nitrate control

[plyle02]

Chris,
here is my dsb fuge, the prolifera bed after about 1.5 months now occupies more than 1/2 of this tank. I just put a mag 7 down in the sump, lift the water up about 4 ft, an overflow box, then returns into the same filter sock as the maintank. I bet you could set something up like this similair for pretty cheap. I use a 75 watt plant light in a shoplight balast for lighting. The sand you could get pretty cheap, then stuff some live rock in to add more beneficial bacteria. This has truly helped to stablize my parameters associated with nutrients.....Perry

 

[Emster]

I don't think feeding every other day is healthy either. I think your tank is just young and right now can't handle all the food but as it gets older I think it will.

 

[CMcNeil]

well i guess im going to setup a 20-30g refuge for a sandbed one more tank to TRY and hide.

 

[plyle02]

No need to hide Chris, the fuge makes for nice viewing of other micro-inhabitants, helps pod population, also great place for snails to multiply. I have so many stomatellas, they reproduce like mad.....lol. The added water volume also might help too....

 

[CMcNeil]

i cant have it out,i already have the skimmer out and i really hate that lol.i will just pack it into the stand and pull the reactor out.i still have to add a topoff tank outside and dont really have the room for a fuge outside.

 

[plyle02]

I hear you, anyone who has been to my place knows that I definetly am single and living alone, no-one to complain about the kitchen being my equipment room....ha,ha.... mflamb, no comments about my ghetto-ness.......lol.... you too Joey.....

 

[WarDaddy]

The tank will go through a new cycle every time you change bio load.

If you load goes up, the bacteria levels will not be correct, ammonia will be present, small amount as bacteria bloom, and on through the cycle.

 

[Don Lino]

LMAO... Bro I cant comment u seen my Garage!!!

 

[CMcNeil]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11044961#post11044961 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by WarDaddy
The tank will go through a new cycle every time you change bio load.

If you load goes up, the bacteria levels will not be correct, ammonia will be present, small amount as bacteria bloom, and on through the cycle.

what if i add the sandbed slowly over a month?or would that be more mini cycles?

 

[plyle02]

chris, I added mine all at once, experienced no cycle or mini-cycle, I just took the maintank offline for a few hours, and let the rdsb fuge run with skimmer and sump, as soon as the water cleared, I put the maintank back inline. That is the beauty of having the fuge or rdsb remote, you can take offline anytime you want. You did not mention your nitrates, but if they are as high as you say they are, I bet it can't hurt, just my opinion though.....

 

[CMcNeil]

i am going to confirm my tests with another on saturday just to make sure im not getting a bad reading.

 

[plyle02]

btw, which test kit are you using, also what salt brand do you use?

 

[CMcNeil]

salifert
IO

 

[plyle02]

How about the skimmate, dark, or light? Most bb enthusiaths claim it's better to skimm wet. Just another thought.....

 

[CMcNeil]

id say about 1 1/2" to 2" in the cup per day and it is on the wet side IMO.

 

[lifesworksataol]

what about mangroves?

 

[CMcNeil]

i dont think i have the room to grow mangroves.

 

[lifesworksataol]

there is always room for jello :-D

 

[Kubi]

I would slow way down and 1st try to find out what is causing the nitrate problem. You said you cooked your rock for 6 weeks and after you set up your system it went through its cycle in 2 weeks. I am just speaking from 9 years experience with salt and 25 years with fresh. I have never had a tank cycle in 2 weeks. I am thinking a mini cycle. When you cooked your rock there was a ton of dye off and like wardaddy said

Chirs,
It sounds totally logical. To cycle a tank with no live rock in it can take MONTHS. Nitrate will be the last of the bacteria to populate the densest darkest parts of your rock. The value of live rock is the anaerobic bacteria deep in the rock, that bacteria will be the very last to develop, and the slowest to produce once they start.

It is probably something you do not want to here. Then again I can tell you something you would want to here and put icing on the cake too. Anyways you have high nitrates and you have to deal with it what ever the cause is. I went through a nitrate problem a few years ago, I mean nitrate readings off the salifert chart. I did a 10% water change ever other day to keep it under control and never had any ill affects to corals. To this day the only thing I can think of that casued it was a massive dye off bristle worms. My rock was loaded with them and at the time I was having the problem they seemd to have vanished.

a fuge is a great idea and a good way to export nutrients

 

[CMcNeil]

paul im not going to do anything drastic here.im trying to find out what is going on and what would be the best way to correct it and not have it happen again.i am going to get my water tested to confirm if i really am that high before i do anything else.i will just changes the filter sock out more often till i get the test done.i dont mind the idea of a fuge but i will be limited on space.