Need advise on nitrate issues

[ssgtgonzo]

Keep in mind if you put rock in your sump you'll have to check and vacuum it every now and again. I know some people think that it is a detriment to put rock in a sump because it will collect detritus.

With as much rock as you have, increased flow will help. I don't mean in terms of gph, but actually seeing detritus in suspension and draining from your dt. Gph is like watts per gallon, it's a good start but doesn't tell the whole story. You can have 100 times the size of the tank, but if you don't aim them properly it doesn't matter the amount of flow.

I have to admit it's a bit discouraging to read some of your responses to some of the suggestions. Can you let us know what you aren't allowed to do or are unwilling to do? That will help us tailor our suggestions/responses to you.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using Tapatalk 2

 

[hollback]

Trust me, the amount of LR in your display is more than enough surface area to provide proper biological filtration. Adding rock to your sump or a fuge will not solve your issue.

Proper circulation in the display will be difficult to achieve with loads of tightly stacked rock. The more open, the easier it will be to prevent detritus from building up. A high quality skimmer and water changes along with managing your feedings is all that is required to keep your nitrates under control.

And the best advice I can give is.... STOP MESSING WITH THINGS!

 

[bucksfan1976]

Keep in mind if you put rock in your sump you'll have to check and vacuum it every now and again. I know some people think that it is a detriment to put rock in a sump because it will collect detritus.

With as much rock as you have, increased flow will help. I don't mean in terms of gph, but actually seeing detritus in suspension and draining from your dt. Gph is like watts per gallon, it's a good start but doesn't tell the whole story. You can have 100 times the size of the tank, but if you don't aim them properly it doesn't matter the amount of flow.

I have to admit it's a bit discouraging to read some of your responses to some of the suggestions. Can you let us know what you aren't allowed to do or are unwilling to do? That will help us tailor our suggestions/responses to you.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using Tapatalk 2

Are you sure you are reading all my posts Ive done everything that has been suggested except for the fuge.

1. Amber suggested getting the rock off of all three walls and I did. I now have access to the front and both sides.

2. It was suggested to put a powerhead in behind the rock to help with flow and I have

3. It was suggested to blow off the rock and I have

4. It was suggested that if I move the rock around to clean all the sand and I have

5. Suggested to keep up on the water changes and I have

6. I bought a new test kit as suggested

7. I have slowed down feedings as suggested

8. The rock in my sump is actually some i removed from my DT

I have done everything that was suggested except for a fuge. Its not that I have limitations just space limitations is all. Ive tried every suggestion made here. Please let me know what I have not done. Im open to all suggestions and will try them all.

 

[macchicks]

Im in Blue

Are you sure you are reading all my posts Ive done everything that has been suggested except for the fuge.

1. Amber suggested getting the rock off of all three walls and I did. I now have access to the front and both sides. I did, At the same time I said remove some of it. You rinsed it put it back in a smaller and tighter configeration. I thought I was clear that it needed a looser configeration to allow flow through it. But because you have made so many changes I agree that you should stop doing anything right now and wait. Although I do think you will need to remove some of the rock.

2. It was suggested to put a powerhead in behind the rock to help with flow and I have

3. It was suggested to blow off the rock and I have

4. It was suggested that if I move the rock around to clean all the sand and I have

5. Suggested to keep up on the water changes and I have I think you can go back to normal weekly/bi weekly water changes. You are still talking of large constant changing of water. IMO to much and may be hurting in ways we do not know.

6. I bought a new test kit as suggested

7. I have slowed down feedings as suggested

8. The rock in my sump is actually some i removed from my DT It does not matter if it is in your tank or sump. It will act the same.

I have done everything that was suggested except for a fuge. Its not that I have limitations just space limitations is all. Ive tried every suggestion made here. Please let me know what I have not done. Im open to all suggestions and will try them all. The trying all IS an issue. Try one thing wait weeks not hours to see if it works. You are expecting a result much to quickly.

