Thinking of throwing in the towel! - Page 2

Duna_ · 07/02/2013, 04:59 PM

If your source is overfeeding, I suggest NP Biopellets. I started with them two months ago and nitrates drop from 40 to less than 5 (between 0 and 5, sorry my test is not more accurate, I`m about to buy a better one). I did nothing but to sit and watch how the nitrates dissapeared without doing nothing.

I use 200 ml in a 250 litre tank and sump. I first put 100 ml and added 50 ml the next month and the other 50 ml two weeks later.
The first month you don't see any drop, but after that, it's amazing. I feed what I want (I didn`t reduce food), twice or three times a day, pellets and flakes.

E Rosewater · 07/02/2013, 05:05 PM

I don't believe the OP has a skimmer, if that is the case bio pellets/carbon dosing is not an option.

Duna_ · 07/03/2013, 01:40 AM

That's right. You shouldn't run biopellets without a skimmer ...

tigershark80228 · 07/03/2013, 10:59 AM

Thanks form ALL of your suggestions. I'll try and address the questions posed....Yes, I have a HOB skimmer -love it and it does a great job. I haven't tested the lfs RO water yet, I'll do that today! I did have to buy a new Penguin Bio-Wheel unit, the old one somehow became ungrounded and would shock me when I touched the handle of the lid - so, yes, I have a glass cover on the tank with about a 2" gap in the rear of the tank. I've got two Korolia power heads, a small one and a large one but I'm only running the larger one right now. It seems that with both it blows the fish all around the tank. I cleaned the canister filter and added some phosphate beads and a nitrate removing pad. Also put a pad in the new Penquin. Fish seem a lot happier (swimming all around). The Foxface use to hang out in the back of the tank and not show himself much. Now he's swimming out in front in the water current and is back to his bright yellow color. Thanks again for everyone's help an suggestions. Looks like I'm back on track! Oh, and I've cut WAY back on feeding!

coralsnaked · 07/03/2013, 01:31 PM

2" of sand and crushed coral is a recepe for disaster w/ nitrates. You'd be better off w/ just 1/2 inch of just CC. vaccuum it weekly with 10% water changes. Ditch the canister as well or breakit down X2 weekly to clean, but IMO a big pain ITA. Best way to solve the problem for good is a sump and run a bio pellet reactor w/ a big skimmer and problem solved my friend.

Quintis · 07/03/2013, 02:07 PM

Never give up, never surrender!

Arc Drafter · 07/03/2013, 02:14 PM

not to be a fish police but i feel like 30 gallons is too small for a foxface?

tigershark80228 · 07/03/2013, 05:17 PM

Yes, getting rid of the sand slowly but surely. Would like to do a sump but have ?'s. what's the difference between a sump and a refugium? Yes, Foxface is small < 3" and he is part of my plan for upgrading when I tell the wide why I need a bigger tank!

.

tigershark80228 · 07/03/2013, 05:23 PM

And the canister was only the emergency plan when the impeller for the Penguin sheered in half.

billdogg · 07/04/2013, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tigershark80228

Yes, getting rid of the sand slowly but surely. Would like to do a sump but have ?'s. what's the difference between a sump and a refugium? Yes, Foxface is small < 3" and he is part of my plan for upgrading when I tell the wide why I need a bigger tank!

.

if you tell her she's wide you'll never get to upgrade (your tank) Your wide, on the other hand, may decide to upgrade you!

billdogg · 07/04/2013, 07:40 AM

As a FOWLR, nitrates are really not that big a deal. I would suggest the following:

1. cut back on feeding
2. water changes are your friend. You can easily do several 25 - 50% changes to get them in check
3. A sump will make life easier for several reasons - a place to hide equipment and an easy way to increase total volume are big.
4. a refugium is different from a sump - a fuge is (often) a separate container. Do a search for remote DSB. My FOWLR had HUGE nitrate problems - so high that they really couldn't be checked without doing a couple of 50% water changes on back to back days, and then it would still be pretty much off the charts, but it was a 150g that had a 4' moray - a big, messy eater. When I added a fuge (in my case, a 120g tank with 6" DSB) the nitrates fell to undetectable within 2 months, even without a water change for 4 - 6 weeks.

