easily i believe in cheato now....

supernareg · 02/07/2007, 11:46 PM

i put together a 12 gal aquapod, new sand, seeded though along with live rock.

huge diatom bloom within a week, and nitrates / ammonia were extremely high (75ppm+ nitrates) and then i decided to put in some cheato (into the display) until i peel the black backing on it and put the cheato in the compartment with an external light pointing to it.

within a week and half, my nitrates are 0 and ammonia is <25.
and diatoms are gone. in there i have 2 snails, 1 hermit and 1 clown goby and 1 damsel which is not aggressive.

does cheato take up ammonia also?

and, if all my levels remain at zero (and evap is very minimal i havent topped off yet, its been 2-3 weeks) and i occasionaly dose Calcium +3 from Red Sea.... will i be fine w/o water changes?

i mean why do water changes if all my levels are good and i'm adding nutrients to replenish used up ones?

so guys, CHEATO IT UP!!!!!!!!

bertoni · 02/08/2007, 01:32 AM

Water changes are still recommended to keep the ionic balance in line and remove various compounds the filtration won't remove. You'll also need to dose alkalinity to keep coralline and skeleton-depositing corals going.

swjim · 02/08/2007, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by supernareg

does cheato take up ammonia also?

No, plants don't take up ammonia. They feed off of the ammonia's by-product, nitrates, after the ammonia has been broken down.

bertoni · 02/08/2007, 11:37 AM

Most or all algae can take up ammonia directly. They aren't that picky about nitrogen sources. That's why they're so good for filtration, in both saltwater and freshwater tanks.

papagimp · 02/08/2007, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by supernareg
i mean why do water changes if all my levels are good and i'm adding nutrients to replenish used up ones?

You can add nutrients all day long and you still are not going to get the right balance that a water change gives.

kelley_mc · 02/08/2007, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by papagimp
You can add nutrients all day long and you still are not going to get the right balance that a water change gives.

Agreed.

Danger731 · 02/08/2007, 01:52 PM

+ 3 on above

02/07/2007, 11:46 PM	#1
supernareg Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2,610	easily i believe in cheato now.... i put together a 12 gal aquapod, new sand, seeded though along with live rock. huge diatom bloom within a week, and nitrates / ammonia were extremely high (75ppm+ nitrates) and then i decided to put in some cheato (into the display) until i peel the black backing on it and put the cheato in the compartment with an external light pointing to it. within a week and half, my nitrates are 0 and ammonia is <25. and diatoms are gone. in there i have 2 snails, 1 hermit and 1 clown goby and 1 damsel which is not aggressive. does cheato take up ammonia also? and, if all my levels remain at zero (and evap is very minimal i havent topped off yet, its been 2-3 weeks) and i occasionaly dose Calcium +3 from Red Sea.... will i be fine w/o water changes? i mean why do water changes if all my levels are good and i'm adding nutrients to replenish used up ones? so guys, CHEATO IT UP!!!!!!!!

02/08/2007, 01:32 AM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Water changes are still recommended to keep the ionic balance in line and remove various compounds the filtration won't remove. You'll also need to dose alkalinity to keep coralline and skeleton-depositing corals going. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

02/08/2007, 11:37 AM	#4
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Most or all algae can take up ammonia directly. They aren't that picky about nitrogen sources. That's why they're so good for filtration, in both saltwater and freshwater tanks. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

02/08/2007, 01:52 PM	#7
Danger731 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Indiana Posts: 300	+ 3 on above __________________ Jebo 375 R , 20 gallon sump/fuge started march 04 from two 15 gallon nano's Now a 30 Gal FOWLR as well Dec 06