plenum problem questions?

[kdblove_99]

Well 18 months ago when i got into the hobby a guy told me to do a plenum. After reading on it for awhile now. i wished i didnt.

My nitrates have been through the roof for over a month and i have done some major water changes. to no avail.

So, the only thbing i can think of is that its the plenum.

My tank is 180 gallon and full of rock/fish/corals.

What should i do just bite the bullet and remove everything and take it out or should i life up the plenum and spyhon under it?

Thanks in advance.

Cheers,

Davey

 

[DarG]

Is it deinitely the plenum? I ran one for 9 years. Completely neglected the tank for 3+ years, no water changes, just fed the fish, that was it. After having the finances to get things running right again, first thing I did was buy new test kits and see where I was at. No Nitrite ... Nirates were barely over 5mg/l ... no ammonia ... ph was 8.0 ... this was 3+ years of zero mantainence aside from adding top off water and feeding the fish. I had no other nitrate or other chemistry issues in the 9 years that it was up and running. Plenums are not necessarily evil. Swapped tanks a few months back and did another plenum. I have had success with them.

But, some people think they are from hell. Make sure it isn't something else before tearing it down and starting over with a different approach.

 

[kdblove_99]

Well i cant say for sure its the plenum, but i sure cannot think and any other thing it can be

 

[kdblove_99]

anyone else?

 

[cyberdude47]

I have a plenum in my new 500g after 4 years of not having one and I think. after cycling my cycle was only 4 weeks and then I added three dozen fish and two dozen corals (the same day) and I never even noticed barely a change in parameters. I have done an exessive amount of research and think they are a good choice. I think you should investigate further. What kind of protein skimmer are you using?,do you keep it clean?,what do you feed and how often?,live foods or flake?,what is your bioload?

 

[cyberdude47]

sorry for the spelling I was typing a little to fast

 

[kdblove_99]

The past 2 weeks i have cut way back on feeding. i hadnt cleaned my collection cut in awhile. but i always clean the sponge on there. I have a ER RS 180 skimmer on a 180 gallon probably a little under powered but not that much IMO.

I might sell it and get a bigger one. only problem is that is has to fit under my stand and that is limited.

I feed Nori and freshwater mysis shrimp and that is it

 

[cyberdude47]

Give it time just, aggressivly skim (keep it clean),and be liberate with the water changes nothing happens overnight itl take time to balance out but I wouldn't jump the gun on your plenum

 

[Reef Sponger]

An option is to get a H&S denitrator. There's an interesting thread on that in the H&S/Fins Reef forum and it doesn't clog. I have been thinking of one of these in addition to an upgrade on my skimmer.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=906253

 

[kdblove_99]

Thanks guys i will look into that Denitrator!