SPS tank Water change Question

[GMAX]

Is there a reef club in the Miami/ Ft Lauderdale area? I am sure there is. I would find them and their message board and see if a kind and experienced reefer will come and show you how to dial in your skimmer correctly. It should not overflow like you are describing. Do you have a gate valve on the skimmer that controls the water flow in? Dial it back untill the water level only reaches the neck of the skimmer. You may need to adjust the air intake as well. Most skimmer have a ball valve somewhere on top for that. Hard to tell you how to do it typing on a computer but pretty easy to do in person.

8 ppm is still too high if you want to keep SPS and have them color up. Zero is the goal unless its a LPS and softy tank which arent as particular.

 

[Reefjunkee]

Do You run a refugium??I added chaeto to my fuge and since then my nitrates stay at 0.

 

[krzyphsygy]

I believe it is dialed in. I do not get a wet water foam......my skimate is dark mud. It will overflow with a new sponge though. I did install a ball valve the first time it happened which was when the new sponge went in. My skimmer is an ETSS Reef Devil.
THE BALL VALVE STOPPED THE OVERFLOW, BUT IT REDUCED THE FLOW RATE THROUGH THE SKIMMER WHICH IN TURN CAUSES LESS PERFORMANCE AT A LOWER FLOW RATE.
I must say thank you for all the help...however I believe your theory with the sponge in incorrect. Maybe it does need replacing, however that is not what is keeping the organics from getting pulled out from the skimmer. If that theory was correct, than when I pull the sponges out all together, the skimmer would go nuts right! I does'nt.....only when a BRAND NEW SPONGE IS PLACED IN THE TANK. BLUE TO BE EXACT.....8X6X4 INCHES.

 

[GMAX]

Well sitting here aint the ideal way to diagnose your tank. But putting a new sponge in and the skimmer going nuts is .... well nuts. Coincidence maybe?. Like something died off at about the same time you changed out the sponge.

Why dont you try a new one this weekend when you are around and can watch it.

If you got Nitrates, it most likely the sponge is acting as a Nitrate factory breaking organics down thru the cycle to the Nitrate endpoint. New sponges and a diligent cleaning and rotating regime = zero Nitrates.

 

[RareCorals]

I do a 40 gallon water change ever week or two weeks..

 

[krzyphsygy]

I agree with you sir! I need to try the new sponge thing out. The sponges are actually just there to keep the micro bubbles from entering the aquarium because of the skimmer return. I f I could I would remove it. I use LR instead of bioballs in the sump and did try to break the bubble problem using more LR in the place of the sponge but it did not work.

I do also use a filter pad and sheet of carbon which I change out both every 2 weeks.

i am going to the Rocky Mountains on vacation on Sunday for a week. When I get back I get a new sponge....this time it will be of natural color and see what happens.:rollface:

 

[Serioussnaps]

the sponges arent the only reason....i always look to how much one feeds the tank and how much flow one has in his tank when discussing nutrients...the debris needs to blow around for the skimmer to get it out

i suspect overfeeding going on here

 

[coolfishy101]

IMO I believe the sponge theory is partly correct, but if your skimmer goes crazy because of the sponge, try using a different brand, the brand you buy may contain something that is released into your water. Make sure you pre-rinse your new sponge before you put it in the tank though.

I also suspect overfeeding too. I haven't fed my fish in over a year, they live off of the creatures on the live rock, try feeding about 3/4 of what you normaly feed, moniter your fish and if they are fine, try doing even less, but don't starve them. You may be surprised on how little they actually need.

 

[ccradr]

AZNO3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ccradr]

AZNO3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!