Nitrates and the overflow
Nitrates and the overflow
Ok, i have a question. I tend to have high nitrates, just nitrates, everything else no problem. I have tried everything, and i mean everything, with the exception of removing some of my fish to reduce bio load. I am currently starting AZ-No3, which is an enzyme that catalyzes maltase which ends up feeding the anaerobic bacteria that break down the nitrates in DSB and live rock. I will let you know how it goes. But.....
Here is the question. In my overflow i have the Mega Flow and corner overflow unit, which many of you seem to either have made or purchased. It just came to me that there must be a ton of food that settles to the bottom in the overflow, and sense the water is drawn down into the refugium at least three quarters the way up there is little to no flow or suction for anything that settles down in the back corner. Thus tremendous decay where no live rock or critters exist to bread down the heavy food.
I feed a mix of frozen food that i combine Formula 1 and F 2, fresh garlic, immune enhancing mushrooms (agaricus, choriolus, reishi, maitake- its called Immune Assist
www.alohamedicinals.com), Artemisinin extract which is anti-parasitic. I feed two times a day, once on weekends and sometimes not at all on Sundays.
I feed mysis shrip and Cyclop-eze (frozen) three times a week.
I but nori in daily for grazing which breaks away and travels to the back as well.
So i have very healthy fish, colorful, only lost one, but that was due to receiving a mandarin goby way too early as my amphlopods were not mature yet.
So, i cut my feedings back to once a day. Some flake in the mornings, didnt want anyone to starve, and nitrates escalated above 100. The fish really dont mind but it has been tough on my corals. I even do water changes weekly. Never made a dent. Tried "Algon" nothing.
So im putting down the lap top and going into the office to Python the back of the tank. I hope it fits down in the back of there. I am hoping for three inches of waste!!! Just a theory.
Have any of you faced this issue? Do you vacuum the back of your overflow? What about putting some snails down in there, it would be tough for them to occlude the large vented return valve which goes to the refugium.
Thanks for any input.
Jason Harmon
