curious

24 posts • Page 1 of 3

Discuss all topics related to saltwater / reef tanks.


blueshoes2208
 
Posts: 1077
Joined: Sat Apr 12, 2008 4:01 pm

curious

by blueshoes2208

nitrates have always been bout 15, now their between 20-25, if anything im not feeding my fish enough so that cant be the problem so two questions, 1) what is causing my nitrates to go up and 2) why havent they gone down with water changes ( 5 gal per week)


fihsboy
 
Posts: 1837
Joined: Wed Mar 19, 2008 4:20 pm

by fihsboy

It could be your test kit.....or you may want to add some more sand. How deep is your sand bed?


TheCoralReef
 
Posts: 63
Joined: Sun Nov 16, 2008 10:07 pm

by TheCoralReef

do you use any sort of fake biological filtration, (bio-balls, bio-wheels, ect.) i so thats could be your problem, live rock is your biological filtratrion, using that bio junk with liverock with return nitrates to your water among othe things, also make sure filter pads and media is replaced regularly


blueshoes2208
 
Posts: 1077
Joined: Sat Apr 12, 2008 4:01 pm

by blueshoes2208

no i dont use and other biological filtration other than the sand and rock. Sand bed is prolly 4 in at the front an 3 in in the back. By the way my sand sifting star is now climbing the walls of the glass , prolly because of a lack of food. He eats detritus so should i start feeding my fish a whole lot more or would it b okay to put cubes of say brine shrimp or krill into the sand to help him out?? Cant take him back, my lfs wont do it.


gumbii
 
Posts: 1695
Joined: Tue Dec 04, 2007 3:31 am

by gumbii

sometimes the clean up crew eats all the algae in the tank and it makes your nitrate level shoot up... you should get some plants like caulerpa or other plants in your tank...


blueshoes2208
 
Posts: 1077
Joined: Sat Apr 12, 2008 4:01 pm

by blueshoes2208

plants huh? like maybe maidens hair? i dont want something that can go out of control since i dont have a refugia.


fihsboy
 
Posts: 1837
Joined: Wed Mar 19, 2008 4:20 pm

by fihsboy

the nitrates and phosphates gotta go somewhere. so if your clean up crew is too good....then thats probably your problem. thats why I incorporated my refuge....it makes the world of difference in levels.


gumbii
 
Posts: 1695
Joined: Tue Dec 04, 2007 3:31 am

by gumbii

i wanted caulerpa in my tank... i think it looks pretty... but the damn coral beauty ate it all... fail... maiden's hair is nice... just don't get a tang... they'll tear it up...


make a DIY HOB refugium...


fihsboy
 
Posts: 1837
Joined: Wed Mar 19, 2008 4:20 pm

by fihsboy

Get yourself the largest aquaclear you can find....throw in some algae and BAM refuge.


Snowboss4492
 
Posts: 2098
Joined: Sun Jan 27, 2008 11:24 pm

by Snowboss4492

aquaclear 110 - 50 bucks, you can put the propeller pump froma 70 in it to slow the flow rate way down bout 15 bucks and like fishboy said...........BAM instant fuge

Boss

curious

24 posts • Page 1 of 3

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