HTH

kurt_n · 07/11/2013, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tigershark80228

...I haven't tested the lfs RO water yet, I'll do that today! ...

And?

07/03/2013, 01:31 PM	#30
coralsnaked Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Austin / Port Aransas, TX Posts: 1,479	2" of sand and crushed coral is a recepe for disaster w/ nitrates. You'd be better off w/ just 1/2 inch of just CC. vaccuum it weekly with 10% water changes. Ditch the canister as well or breakit down X2 weekly to clean, but IMO a big pain ITA. Best way to solve the problem for good is a sump and run a bio pellet reactor w/ a big skimmer and problem solved my friend. __________________ Merry Skerry Current Tank Info: 1 G Nano jellyfish to 1200 G Bull Nose FOWLR featuring large Holacanthus and Pomacanthus

07/04/2013, 07:40 AM	#36
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	As a FOWLR, nitrates are really not that big a deal. I would suggest the following: 1. cut back on feeding 2. water changes are your friend. You can easily do several 25 - 50% changes to get them in check 3. A sump will make life easier for several reasons - a place to hide equipment and an easy way to increase total volume are big. 4. a refugium is different from a sump - a fuge is (often) a separate container. Do a search for remote DSB. My FOWLR had HUGE nitrate problems - so high that they really couldn't be checked without doing a couple of 50% water changes on back to back days, and then it would still be pretty much off the charts, but it was a 150g that had a 4' moray - a big, messy eater. When I added a fuge (in my case, a 120g tank with 6" DSB) the nitrates fell to undetectable within 2 months, even without a water change for 4 - 6 weeks. HTH __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

07/02/2013, 04:59 PM	#26
Duna_ Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Spain Posts: 78	If your source is overfeeding, I suggest NP Biopellets. I started with them two months ago and nitrates drop from 40 to less than 5 (between 0 and 5, sorry my test is not more accurate, I`m about to buy a better one). I did nothing but to sit and watch how the nitrates dissapeared without doing nothing. I use 200 ml in a 250 litre tank and sump. I first put 100 ml and added 50 ml the next month and the other 50 ml two weeks later. The first month you don't see any drop, but after that, it's amazing. I feed what I want (I didn`t reduce food), twice or three times a day, pellets and flakes.

07/02/2013, 05:05 PM	#27
E Rosewater Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 846	I don't believe the OP has a skimmer, if that is the case bio pellets/carbon dosing is not an option.

07/03/2013, 01:40 AM	#28
Duna_ Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Spain Posts: 78	That's right. You shouldn't run biopellets without a skimmer ...

07/03/2013, 10:59 AM	#29
tigershark80228 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 10	Thanks form ALL of your suggestions. I'll try and address the questions posed....Yes, I have a HOB skimmer -love it and it does a great job. I haven't tested the lfs RO water yet, I'll do that today! I did have to buy a new Penguin Bio-Wheel unit, the old one somehow became ungrounded and would shock me when I touched the handle of the lid - so, yes, I have a glass cover on the tank with about a 2" gap in the rear of the tank. I've got two Korolia power heads, a small one and a large one but I'm only running the larger one right now. It seems that with both it blows the fish all around the tank. I cleaned the canister filter and added some phosphate beads and a nitrate removing pad. Also put a pad in the new Penquin. Fish seem a lot happier (swimming all around). The Foxface use to hang out in the back of the tank and not show himself much. Now he's swimming out in front in the water current and is back to his bright yellow color. Thanks again for everyone's help an suggestions. Looks like I'm back on track! Oh, and I've cut WAY back on feeding!

07/03/2013, 02:07 PM	#31
Quintis Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 130	Never give up, never surrender!

07/03/2013, 02:14 PM	#32
Arc Drafter Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 228	not to be a fish police but i feel like 30 gallons is too small for a foxface?

07/03/2013, 05:17 PM	#33
tigershark80228 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 10	Yes, getting rid of the sand slowly but surely. Would like to do a sump but have ?'s. what's the difference between a sump and a refugium? Yes, Foxface is small < 3" and he is part of my plan for upgrading when I tell the wide why I need a bigger tank! .

07/03/2013, 05:23 PM	#34
tigershark80228 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 10	And the canister was only the emergency plan when the impeller for the Penguin sheered in half.