Gravel Sweep

Holygrail45 · 07/15/2007, 12:36 PM

Hello,

I have been in the hobby over a year and a half, so Im not sure if "new to the hobby" is still the right place, but I think for now I'll be alright asking here.

I have a big nitrate problem. I dont know how to control it....I do bi-weekly water changes (some times weekly). Usually 20-30%. I monitor my feeding. I have Xenias and Scallops to absorb as much as possible...I have a strong clean up crew to eat whatever gets killed/dies in those unreachable spots...I even use AlGone.

A friend of mine told me to do more gravel sweeps, and honestly....I haven't done one in probably 6 months. I used to be able to, but now with all the liverock, anenomes, soft corals...I just can't....and I dont want to move things around and disturb (too many things have attached themselves such that moving could kill some stock).

So...the big question I suppose is how do you all handle this situation...how do you clean dead zones where you just can't get to it? I also here that under the substrate is a large area of denitrification bacteria and un'earthing' it would kill off a lot of what I have left in my battle (failing albeit it) with nitrate?

Sorry for the multiple questions and long thread/.

theatrus · 07/15/2007, 12:40 PM

Some diagnosis questions so we can suggest some fixes:

What size is your substrate? Small fine sand or crushed coral chunks?

What is your water source? How much nitrate does it contain before going into the tank?

How much nitrate is actually in the tank?

How much/how often are you feeding? How many fish, and any notable messy ones (eels, etc)? Do you have a protein skimmer? How much flow is in your tank?

Holygrail45 · 07/15/2007, 07:07 PM

Thank you for the reply.

The tank is a 30 gallon. The substrate is crushed coral, small pieces, about 1.5" thick over a span of 30" x 12".

Water is either received from lfs, or it goes through an 8 stage filteration process which includes carbon and RO.

Nitrate...well, that's a great question because the test kit indicates well over 20ppm-40ppm. Who can ever really tell...since its based of a color code chart...but Im guessing in that range.

I feel small amounts, probably once to twice a day. These days, I feed once a day. Usually I'll feed Spirulina flakes, Tigger Pods from Reed or Cyclopeeze. Some Pelet Food Too (New Life Spectrum). I also dose the tank with Calcium every 1-2 days and I add 20-50 drops of Phyto Feast.

Fish:Nothing to bad, some perculas, a 6 line wrasse, Hipo Tang, a damsle fish.

Yes, I have a skimmer (a horrible cheap one that I adopted along with the tank a year ago)

How much flow, embarassingly, I dont know...I never checked before getting the tank and I've never dived into my sump long enough or for the reason of finding out.

Lots of information here and thank you for caring enough to reply and/or read through it. I have had this Nitrate problem for long enough to either doubt my testing kit or realize that 20+ PPM isn't really as bad as I hear/read. I have three anenomes that flourish, a bubble coral that has lasted a year that's gorgeous. Sponges, Tunakits, Scallops and Crabs that are several several months old. Zoo's, Frogspawn, Torch Coral....all thriving.

I dont know...off to do a water change

theatrus · 07/15/2007, 07:43 PM

- Crushed coral is a known nitrate/waste trap - I'd honestly vacuum it out to remove as much trapped waste as possible. How much LR is in the system? One long term route it replace all your CC with fine sand.

- Hippo/Regal tangs really need a 90+ gallon system to thrive.

- Flow can help suspend waste in the water - what pumps do you have in your system?

- How much is your skimmer pulling out every day? I'd look at maximizing its usefulness.

sabbath · 07/15/2007, 07:48 PM

I have had Crushed coral in tanks of old. If you have it siphon it IMO. You will need to move stuff around to clean under it. Letting the waste build up under stuff will give you troubles, I have found.

Getting a good skimmer will help to. It will help get the stuff out before it turns to Nitrate.

Water changes has not done much for me. You need to find why it is there, Is my 2 cents

Holygrail45 · 07/16/2007, 12:57 AM

That's interesting, I posted a long reply. I guess it didn't post for some reason. Thanks again for all the help and suggestions

gummi · 07/16/2007, 06:17 AM

Sump?

If you do have bioballs or any sponges - clean them out. It helps.

Also consider growing some chaeto.