 

[ssgtgonzo]

Hey donnie, i really don't want to start a war of posts with you...people have suggested that you remain patient and to leave it be for a while...you didn't. Suggested you not to do huge water changes...you did. Suggested that if you were moving rock from where it was, that you don't put it back...you did with the exception of a small amount. These are important things...i would put more weight in those items rather than in what suggestion you chose to follow. That's what is frustrating...but it is YOUR tank and we have to respect your call...but these are great and important suggestions. These are the kinds of suggestions that will make the difference between long term success and "giving up and selling your system." (yes i know you took your post down and are sticking with it now) I would say that if you are finding things too tedious that you may have to reevaluate the tasks you are performing. I hardly do anything inside my dt...it should be a joy to watch...thats why we all started in this hobby, right? The only thing i would classify as tedious is waiting for my RO container to fill!

So good luck, don't take my posts as knocks, it's just how i see it. You gotta do what you gotta do...it's your tank and your responsibility.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using Tapatalk 2

 

[bucksfan1976]

Agreed on the RO Filling, believe me we are not going to War...LOL.... I just cant throw the live rock away i had to put it somewhere...LOL Im leaving it be just kinda caught up in the fustration...LOL Maybe i should move my tank to my brothers house so i dont have 24/7 access to it...

I have never taken anything any of you have said as knocks. No water changes now I dont have any salt ...LOL

 

[Shells4]

What about small, daily water changes? There are some great threads here about the benefits. Over TIME it can greatly reduce your nitrates with less stress to your fish. I have been fighting a nitrate battle (<100) for a couple of years. Large water changes do not work. About 6 weeks ago I started changing about 2% of water a day. It literally takes one minute and it is much easier than weekly or bi-weekly water changes and it appears that the nitrates are slowly starting to drop. My fish, invertabrates, and corals have thrived despite the high nitrates so if your livestock looks ok then don't freak out. You will learn more about your tank by observing the inhabitants than by a test kit. IMO nitrates are hard to measure also. I have three different, all new kits, and they all say something completely different. It is very frustrating!

 

[biecacka]

Agreed that more/same rock in tighter place is counter productive. One thing I do Donnie is take a small pump or turkey baster or anything and blow it across my rocks in an attempt to get the gunk to my water column an d on to my skimmer. I too battled some algae issues due to high nitrates
Corey

 

[Shells4]

Double post. Sorry.

 

[macchicks]

No one is saying throw it away.
Put it in a bucket or barrel and leave it to cook. Or dry it out to have for future use.

Agreed on the RO Filling, believe me we are not going to War...LOL.... I just cant throw the live rock away i had to put it somewhere...LOL Im leaving it be just kinda caught up in the fustration...LOL Maybe i should move my tank to my brothers house so i dont have 24/7 access to it...

I have never taken anything any of you have said as knocks. No water changes now I dont have any salt ...LOL

 

[bucksfan1976]

I did one even better a guy came over tonight and bought about 40lbs and he happened towant acoupe out of the tank that opened up rhe sides even more. So its a start.

 

[Baldwin]

Lol i think its funny that people are saying your problem is too much rock. Although that much is not really needed. It is also not your problem donnie. I have personally maintained over 40 saltwater tanks, from fully stacked rock that a detritus wall to tabks with minimal rock. I'm going to tell you now that even with the rock stacked wrong and too much of it, I've never had a problem with nitrates that wasnt caused by a bad ro or overfeeding. Even at that teres only been a couple instances. Again im not saying that you dont have too much and less may be better, im simply suggesting that you get to the root of the problem because imo too much rock isnt it. I should also state that i have personally seen this your tank. One more point Donnie I manage my nitrates in my smaller gallonage tank with sps and all those fish including that huge desjardini through water changes. If you do enough you wont have problems.

 

[bucksfan1976]

Persistance is paying off i just tested and its now in the 25 ppm instead of 100

 

[bill4t]

some of the responese on here are getting funny, not you Donnie, but you know what I mean . well I hope your getting it under controll. id like to come over and check out the tank and see the leds. And talk to Todd alot at reef systems hes a real pro at this stuff. hes helped me out a bunch over the years!

 

[bucksfan1976]

yea i talked to him, he told me basically if Im not gonna go bare bottom, get flow behind the rocks and keep up with the changes. Its helping slowly but surley.

 

[lowscooby76]

yea i talked to him, he told me basically if Im not gonna go bare bottom, get flow behind the rocks and keep up with the changes. Its helping slowly but surley.

sound like it starting to work.that good to hear.keep it up and it will get there.:thumbsup: