Do I have to clean my sand? and Chiller?

miNiChher · 04/04/2007, 04:05 PM

Hey guys. It's a simple question again. But can someone point me towards a good article on cleaning my sand bed? Right now my nitrates can't seem to go down =( I am in the process of removing bio balls that are in my overflow... and will be changing out my filter sock more often than every other week...

Also, my temp is going above 82 deg sometimes and am looking to get a chiller VERY VERY soon but am limited to about $550.

I've got a 110 gallon FOWLR tank with the following:

30 gallon Sump
ASM G1-X Skimmer
2x175w MHs (14k)
2x96w PC (actinate)

My water parameters as of yesterday were as follows:

1.025 - Specific Gravity
82 deg F - Temperature
8.2 - PH
0 - Ammonia
0 - Nitrite
20 - Nitrate
390 - Calcium

papagimp · 04/04/2007, 04:12 PM

Test for alkality as well, get that calcium a little higher. don't clean the sandbed (get a proper clean up crew to help with that) increase flow to stop particulate matter from settling on the sandbed.

bioballs are probably causing that nitrate issue, but there are so many reasons for nitrates to rise that I can't say 100%. How many and what types of fish/livestock is in the tank? How often do you feed and how much? Any other additives going in the tank? Phytoplankton? How often are you performing water changes adn how large?

miNiChher · 04/04/2007, 04:21 PM

Ok. Will work on the alkalinity tests tonight.

As for livestock right now I have the following:

1 Purple Tilefish
3 Bangai Cardinals
2 Pajama Cardinals
1 Clarkii Clown
1 Pink Skunk Clown
2 Green Chromis
2 Cleaner Shrimp
1 Fire Schrimp
1 Star

and ( I know I said FOWLR but...)
1 Carpet Anemone
1 Long Tentacle Anemone
1 Candy Coral
1 Brain
1 Flower Pot
2 Clams
1 Galaxy Coral
1 Frog Spawn

Sometimes I add some Iodine, and I do water changes two times a month.

stuccodude · 04/04/2007, 05:45 PM

im having the same problem and am slowly removing my bio balls to switch too refugium, 4 water changes is 2 weeks at 40% each time and still at 20, i firmly believe its the bio balls, cant wait to go refugium but everyone says take 20% of the balls a week so another couple weeks, good luck

ruarox · 04/04/2007, 08:31 PM

i was having the same problem with nitrates so i brought my water to lfs he used a hagen test and he said my nitrates were almost 0 my test kit was saying around 20

04/04/2007, 04:05 PM	#1
miNiChher Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Long Beach Posts: 60	Do I have to clean my sand? and Chiller? Hey guys. It's a simple question again. But can someone point me towards a good article on cleaning my sand bed? Right now my nitrates can't seem to go down =( I am in the process of removing bio balls that are in my overflow... and will be changing out my filter sock more often than every other week... Also, my temp is going above 82 deg sometimes and am looking to get a chiller VERY VERY soon but am limited to about $550. I've got a 110 gallon FOWLR tank with the following: 30 gallon Sump ASM G1-X Skimmer 2x175w MHs (14k) 2x96w PC (actinate) My water parameters as of yesterday were as follows: 1.025 - Specific Gravity 82 deg F - Temperature 8.2 - PH 0 - Ammonia 0 - Nitrite 20 - Nitrate 390 - Calcium

04/04/2007, 04:12 PM	#2
papagimp COMAS Rocks! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 8,185 Blog Entries: 2	Test for alkality as well, get that calcium a little higher. don't clean the sandbed (get a proper clean up crew to help with that) increase flow to stop particulate matter from settling on the sandbed. bioballs are probably causing that nitrate issue, but there are so many reasons for nitrates to rise that I can't say 100%. How many and what types of fish/livestock is in the tank? How often do you feed and how much? Any other additives going in the tank? Phytoplankton? How often are you performing water changes adn how large? __________________ 58g Softie & 75g Stoney Member, Central Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society Current Tank Info: 58g Mixed Reef Project - Started June 2011

04/04/2007, 05:45 PM	#4
stuccodude Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: sanger Posts: 1,040	im having the same problem and am slowly removing my bio balls to switch too refugium, 4 water changes is 2 weeks at 40% each time and still at 20, i firmly believe its the bio balls, cant wait to go refugium but everyone says take 20% of the balls a week so another couple weeks, good luck __________________ fear the wrath of patrick willis!!! no offense is safe. Current Tank Info: 240 all the goodies,hydra 26 led lights, chiller etc

04/04/2007, 04:21 PM	#3
miNiChher Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Long Beach Posts: 60	Ok. Will work on the alkalinity tests tonight. As for livestock right now I have the following: 1 Purple Tilefish 3 Bangai Cardinals 2 Pajama Cardinals 1 Clarkii Clown 1 Pink Skunk Clown 2 Green Chromis 2 Cleaner Shrimp 1 Fire Schrimp 1 Star and ( I know I said FOWLR but...) 1 Carpet Anemone 1 Long Tentacle Anemone 1 Candy Coral 1 Brain 1 Flower Pot 2 Clams 1 Galaxy Coral 1 Frog Spawn Sometimes I add some Iodine, and I do water changes two times a month.

04/04/2007, 08:31 PM	#5
ruarox Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: bayshore Posts: 165	i was having the same problem with nitrates so i brought my water to lfs he used a hagen test and he said my nitrates were almost 0 my test kit was saying around 20