07/15/2007, 12:36 PM	#1
Holygrail45 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 66	Gravel Sweep Hello, I have been in the hobby over a year and a half, so Im not sure if "new to the hobby" is still the right place, but I think for now I'll be alright asking here. I have a big nitrate problem. I dont know how to control it....I do bi-weekly water changes (some times weekly). Usually 20-30%. I monitor my feeding. I have Xenias and Scallops to absorb as much as possible...I have a strong clean up crew to eat whatever gets killed/dies in those unreachable spots...I even use AlGone. A friend of mine told me to do more gravel sweeps, and honestly....I haven't done one in probably 6 months. I used to be able to, but now with all the liverock, anenomes, soft corals...I just can't....and I dont want to move things around and disturb (too many things have attached themselves such that moving could kill some stock). So...the big question I suppose is how do you all handle this situation...how do you clean dead zones where you just can't get to it? I also here that under the substrate is a large area of denitrification bacteria and un'earthing' it would kill off a lot of what I have left in my battle (failing albeit it) with nitrate? Sorry for the multiple questions and long thread/.

07/15/2007, 12:40 PM	#2
theatrus 100-mile-commuter Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: almost nevada Posts: 4,721	Some diagnosis questions so we can suggest some fixes: What size is your substrate? Small fine sand or crushed coral chunks? What is your water source? How much nitrate does it contain before going into the tank? How much nitrate is actually in the tank? How much/how often are you feeding? How many fish, and any notable messy ones (eels, etc)? Do you have a protein skimmer? How much flow is in your tank? __________________ Custom electronics purveyor. blueAcro.com Current Tank Info: 90g SPS+mixed reef (10 yrs): LEDBrick LEDs, 40g custom sump, Ca reactor, chiller, Vortech, lots of custom electronics

07/15/2007, 07:43 PM	#4
theatrus 100-mile-commuter Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: almost nevada Posts: 4,721	- Crushed coral is a known nitrate/waste trap - I'd honestly vacuum it out to remove as much trapped waste as possible. How much LR is in the system? One long term route it replace all your CC with fine sand. - Hippo/Regal tangs really need a 90+ gallon system to thrive. - Flow can help suspend waste in the water - what pumps do you have in your system? - How much is your skimmer pulling out every day? I'd look at maximizing its usefulness. __________________ Custom electronics purveyor. blueAcro.com Current Tank Info: 90g SPS+mixed reef (10 yrs): LEDBrick LEDs, 40g custom sump, Ca reactor, chiller, Vortech, lots of custom electronics

07/15/2007, 07:07 PM	#3
Holygrail45 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 66	Thank you for the reply. The tank is a 30 gallon. The substrate is crushed coral, small pieces, about 1.5" thick over a span of 30" x 12". Water is either received from lfs, or it goes through an 8 stage filteration process which includes carbon and RO. Nitrate...well, that's a great question because the test kit indicates well over 20ppm-40ppm. Who can ever really tell...since its based of a color code chart...but Im guessing in that range. I feel small amounts, probably once to twice a day. These days, I feed once a day. Usually I'll feed Spirulina flakes, Tigger Pods from Reed or Cyclopeeze. Some Pelet Food Too (New Life Spectrum). I also dose the tank with Calcium every 1-2 days and I add 20-50 drops of Phyto Feast. Fish:Nothing to bad, some perculas, a 6 line wrasse, Hipo Tang, a damsle fish. Yes, I have a skimmer (a horrible cheap one that I adopted along with the tank a year ago) How much flow, embarassingly, I dont know...I never checked before getting the tank and I've never dived into my sump long enough or for the reason of finding out. Lots of information here and thank you for caring enough to reply and/or read through it. I have had this Nitrate problem for long enough to either doubt my testing kit or realize that 20+ PPM isn't really as bad as I hear/read. I have three anenomes that flourish, a bubble coral that has lasted a year that's gorgeous. Sponges, Tunakits, Scallops and Crabs that are several several months old. Zoo's, Frogspawn, Torch Coral....all thriving. I dont know...off to do a water change

07/15/2007, 07:48 PM	#5
sabbath Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Twin City's Mn. Posts: 1,771	I have had Crushed coral in tanks of old. If you have it siphon it IMO. You will need to move stuff around to clean under it. Letting the waste build up under stuff will give you troubles, I have found. Getting a good skimmer will help to. It will help get the stuff out before it turns to Nitrate. Water changes has not done much for me. You need to find why it is there, Is my 2 cents

07/16/2007, 12:57 AM	#6
Holygrail45 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 66	That's interesting, I posted a long reply. I guess it didn't post for some reason. Thanks again for all the help and suggestions

07/16/2007, 06:17 AM	#7
gummi Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Brampton, ON Posts: 282	Sump? If you do have bioballs or any sponges - clean them out. It helps. Also consider growing some chaeto.