Media

[Airborne]

My tank is a mixed tank LPS/SPS that is a 120 gal. I run the following media 24/7:

1) Chemi-Pure Elite- 2 Units
2) Rowa Phos- in reactor
3) Sea Chem- De-Nitrate.

I change out all media every 3 months. I lightly rinse the Chemi-Pure/De-Nitrate every two weeks.

I use the Chemi-Pure to remove all metals and clear the water.
I use the Rowa Phos to control Phosphates.
I use De-Nitrate to control the nitrates.

Question: am I running too much media? As stated above these are left in and changed every 3 months. Am I stripping the water of all good things? Trace elements...etc. Should I remove anything and let the levels climb and then try and bring them back down or should I continue with my method?

Thx

[reefbat]

What kind of water are you using for top off and water changes? If it's ro/di water i'm not sure why you would need to remove any additional metals from the water with a chemical.

Are you using the de-nitrate to combat a problem that your are currently having or is this just something your doing proactively?

[Airborne]

I am using RO/DI from my LFS. I have tested for PO4. I don't have a problem I am just being proactive with the De-Nitrate. My LFS says that I would have to be using something as the Nitrate level will increase over time. They said it is better to run it 24/7 then to try and fix it once it is a problem.

[reefbat]

The ro/di should filter out any metals in the water unless they are selling you water made from a unit with clogged filters...which they shouldn't be doing. If you've got good ro then no reason to use chemical filtration for the purposes of removing metals.

Here's a few reasons I can think of off the top of my head that would cause high nitrate levels...overstocked tank, something died and is rotting, tank is still cycling, mechanical filter media that doesn't get cleaned regularly, bio-balls that are filled with detritus...i'm sure there are more but those are the major reasons I can think of. If none of those apply to your tank then I would doubt the advice of the person that is selling you the de-nitrate. If you don't have some basic tests then you should invest in them and that way you'll be able to check for yourself if something is getting out of whack. At the minimum you should have ph, ammonia and nitrate tests.

[reefbat]

And I forgot to mention water changes lol, but i'm assuming your doing that regularly.

[mr.maroonsalty]

I believe the chemists will tell you that the Chemipure uses something like DI resin and is virtually useless after a very short time. I think you would be better served with gac and gfo changed monthly, or as a low range PO4 test kit dictates, as PO4 absorbers can easily become saturated in days. Like gfo, purigen can also be regenerated and likely picks up few different compounds that gac doesn't.