Nitrate Factory

[wildman926]

Sorry. I didn't mean to start a debate. How is that different from the pre-filter pad I put in the tray above my bio-balls? Don't take it as I'm questioning your wisdom or methods. I just don't understand the theory behind it.

Wildman. You say ONE of your sumps. Does that mean you're running more than one? What does your other sump contain? Live rock, refugeum, etc.?

Not trying to do a debate here, there is more than one way to reef! What works for some, may not work for others. How do you explain those that run only the bioballs for years? Lots of live rock.

Anyways, I have two reef tanks to work with. The pics I gave were of both sumps of them.

You have a prefilter, so obviously your water is not crashing down on liverock, if you were to put it there. Just clean the prefilter pad regularly, and you will be fine. Keeping it clean will keep it from growing bacteria on it, and then it becomes a nitrate factory.

If you go the filter sock route, don't cheap out. The cheap ones are known to rip and come off, therefore creating no prefilter. Then all of the debris that it trapped prior to that will be back in your system all at once. Will you be there when that happens? How much costs will they add to your hobby? Look around as to how often you change them out. Be sure to wash them first, don't want the chemicals that they are made of going in your tank. On, on, and on.....

One thing, enough live rock in your system will eliminate the nitrates. Lots to think about. Just trying to help. This is healthy for the hobby to discuss reefing. :thumbsup:

 

[psykobowler]

The chaeto is definitely submerged. It will live ok as long as it is submerged and there is enough light. I don't think still water is good for chaeto. It clumps together and die if the water is stagnant.

 

[Orcrone]

I rinsed all the bio-balls this weekend and cleaned out the main section of the sump. This along with about a 25% water change has definitely lowered the nitrates a bit. Now someone I know is looking to get rid of some chaeto. I was looking at the section in my sump between the skimmer & return pump. As can be seen in the pic at the top of this thread the wall between this section & my return pump is pretty low.

Will it bet OK putting the chaeto here or do I need to worry about it being sucked into the return pump and fouling things up?

Edit: Perhaps I could put egg crate between the pump & the chamber to the left of it.

 

[kingfisherflesh]

I am of the belief that you should keep your sump as clean as possible, leaving as few areas as possible open to detritus accumulation.

That is just me, but detritus will accumulate in LR, as it did in bio balls. Either way its a nitrate factory.

You could run a filter sock though in your inflow...this needs to be changed out several times a week however if you want to keep nitrates down...otherwise it does the same thing. Nitrate trap.

Good luck with everything.

 

[Spun1_2]

I dont see you what the problem is having less than 5ppm nitrate in the first place. I would think thats a decent number to have. There is sps systems with that much nitrate present.

 

[kingfisherflesh]

I dont see you what the problem is having less than 5ppm nitrate in the first place. I would think thats a decent number to have. There is sps systems with that much nitrate present.

+1...5 is a ok in my mind...I have SPS growing in my tank right now and water is between 10-20ppm every week before water changes. (Once a week.)

I am trying to get this down to 5-10ppm though. (Heavy stocking)

 

[blitz560]

Orcrone,
I have the same sump as you (Think mine is a model 3 though) and I have also been interested in removing the bioballs. Even with the bioballs my Nitrates are normally at .0 ppm, granted I have a medium bio load, large skimmer, run carbon 24/7, and do a water change every two weeks. One thing I started doing recently is using a 100 micron pad in the drip tray. Its the same stuff they make the micron socks out of only it comes in a large sheet. I cut out several pieces slightly larger then the tray itself and placed that on top of the normal filter floss in the tray.
I tried using just the 100 micron felt pad at first but I found that within a few hours It would get clogged where the holes in the tray are and start to over flow. Using it on top of the normal filter floss it lasts about 2-3 days before it needs to be replaced. Cleaning it easy, just take out the old one, hit it with a tight stream from the hose for about 30 seconds and it come out perfectly white and clean again. I let that one dry and replace with a clean one. A lot of people clean them in the washing machine or with bleach but for me just blasting it with the hose seems to get it good as new. The micron pads are pulling so much more junk out of the water then just the floss and it has kept my sump much cleaner.

Hope this helps

 

[Orcrone]

Some interesting posts overnight.

@kingfisherflesh and spun1_2 - I was under the impression that for a reef tank I'd need to keep my nitrates below 1.0 ppm, and preferably undetectable.

@blitz560 - I have a very similar routine. Only 8 fish and a few corals, so not a high bio-load. I also run carbon 24/7 and change it every two weeks. And unless I'm on vacation I change about 20 - 25 gallons of water every week. The 100 micro pad in the drip tray sounds like it's worth a shot. Where do you find them? Currently I either use the Megaflow pre-filter pads or some generic cut-to-size pads.

Thanks,
Marc

Edit to ask if this would be what I'm looking for.

 

[blitz560]

Some interesting posts overnight.

@kingfisherflesh and spun1_2 - I was under the impression that for a reef tank I'd need to keep my nitrates below 1.0 ppm, and preferably undetectable.

@blitz560 - I have a very similar routine. Only 8 fish and a few corals, so not a high bio-load. I also run carbon 24/7 and change it every two weeks. And unless I'm on vacation I change about 20 - 25 gallons of water every week. The 100 micro pad in the drip tray sounds like it's worth a shot. Where do you find them? Currently I either use the Megaflow pre-filter pads or some generic cut-to-size pads.

Thanks,
Marc

Edit to ask if this would be what I'm looking for.

Yup thats the stuff right there. I think mine is made by Corallife. Just precut a bunch out to fit the tray and put one on top of the prefilter pad you already use. I swap the 100 micron felt pad on top every 2-3 days (When I see its starting to clog up)with a clean one and change the normal prefilter pad every couple weeks. It takes a couple minutes to swap it out and wash the old one(I like washing the used pad before it dries, seems to be much easier that way). You might have to experiment a little to make sure all the water is going through the pad not just flowing around it. I find that the felt pads have kept the sump much cleaner and hopefully thats helping keep the Nitrates down. If you find the 200 micron felt pad you might not have to change it as often but the 100 works well for me.

 

[Spun1_2]

Im sure many would agree less is better. However I just dont believe having 5ppm is really anything serious.Most likely a good water change could take that away. Ive found some corals seems to prefer "dirty" water with a little bit of nitrates.