nitrates phosphates

Semper Fi · 06/07/2007, 02:58 PM

I have a 180gal with about 100lbs live rock and 3-4 in sand bed,w/ a 40 gal sump w/bioballs...a Berlin Turbo XL skimmer and 25 w uv......... my nitrates phosphates have been 0 sence day one until about a week ago they spicked 2 for the pho. and 40-80 for the nit......ive done a few water changes in the last week but thats not helping . the fish/Anemones all seem unaffected. no hair algae , just coraline alge on the rocks....

I have 2 lions one 4 and one 6 in, i webb burr puff about 5 in,1 porcipine puff about 5 in, 1 humu humu trigger about 6 in, 1 marroon gold band clown about 3 in, one sailfin tang about 6 in,one niger trigger about 4 in, one moon wrass about 5 in,a couple stars and a large carpet green. all have been in there for over 6 months except the 2 puffers thought are new within the last mounth......and a hand full of hermets and snails

i dont overfeed and my lights are on a timeer for 8 hr a day 4 power compace 40 watts a bulb..

Question 1 is that too many fish in the tank at once?

2. any sug. on lowering the nitrates phosphates

seapug · 06/07/2007, 03:14 PM

Sorry not to answer your question, but I'm confused.. are you saying you have a large green carpet anemone in a 180 gal tank with only 160 watts of lighting with a trigger and a 2 puffers? Didn't think such a thing was possible...

Semper Fi · 06/07/2007, 03:54 PM

yep

Semper Fi · 06/07/2007, 03:55 PM

Is something wrong with that????

kevin2000 · 06/07/2007, 04:00 PM

How old is the tank?

Lions, triggers and the like are predators and predator tanks tend to be "dirty" tanks which are prone to water quality issues. Predator tanks often require extensive filtration, frequent water changes etc.

Get rid of the carpet anemone ... bad choice for that tank .. not enough lighting and water quality issues in predator tanks are unsuitable for anemones.

Semper Fi · 06/07/2007, 04:08 PM

the tank has been up for over 6 mon and most of that has been in there from the start. i moved them over from my 60 hex

Semper Fi · 06/07/2007, 04:09 PM

but is there any thing that i can get to help the tank out? do i need another type of filter?

seapug · 06/07/2007, 04:13 PM

I've always been under the impression Green Carpet Anemones are some of the most light demanding species and you're running less than 1 Watt/gallon lighting. 3-5 watts/gal is typically what people have for photosynthetic creatures. An anemone like that needs at least 5W/gal , 6-8 even better. Plus, I'm quite surprised the triggers and puffers haven't shredded the thing....

But like Kevin says, you've got a lot of LARGE poop generating fish in there. That's probably where the water quality issues are coming from. The only thing I can think to counter that situation it is very frequent, very large water changes.

Semper Fi · 06/07/2007, 04:18 PM

ok but even then besides moving a couple fish and water changes what can i do to help it besides cemicals is there a better filter that i need or do i just have too many fish in one tank?

kevin2000 · 06/07/2007, 04:23 PM

My 02

Your water quality is not unusual for a preditor tank ... but some of your livestock may be questionable.

Anemone don't do well in preditor tanks because of water quality issues (your lighting is also not appropriate) .. and often inverts like starfish, snails and other std items are considered "food" in a preditor tank so don't get too attached to them.

Some aquarist who have preditor tanks set them up with "cleaning" in mind ... while crushed coral is normally a lousy substrate for SW tanks its heavy nature facilitates deep cleaning which is often mandatory in a predator tank.

Not sure about your whole setup .. a description of substrate, filltration, skimming etc may help. In general man predator tanks have more filtration than normal tanks and require more frequent water changes ... just part of having that type of tank.

Semper Fi · 06/07/2007, 04:27 PM

thanks

Semper Fi · 06/07/2007, 05:03 PM

would cheato help out?

