Need some help with a few questions

[fudsey]

I need the help of the members. I have a 72G bow front FOWLR tank that has been running for many years with a 20 gal wet/dry sump. I have had a problem with keeping Nitrates under control and have now figured out what is the probable cause, the wet/dry function of my filter. I have a protein skimmer rated for 125G tank in the sump and get good results from it but the nitrates never go very low, even after major water changes. In the past I have even tried removing everything from the tank and replacing the sand bed with new live sand.

My questions are:

Should I remove the bioballs from the filter and replace them with something else like a marinepure block?
Or maybe get a new sump/refugium like the Eshopps R-100 and try that? If I go that route, what to use for bio function?


Thanks for any help

And I know the silk plants need to go :twitch:

Oh and please ignore the pump on the right, it's my QT pump getting primed.

 

[thegrun]

The bio balls and wet dry filtration does tend to increase nitrates as they are very efficient at converting ammonia to nitrates but have no capacity to reduce nitrates like live rock does. In addition to removing the bioballs I would try to alter the wet/dry filtration so the water does not trickle over any sub straight that is exposed to the air.

 

[CStrickland]

I would start by removing the bioballs gradually, like a quarter of them every other week (so that the bacteria in your other areas can catch up). And then see if a few large water changes get you where you want to be. You may find that enough bacteria grows in the tank that you don't need anything extra.

If yours is the wet/dry with sponge pads, I'd remove those too. As well as any filter socks. Sort of see where you land with all the nitrate factories gone, and then work up from that baseline.

Fowlr tanks don't usually have to worry that much about nitrates. How high are yours? Is it causing an issue for your livestock?

 

[triggreef]

Also looks like the rock in there is geared toward fresh water system. Live rock is much more porous and it will help much much more with bio load. I would add as much as you can or will, and I would do it prior to the other suggestions here so that you can build up some beneficial bacteria first. I also would be careful removing all of the items mentioned to avoid bacterial losses. Perhaps one thing every couple weeks for a while.

 

[fudsey]

It is old live rock bought from a LFS years ago but it is more like DLR now. Had to rinse it in the past when I did a full change and basically killed it. Live stock is doing ok but the nitrates are very high, around 160 if my test kit is right. Even after a 75% water change, they will creep right back a few days later. I'm just looking to find a way to lower them to a more reasonable rate and keep them there.

I will get some more live rock and let it go for a bit before I do any other changes.

 

[fudsey]

I Got a new large piece of LR from a good LFS for a great price, that was quarantined. And I have also ordered a Aquamaxx sulfur denitrator. Should be here Mon. I also removed some of the Bioballs and raised the sump level. It is a stuffed sump but I am making it work.

Fish are in good health and eating well so I am not too worried about it, just want to get them down. Have done 2 water changes and skimmer is producing well. I'll let it go for a few weeks after I install the Aquamaxx before I do anything more.

Want to get a couple more fish in there and was thinking about a Longnose Hawk and maybe 3 Blue Reef Chromis. Does these sound OK together with what is in there? 5 PJ Cards. and a Mimic/Brown Tang.

He loves to watch from there

 

[davehead86]

Dont get the chrmois. Almost everyone on here will tell you they will pick at eachother unitl there is only one left.

 

[fudsey]

Dont get the chrmois. Almost everyone on here will tell you they will pick at eachother unitl there is only one left.

Thank you, I did want to get another Marine Betta but right now they are a little pricey around here. Maybe I'll go that route instead and get one online.

 

[fudsey]

This was 3 years ago, Betta was about 6 and Blue damsel was about 17. The damsel was about 5-6 inches big at that time and the Betta was the same if not a little bigger when flared out.