doing this change now all i have to do is a few more small water changes over the next few weeks and my tank will be back at 100%

thanks for all your help guys...though removing sand that is already in water is almost impossible i was able to do it within 4 hours lol

ill be upgrading my skimmer pump and might be adding a small refugium onto the tank as well for better nitrate/phosphate export.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7573287#post7573287 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by beeker
well i thought you said the HOB octopus was the same as my CPR just with a better pump...so if i buy the best pump then i would have a 200 dollar skimmer right...lol

well i can't sleep with the damn thing on and if i could i would...even with the air valve closed on it and the pump just being on i can't sleep.
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Sounds like something is wrong with the pump.
 
Run your skimmer 24 hours! Take some sleeping pills if the noise is too loud. I think sooner or later you will get accustomed to the noise and fall asleep.

Have you considered some products like AZNO3. Its suppose to reduce nitrates by using your skimmer to export it out. Take a look and check out the product.

Mike
 
well i removed all of my sand and am now BB, i did a small 5 gallon water change yesterday and already my nitrates went down by about 50 ppm so i'm happy for now, as long as i don't remove the rest of the nitrates too fast my tank and corals should be ok. I got all my rock work rearanged(after 7 hours of work yesterday) and my corals replaced. Everything looks great so now it comes down to getting my tanks stability back on track.
 
Make sure you read up on BB, there are many things to take into consideration, but, good job finding where most of your nitrates were. Not to reiterate this agin, but, you defintely should run your skimmer all the time now, since a BB tanks' only means of nutrient export is the skimmer. With a DSB, you might have been able to get away with no skimmer while you sleep, but, defintely not now.
 
well for the time my skimmer isn't on ill just up my manditory water changes so that should counter act the effect of it only being off 8 hours.

i need to get something like the CPR aquafuge with the built in skimmer that way i have the added water/light for macro algea and the skimmer all in one that way i can ditch my CPR back pak and move up with a better refugium/skimmer
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7588613#post7588613 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by beeker
my pump on my skimmer is fine and does it's job well.
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Not if its keeping you up at night, its not fine. Mine was dead silent, and sat right next to my bed.
 
it's not the pump thats loud, it's the bubbles it creates that are loud and i can't sleep with that, even when i close the air valve all the way bubbles still seem to come out of my skimmers outlet
 
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