My :TWOCENTS. When I cut back on feeding to once every other day from 2x a day I noticed some things. 1- Fish that had never been aggressive before were now fighting. 2- The African flameback pygmy angel started to nip at corals, mostly soft. 3- All signs of hair algae disappeared. Some of these results bad, some good. I ended up feeding the same amount of food that I planned on (reduced from origionally) but continued with the multiple feedings. This gave me the best balance between controlling nutrient input and minimizing bad fishy behavior. You can reduce the nutrients in a tank by changing the amount of food given without changing the frequency of feedings. This is hard to do unless you pre-measure what you are feeding since we are apt to give more food if it is all consumed very quickly. Just some “food for thought”.
Lots of good info here -
Maybe a couple of other ideas. Protein skimming - If you’re running one, crank it up to skim wetter (more water, less bubbles - or raise the water level up in the skimmer). This will help some. It’s been noted that skimmers actually don’t remove as much pollutants and they claim they do, but they do help.
De-Nitrate - good product IMO, I’ve used it with good results. I’ve also hear A-ZNO3 works well too - just I’ve never used it, and from what I hear, nitrates will drop very fast - almost too fast for a system to handle.
Running carbon will help, change it once a week - not once a month like most folks do.
A note about dripping kalk that’s not related to your nitrate issues - Over time, kalk will bind PO4 molecules from the water column - effectively helping lower PO4 from the system. I’ve never depended on that though. Just something else to think about.
Smart folks here - lots of good info.
Some other things you can do to help lower nitrates, but you will need to read up on this stuff before you do any of these things:
1.) vodka dosing
2.) ozone
3.) nitrate reactors
4.) DSB’s
5.) peroxide dosing
I’ve used vodka and peroxide in the past both with good results. Vodka is easier and IMO a little safer to use than peroxide though - meaning inhabitants tend to deal with the vodka dosing better than peroxide.
[quote=“Sneeyatch, post:63, topic:6844”]
Some other things you can do to help lower nitrates, but you will need to read up on this stuff before you do any of these things:
1.) vodka dosing
2.) ozone
3.) nitrate reactors
4.) DSB’s
5.) peroxide dosing
I’ve used vodka and peroxide in the past both with good results. Vodka is easier and IMO a little safer to use than peroxide though - meaning inhabitants tend to deal with the vodka dosing better than peroxide.[/quote]
Not sure I would be comfortable with vodka or peroxide dosing. I am still a newbie! Even the thought of that makes me nervous!.
[quote=“Scottman81, post:61, topic:6844”]
My :TWOCENTS. When I cut back on feeding to once every other day from 2x a day I noticed some things. 1- Fish that had never been aggressive before were now fighting. 2- The African flameback pygmy angel started to nip at corals, mostly soft. 3- All signs of hair algae disappeared. Some of these results bad, some good. I ended up feeding the same amount of food that I planned on (reduced from origionally) but continued with the multiple feedings. This gave me the best balance between controlling nutrient input and minimizing bad fishy behavior. You can reduce the nutrients in a tank by changing the amount of food given without changing the frequency of feedings. This is hard to do unless you pre-measure what you are feeding since we are apt to give more food if it is all consumed very quickly. Just some “food for thought”.[/quote]
Will definitely keep an eye on the fish behavior. I used to only feed them once a day every other day until a few months ago when I got that anthias. So they were all used to only being fed once every other day and didnt have any problems.
BTW did I see you at premium aquatics on Monday? You work there?
[quote=“Sneeyatch, post:62, topic:6844”]
Lots of good info here -
Maybe a couple of other ideas. Protein skimming - If you’re running one, crank it up to skim wetter (more water, less bubbles - or raise the water level up in the skimmer). This will help some. It’s been noted that skimmers actually don’t remove as much pollutants and they claim they do, but they do help.
De-Nitrate - good product IMO, I’ve used it with good results. I’ve also hear A-ZNO3 works well too - just I’ve never used it, and from what I hear, nitrates will drop very fast - almost too fast for a system to handle.
Running carbon will help, change it once a week - not once a month like most folks do.
A note about dripping kalk that’s not related to your nitrate issues - Over time, kalk will bind PO4 molecules from the water column - effectively helping lower PO4 from the system. I’ve never depended on that though. Just something else to think about.
Smart folks here - lots of good info.[/quote]
I did some rearranging in my sump the other night when I bought the macro algae. I had a bunch of rocks in the sump. I took most of them out but in doing so I realized there was a rock butted right up against the pipe for the skimmer so the skimmer must not of been able to work properly. I noticed that my collection cup wasnt filling up much. Since moving the rock I have noticed the collection cup is definitely filling faster now and its a pretty wet skim.
I am going to use the denitrate if I can find some. None of the LFS seems to have it. The Fish Bowl assures me he will have some in today.
In reference to the carbon, do you use the carbon pads or do you use the other stuff that you dump into your filter?
I’ve always used Black Diamond carbon and put it in a mesh bag, or have used it in a media reactor.
With being newer to the hobbie, your plan that you proposed is the way to go stick with the basics, although the suggestions Sneeyatch told ya about work and for the most part work well there is alot of margine for error.
I think getting your fuge going and adding the reactor later and your RO maintance is good start.
[quote=“Sneeyatch, post:67, topic:6844”]
I’ve always used Black Diamond carbon and put it in a mesh bag, or have used it in a media reactor.[/quote]
Put it in a mesh bag and just place it in the sump or do you attach it to the return?
I’m with bill just stay to the natural ways for now I have denigrate you can have whatever you need. I have to find it. It will not go bad you just place it in (I prefer a canister) slow flow and denitrifying bacteria grow on it. You build an army over a month or two then nitrates are gone. I had a fuge and it really didn’t lower nitrates to what I wanted mine was 75 g half of the display. If you can run a fuge the size of your display it may work.
Yes - agreed. Stick with the simplest things for now. The other methods I mentioned are not to be taken lightly and careful monitoring is required.
I hear they work and fast. I’ve had a tank for 10 years and sps for 4 and I’m nervous about vodka dosing for two reasons afraid that it’ll stress the corals and then I have less to relieve my stress lol BoNg
I had goodluck with the vodka dosing/sugar dosing but it was a fight with the tank over who got to drink it so now I just stick with bio pellots and keep the vodka for Monday DRC meetings oh wait can’t you didnt hear that :
:
you guys are hilarious!!!
[quote=“dunk, post:70, topic:6844”]
I’m with bill just stay to the natural ways for now I have denigrate you can have whatever you need. I have to find it. It will not go bad you just place it in (I prefer a canister) slow flow and denitrifying bacteria grow on it. You build an army over a month or two then nitrates are gone. I had a fuge and it really didn’t lower nitrates to what I wanted mine was 75 g half of the display. If you can run a fuge the size of your display it may work.[/quote]
My sump is a 20 long on a 90 gal tank. No way to run a fuge the size of my tank. Certainly dont have any where to put that!
That be great Tim! Thanks.
Do you have any pictures of your sump? A fuge can be made out of any tank, I have one I made out of a 10 that was under my 39 cadlite, with a sock filter and hang on skimmer, all under the cabinet
this is the way it was set up when I bought if off of someone. I have been looking to redo it but not sure exactly how I want it. I dont like the litter pan look.
How much more room is under that stand?
none.
Sorry had to ban a JACK ASS spammer
Your tanks a 90 right that takes up the whole underneath?