06/07/2007, 02:58 PM	#1
Semper Fi Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 33	nitrates phosphates I have a 180gal with about 100lbs live rock and 3-4 in sand bed,w/ a 40 gal sump w/bioballs...a Berlin Turbo XL skimmer and 25 w uv......... my nitrates phosphates have been 0 sence day one until about a week ago they spicked 2 for the pho. and 40-80 for the nit......ive done a few water changes in the last week but thats not helping . the fish/Anemones all seem unaffected. no hair algae , just coraline alge on the rocks.... I have 2 lions one 4 and one 6 in, i webb burr puff about 5 in,1 porcipine puff about 5 in, 1 humu humu trigger about 6 in, 1 marroon gold band clown about 3 in, one sailfin tang about 6 in,one niger trigger about 4 in, one moon wrass about 5 in,a couple stars and a large carpet green. all have been in there for over 6 months except the 2 puffers thought are new within the last mounth......and a hand full of hermets and snails i dont overfeed and my lights are on a timeer for 8 hr a day 4 power compace 40 watts a bulb.. Question 1 is that too many fish in the tank at once? 2. any sug. on lowering the nitrates phosphates

06/07/2007, 03:14 PM	#2
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	Sorry not to answer your question, but I'm confused.. are you saying you have a large green carpet anemone in a 180 gal tank with only 160 watts of lighting with a trigger and a 2 puffers? Didn't think such a thing was possible... __________________ 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.

06/07/2007, 04:13 PM	#8
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	I've always been under the impression Green Carpet Anemones are some of the most light demanding species and you're running less than 1 Watt/gallon lighting. 3-5 watts/gal is typically what people have for photosynthetic creatures. An anemone like that needs at least 5W/gal , 6-8 even better. Plus, I'm quite surprised the triggers and puffers haven't shredded the thing.... But like Kevin says, you've got a lot of LARGE poop generating fish in there. That's probably where the water quality issues are coming from. The only thing I can think to counter that situation it is very frequent, very large water changes. __________________ 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.

06/07/2007, 03:54 PM	#3
Semper Fi Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 33	yep

06/07/2007, 03:55 PM	#4
Semper Fi Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 33	Is something wrong with that????

06/07/2007, 04:00 PM	#5
kevin2000 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,805	How old is the tank? Lions, triggers and the like are predators and predator tanks tend to be "dirty" tanks which are prone to water quality issues. Predator tanks often require extensive filtration, frequent water changes etc. Get rid of the carpet anemone ... bad choice for that tank .. not enough lighting and water quality issues in predator tanks are unsuitable for anemones.

06/07/2007, 04:08 PM	#6
Semper Fi Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 33	the tank has been up for over 6 mon and most of that has been in there from the start. i moved them over from my 60 hex

06/07/2007, 04:09 PM	#7
Semper Fi Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 33	but is there any thing that i can get to help the tank out? do i need another type of filter?

06/07/2007, 04:18 PM	#9
Semper Fi Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 33	ok but even then besides moving a couple fish and water changes what can i do to help it besides cemicals is there a better filter that i need or do i just have too many fish in one tank?

06/07/2007, 04:23 PM	#10
kevin2000 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,805	My 02 Your water quality is not unusual for a preditor tank ... but some of your livestock may be questionable. Anemone don't do well in preditor tanks because of water quality issues (your lighting is also not appropriate) .. and often inverts like starfish, snails and other std items are considered "food" in a preditor tank so don't get too attached to them. Some aquarist who have preditor tanks set them up with "cleaning" in mind ... while crushed coral is normally a lousy substrate for SW tanks its heavy nature facilitates deep cleaning which is often mandatory in a predator tank. Not sure about your whole setup .. a description of substrate, filltration, skimming etc may help. In general man predator tanks have more filtration than normal tanks and require more frequent water changes ... just part of having that type of tank.

06/07/2007, 04:27 PM	#11
Semper Fi Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 33	thanks

06/07/2007, 05:03 PM	#12
Semper Fi Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 33	would cheato help out?