newbie nitrate

[jbdb]

Tank... 75 gallon with 20 gallon sump (will be a 40gal sump around x mass time) I have about 35lbs of live rock and another 20 in dead rock 60lbs of live sand 2 power heads on display one small one in sump where i keep my macro alge and rubble. The live rock i ended up with one snail and 3 hermit crabs (along with alot of other odds and ends worms,sponges,little shirp critters, tubers and of course sea monkeys its been up for running for 121 days added first fish (blue green chromis) 13 days ago have also added a emrald crab and about 15 snails. nitrates are going insane pretty good alge outbreak....been doing 20% water change a week other then that im trying to let the ship right itself without going into danger zone (its close) Im not scraping glass or anything just letting the snails do it. I do not use a skimmer and I dont want to I have one but im told you can get this system to work without and based on what all i have seen it looks to me that I need a bigger sump to get it done? so of course thats my plan

any thoughts keep in mind im a nebie


few thoughts
More live rock? in display or sump
a second refu I have a 35 gal I can add as a external display ref along with the 40 gal sump? would be a pain

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Sea monkey's?

You're going to need almost double the rock you have. Also a skimmer is the same thing that nature does to eliminate organic waste in the oceans on beaches where you see the brown foam. That is what the skimmer does and IMO it is needed.

I would do two big water changes of 50% a week apart to drop your nitrates faster.

Also agree the 40 sump will be a lot better for a 75 DT.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

OH I forgot to add that the Emerald crab will eventually start eating tank mates fish included where they sleep. They'll do this when they get bigger and there is no algae to eat. Also with hermit crabs I highly suggest you only get the scarlet legged ones. The blue legged ones will kill shrimp and other hermits just for fun. My emerald crab and all of my blue legged hermits live in my sump. I'm not the only one to experience this and in time it will happen. Just keep an eye out on your emerald crab

 

[jbdb]

i have one red leg and two blue I didnt buy them they just kinda showed up i have no problem dumping them in the sump ...on the rock at this point am I better to add more dead rock or live i kind of thought I might need more rock. Im getting another tank that a buddy no longer wants that has been running for several yrs like 10ish i belive looks to have 40lbs range of good good rock

ps thanks for your reply

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Since you already have some live rock it will "seed" the dead dry rock, so no real need to spend the extra money that you can use elsewhere.

Sounds like a good deal on getting that tank and rock from your buddy. Just make sure it's not covered with aiptasia or other bad pests before putting it in your tank.

 

[drillsar]

well depends on rock quality of Live rock. General rule is 1 - 2 pnds per gallon. However, for instance rock from tampa bay saltwater will be high in life/bacteria and can get away with less rock..

You don't need a bigger sump.. sure more water the better. You can try a SCA-301 skimmer sure rated only for 65 gallons.. or try a SCA-303 which is even better but may be tall for your setup.

 

[drillsar]

whats your parameters like Nitrates, Ammonia, Nitrites?

Sump size should be 15% -40% of your tanks volume is Ideal. Adding more rock to your sump if you don't like too much rock in your DT.. I have a 75 gallon I am starting soon with a 20 gallon long sump.