nitrate levels bad..:( - Page 2

Notathumpa · 08/30/2008, 08:01 PM

I have ZERO filters in my sump! I filled the "Bioballs" chamber with Live Rock which works for me. I also throw a bag of carbon in the M/T section.....also a good place for temporary bags of "Phos-Gard" or other chem. control media.

IslandCrow · 08/30/2008, 08:07 PM

Your carbon needs to be someplace the water is going to flow through it. Ideally, it would go in some sort of reactor for optimum flow, but it's still effective other places. I have mine attached to the end of one of my returns into my sump.

x1crt · 08/31/2008, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Notathumpa
I have ZERO filters in my sump! I filled the "Bioballs" chamber with Live Rock which works for me. I also throw a bag of carbon in the M/T section.....also a good place for temporary bags of "Phos-Gard" or other chem. control media.

are the bioballs suppose to be where the return part is?

x1crt · 08/31/2008, 03:29 PM

what extactly do the bioballs do?

seapug · 08/31/2008, 05:02 PM

bioballs create a highly oxygenated surface area for the rapid conversion of ammonia to nitrate. The problem is that, in theory, any media in a "trickle filter" arrangement (live rock included) can create elevated nitrate levels because the nitrate is produced away from oxygen deprived areas where nitrate is consumed by anaerobic bacteria. The same principle applies to sponge filter pads. Plenty of people use bioballs and don't have problems, but the bottom line is they aren't necessary or needed in a tank with live rock and sand.

CAROLGYRL · 08/31/2008, 06:36 PM

On my collection cup, i have just dark green water, that after a day is maybe 1/2 " tall. dark green. Your cup looks like very light color. Ask Sk8r is your water is too much! and too light, I am still learning myself, but I was told to hvae my cup water be really dark green.To adjust it until it was.

IslandCrow · 09/01/2008, 11:40 AM

Quote:

I was told to hvae my cup water be really dark green.To adjust it until it was.

That's not necessarily true. What you're hinting on is the age old debate of whether to skim "wet" or "dry". I'd say the color of your skim depends on a few things: How wet you're skimming, the efficiency of your skimmer, and your level of dissolved organics (DOC). I tend to skim fairly dry (i.e. the bubbles don't come up as high in my skimmer neck), so I get pretty dark skimmate. Others skim wet and get significantly more skimmate, but it's much lighter in color. I don't think anyone's really proven which is better. I skim dry mainly so I don't have to empty my collection cup as often (yes, I'm lazy).

08/30/2008, 08:01 PM	#26
Notathumpa Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Nickelsville, Virginia Posts: 325	I have ZERO filters in my sump! I filled the "Bioballs" chamber with Live Rock which works for me. I also throw a bag of carbon in the M/T section.....also a good place for temporary bags of "Phos-Gard" or other chem. control media. __________________ The distance to infinity is the same from any point....why hurry! John Current Tank Info: Setting up 120 gal reef, ASM G-3 skimmer, Evergrow LED

08/30/2008, 08:07 PM	#27
IslandCrow Reef Monkey Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Rockledge, Fl Posts: 5,759	Your carbon needs to be someplace the water is going to flow through it. Ideally, it would go in some sort of reactor for optimum flow, but it's still effective other places. I have mine attached to the end of one of my returns into my sump. __________________ All opinions in the above message should be taken with 35 ppt salt. -Mike C. Current Tank Info: I have a reef screen saver on my phone, does that count?

08/31/2008, 05:02 PM	#30
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	bioballs create a highly oxygenated surface area for the rapid conversion of ammonia to nitrate. The problem is that, in theory, any media in a "trickle filter" arrangement (live rock included) can create elevated nitrate levels because the nitrate is produced away from oxygen deprived areas where nitrate is consumed by anaerobic bacteria. The same principle applies to sponge filter pads. Plenty of people use bioballs and don't have problems, but the bottom line is they aren't necessary or needed in a tank with live rock and sand. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

08/31/2008, 03:29 PM	#29
x1crt Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: california Posts: 319	what extactly do the bioballs do?

08/31/2008, 06:36 PM	#31
CAROLGYRL Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: PALM DESERT, CA. Posts: 184	On my collection cup, i have just dark green water, that after a day is maybe 1/2 " tall. dark green. Your cup looks like very light color. Ask Sk8r is your water is too much! and too light, I am still learning myself, but I was told to hvae my cup water be really dark green.To adjust it until it was.