nitrate levels bad..:(
- Thread starter x1crt
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marioensf
Active member
In that chamber normally there's a foam, just remove it, on top of the grill you may put some media, such as carbon, chemipure or other in a fine mesh bag. The foam block comes standard in that sump I have the smaller one (not using it) and noticed the foam insert. If you do not clean it often it sure is a nitrate construction site.
To prevent most stuff to go into the sump, people tend to use filter socks but then again they must be cleaned in a very regular basis.
To prevent most stuff to go into the sump, people tend to use filter socks but then again they must be cleaned in a very regular basis.
You don't need any filtration there. If you really need to keep the foam filters you do have, try cleaning/replacing them weekly. I keep a polyfilter in my sump that I replace weekly. It gets a good amount of gunk on it, but I think the weekly changes (I used to clean it, but I eventually decided it was easier to just replace) seem to keep it from causing any problems.
I have to agree that your skimmer is not meant for a tank your size. It's better than nothing, but until you can get something better, you may want to up the water changes. I'd do 10-15% weekly as a minimum. I wouldn't go more than 20% weekly, though.
If you already answered this, I apologize, but how much live rock do you have in your tank. The general rule of thumb is 1 lb per gallon, so you should have in the vicinity of 155 pounds.
I have to agree that your skimmer is not meant for a tank your size. It's better than nothing, but until you can get something better, you may want to up the water changes. I'd do 10-15% weekly as a minimum. I wouldn't go more than 20% weekly, though.
If you already answered this, I apologize, but how much live rock do you have in your tank. The general rule of thumb is 1 lb per gallon, so you should have in the vicinity of 155 pounds.
Notathumpa
New member
I have ZERO filters in my sump! I filled the "Bioballs" chamber with Live Rock which works for me. I also throw a bag of carbon in the M/T section.....also a good place for temporary bags of "Phos-Gard" or other chem. control media.
Your carbon needs to be someplace the water is going to flow through it. Ideally, it would go in some sort of reactor for optimum flow, but it's still effective other places. I have mine attached to the end of one of my returns into my sump.
seapug
Premium Member
bioballs create a highly oxygenated surface area for the rapid conversion of ammonia to nitrate. The problem is that, in theory, any media in a "trickle filter" arrangement (live rock included) can create elevated nitrate levels because the nitrate is produced away from oxygen deprived areas where nitrate is consumed by anaerobic bacteria. The same principle applies to sponge filter pads. Plenty of people use bioballs and don't have problems, but the bottom line is they aren't necessary or needed in a tank with live rock and sand.
On my collection cup, i have just dark green water, that after a day is maybe 1/2 " tall. dark green. Your cup looks like very light color. Ask Sk8r is your water is too much! and too light, I am still learning myself, but I was told to hvae my cup water be really dark green.To adjust it until it was.
That's not necessarily true. What you're hinting on is the age old debate of whether to skim "wet" or "dry". I'd say the color of your skim depends on a few things: How wet you're skimming, the efficiency of your skimmer, and your level of dissolved organics (DOC). I tend to skim fairly dry (i.e. the bubbles don't come up as high in my skimmer neck), so I get pretty dark skimmate. Others skim wet and get significantly more skimmate, but it's much lighter in color. I don't think anyone's really proven which is better. I skim dry mainly so I don't have to empty my collection cup as often (yes, I'm lazy).
