Need help with Nitrates

[CA2OR]

I have had this 12g CubeMaster (nano) for almost 2 years now. There wasn't anything in it until about a year ago. Ever since the first thing I added to this tank I have been battleing Ph and nitrate issues. This has been a non stop losing battle. The filtration was all stock until last week. I replaced the pump with a better model that has flow control. I have also made the following changes recently that seem to have been for the better.

My filtration is odd so bare with me, there are 4 chambers so I will explain each one's current setup and possible future.
Chamber 1:
Where the water enters I have replaced the filter foam pad with live rock rubble.
Chamber 2:
Has the foam box, for lack of a better term, but is soon to be replaced with a Fizzon skimmer to assist in the nitrate battle and to improve water movement in the back of my tank because it seems stagnant. The skimmer is subject to what I get as feedback on this posting.
Chamber 3: I have removed the ceramic rings and Bio-balls and again replaced them with live rock rubble.
Chamber 4:
Houses the carbon and the return.

Please review and make suggestions becuase I am stuck and need help. I am quite sure I have over loaded my tank with corals and such so please take into consideration my bio load when making recommendations. Current inhabitants of this tank are:

2xGTBA's thanks to my anemone splitting
2xTrue Perc's in hopes of breeding someday
1xStar Polyp rock
1xStar Polyp patch that grew on the wall
1xClove coral
1xPulsating Zenia
1xPurple with green tips 2 headed Hammer coral with 5 new heads coming in
1xPurple and blue mushroom rock
1xFeather duster
1xCocoa worm
1xSingle head Candycain neon green
1xRock with unknown polyps that have been unidentified at 9 different stores now
1xEmerald green Starfish
1xSerpant Starfish
1xSand sifting Starfish
1xCleaner Shrimp
1xBanded Coral Shrimp
3xsnails
7xhermit crabs

Yes I know I have a lot of starfish for this little tank but my wife insists and they have been here for almost a year now and I have yet to notice any issues.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/196178July_20_2008s.jpg You can't see everything but I can get more pictures if necessary. I will post a picture of my current filtration setup tomorrow. But it would help to know how the water flows back there to set everything up correctly.

 

[CA2OR]

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[CA2OR]

Please understand that I do not know how the water flows behind my tank only that it goes from right to left but I don't know where it comes over or under. I really need advice on the filtration. As far as lighting is concerned I have 3 T5's 2 white and 1 blue with moon light.

 

[CA2OR]

Any maintanance advice would be handy as well. I currently do 5 gallon water changes 2 a month one from front of tank and one behind. Bulbs are replaced every 6 months.

 

[CA2OR]

is there any way to build a refugium into the back of my tank or does it have to go below?

 

[Playa-1]

is there any way to build a refugium into the back of my tank or does it have to go below?
There is usually a way to accomplish just about anything you want, A fuge doesn't have to go below the tank.

In a system like yours, You are releying heavily on water changes to do what other peoples refugium, Protein skimmer and small water changes do. That means that you could potentially be doing lots of water changes. So what is your water change routine? How often and how much?

When you say you have a nitrate and ph issue, Could you be more specific? Also if you could post all your water parameters that you test for that would be gr8.

Small systems require lots of TLC.

 

[Everyones Hero]

For helping with your nitrates I'd recommend getting a cheap clamp on light from lowes & a CF light. Pull the LR out of the 3rd chamber, put some Cheato in there & put the light above it.

Personally I do weekly water changes of about 2 gallons on my 20g.

What problem are you having with your PH?

 

[tmz]

I don't think the live rock rubble belongs in the filter chamber. It will likely do the same thing the ceramic media in terms of nitrate production. The highly oxygenated water will just wash over it and since it does not have deeper ares it is unlikely anoxic zones for the nitrate removing bacterial to form will be available.
Macroalgae will wok if you can find a way to give it light and space.
A little polypad in the filter chamber won't hurt and it will remove some phosphate and nitrate.

 

[Playa-1]

I think a little hang on back fuge might work for you.

 

[jph]

what kind of numbers are we talking about?
what is your nitrate and PH reading?

now... what kind of water are you using to make your saltwater and what kind of water are you using to top-off the tank inbetween water changes? are you using RO/DI?

also, save yourself the money, and DO NOT buy a fission skimmer. they are junk.

the smallest skimmer worth buying is the Tunze nano skimmer.
i do not know how much room you have in the back of the tank though, so i might be too big. then again, it may just fit i'm using one on my 24G aquapod, and love it.


J.

 

[CA2OR]

I cannot give you specific test results as I have found the my testing regents are probably bad. As it goes for my nitrate issues, it usually reads off the chart. My Ph consistantly dips down to 7.0 or lower to specify my Ph issues. Thank you all for your help thus far.

 

[CA2OR]

The water used for tank changes is bought from my LFS. I recall him telling me his filtration method and it did include a RO/DI. I have heard mixed responses on ALL of the mini skimmers for nano's so I just get stuck trying to decide which one to get.

 

[jph]

did you test the water you buy from the LFS?

take some of your tank water to the store and have them test it (in case you have a bad test kit)

try doing small (1G) water changes every day, or every other day, see how that works out over time.


good luck!

J.

 

[CA2OR]

I have been doing 5gallon water changes once a week. When I lowered it 2 or 3 gallon changes I noticed that my corals started to show more color and grew. I am not disputing anything that you guys say, you are far more experienced than I, I am sure. Just listing things I have already done

 

[Playa-1]

First things first.
You need to get accurate test results for your water parameters.