I do. I have a BRS duel reactor running carbon and GRC. I also have a filter bag in the sump with additional carbon in it No bio balls. I do have lots of additional live rock in the sumo.
Troy's 270 Gallon plus Fishroom
- Thread starter troyholl
- Start date
I do. I have a BRS duel reactor running carbon and GRC. I also have a filter bag in the sump with additional carbon in it No bio balls. I do have lots of additional live rock in the sumo.
dave.m
Active member
The fastest way to get control of high nitrates is large water changes. But you have to look for a cause. Things like dead spots where detritus accumulates, the need for a clean-up crew*, overfeeding, the need to clean off your rocks and vacuum your tank regularly - these things should all be reviewed to ensure you get a handle on your nitrate situation.
Dave.M
* conches, turbo snails, nerrites snails, cerrith snails, hermit crabs, sand sifting gobies, bristleworms, etc.
Dave.M
* conches, turbo snails, nerrites snails, cerrith snails, hermit crabs, sand sifting gobies, bristleworms, etc.
Large water changes..... check
dead spots.... not that I'm aware of. I have lots of water movements. I'll look at this closer
Clean up crew ... check... have a about everything you list in large quantity. No Conch or bristle worms (that I'm aware of) but have everything else. The DT has two goby's that constantly turn the sand over... and I just added a lawnmower blenny to the frag tank
zenom
New member
I am having a similar Nitrate problem which is throwing me for a loop. I can only imagine it is something with my rock or sand as I don't have a refugium in the 90. Just a protein skimmer and filter sock which I change out every other day. Tagging along in case you find something. I have been doing 30% water changes every 2 weeks with little help. I tried scaling down on my feeding too. Let me know how it goes for you.
Newbie Aquarist
Reefing is my middle name
So what did you do to get the nitrates down? Did you have a bad test kit or follow the suggestions above?
Water changes and using Algone's Nitrate remover pads
Quick update.... I've got the Nitrate's down to around 10ppm through several actions..
1) Two large water changes of around 100 gallons each over a week (25% total tank volume each time. I'm not going to move back to routine weekly water changes.
2) Using Algone's nitrate remover pads in the sump
3) on the 2nd water change I did a deep clean of the sand bed in my refugium. Completely cleaned out the waste buildup in the sand and sucked the sump water all out
I also did some sump rewiring and overall cleanup!
1) Two large water changes of around 100 gallons each over a week (25% total tank volume each time. I'm not going to move back to routine weekly water changes.
2) Using Algone's nitrate remover pads in the sump
3) on the 2nd water change I did a deep clean of the sand bed in my refugium. Completely cleaned out the waste buildup in the sand and sucked the sump water all out
I also did some sump rewiring and overall cleanup!
Nope, in fact I took them with my iPad Air... just held it up really close to the glass.
Sump is doing great!
Quick update. Still patiently (ok not so patiently) working the Nitrates down. I've got things down to between 5-10 PPM.
As I mentioned a week or so ago, I had installed some pumps such that water changes are much easier. But this didn't satisfy me. My original plan 2 years ago was to find a way to use my Apex controller to do small water changes throughout the day. I think this keeps all of the parameters steady and by automating the changes they happen regularly.
So... I purchased two BRS 50ML/Minute pumps and installed them tonight. I have the controller turn them on for 30 minutes out of 60, over two 4 hour periods. This will remove 3.6 gallons a day, or about a 6% weekly water change.
Its hard to show this in action but here is a picture of the two pumps sitting over my water storage barrels. I have them hooked up where one line pulls from the sump and discharges the water down the drain. The 2nd pump pulls from my salt water barrel and discharges downstream in the sump. Works great!!
As I mentioned a week or so ago, I had installed some pumps such that water changes are much easier. But this didn't satisfy me. My original plan 2 years ago was to find a way to use my Apex controller to do small water changes throughout the day. I think this keeps all of the parameters steady and by automating the changes they happen regularly.
So... I purchased two BRS 50ML/Minute pumps and installed them tonight. I have the controller turn them on for 30 minutes out of 60, over two 4 hour periods. This will remove 3.6 gallons a day, or about a 6% weekly water change.
Its hard to show this in action but here is a picture of the two pumps sitting over my water storage barrels. I have them hooked up where one line pulls from the sump and discharges the water down the drain. The 2nd pump pulls from my salt water barrel and discharges downstream in the sump. Works great!!
Also... I just purchased a new custom frag tank... a 48" x 24" x 12" glass with a fiberglass (black) bottom. I'm having this built by the same guy who built my DT from Aquarium Creations here in Utah. I'm replacing my acrylic 36" x 18" x 12" as it drives me crazy keeping it clean... here is a picture of three tanks Eric is building. Mine is in front. It should finish curing in about a week.
