Nitrate problem( even with DSB, Chaeto and Mangroves)

basssnake · 05/17/2009, 03:21 PM

My system is a 180 gallon main display(with about 200lbs of live rock and lots of corals, about 10 fish, and a large cleanup crew) that drains into a 100 gallon rubbermaid plastic stock tank(with a 6 inch deep sand bed, and full of live rock), which then drains into a 45 gallon glass sump(filled with rock rubble in about 1/3 of it, with a ball of chaeto about a foot in diameter or so, and about 35 red mangroves). I have two skimmers running: 1 seaclone 150 and a Aqua Medic Turbo Floater 1000 multi.

My nitrates used to be around 15ppm to 20ppm, and now they have climbed up to 80ppm to 100ppm(they was worse, but i did a 33% water change a week ago). About a month and a half ago, I moved some live rock to the sump from another tank that had high nitrate problems. I wonder if that brought some of it over?

What do i need to do? For some reason my DSB isn't working yet, i think? Any way to jump start it? Suggestions?

I do have a tank that has a DSB that works great(only 15ppm of nitrate and i only do a water change once a year, the tank actually ran for 2 years at 0ppm without any water changes).

thanks for any help

mounts327 · 05/17/2009, 04:34 PM

I don't have much experience with the Aqua Medic, but I will say that the seaclones are garbage IMO. I would say your first step is to try to upgrade your skimmer to something more powerful.

basssnake · 05/17/2009, 04:57 PM

Well, I think that the seaclones work good for what they cost, but i am only using it as a extra. The aquamedic is way more powerful than the seaclone.

Anyone have any more input on this whole scenerio?

basssnake · 05/17/2009, 04:58 PM

Oh, this system has been setup for about 10 months.

dudley moray · 05/17/2009, 04:59 PM

check your make up water for nitrates also test your salt mix the problem is not your skimmer unless it's not working properly try cleaning you venturi if equipped

Shmax · 05/17/2009, 05:01 PM

You may have brought some over with that LR, but still, that's pretty high. You didn't mention how much/often you feed. Sounds like overfeeding to me.

basssnake · 05/17/2009, 05:08 PM

I only feed the fish every two or three days. I usually just throw in some OSI shrimp pellets and maybe a few marinleand algae wafers. The fish eat it up and the cleaners(hermits, starfish, coral banded shrimp, and emerald crabs). I really don't think that i overfeed. The skimmers seem to be working fine.

I really think that the DSB isn't working and I am not understanding why. The deep sand bed IMO should be getting rid of some nitrates along with the 35 red mangroves and chaeto(which isn't growing fast due to needing to getting my light source closer to them). Any ideas??

mounts327 · 05/17/2009, 05:18 PM

Are you using RO/DI? If you are or aren't, test your water either way.

gooyferret · 05/17/2009, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by basssnake
Well, I think that the seaclones work good for what they cost, but i am only using it as a extra. The aquamedic is way more powerful than the seaclone.

Anyone have any more input on this whole scenerio?

Sorry man but they dont really skim anything except for extremely wet skim (trust me i have had 2) That was a LONG time ago! I had a Urchin Pro skimmer and thought that was doing a good job, now i upgraded to a MSX 200 HUGE difference!

Look at my build thread:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1628797

That is it skimming after 1 day! The difference is unbelievable! You should upgrade skimmer I think that would help alot! There is no need to run 2 skimmers on a tank, unless you obviously dont think the other is doing the job. I would recommend the MSX 250 for your setup..

The DSB will take time to establish how long has that been in there? Is it in your sump or DT?

HTH

jenglish · 05/17/2009, 09:41 PM

I would double check the test against another test just to rule that out.

Are you trying to run a 0 water change system? You may want a better light for your chaeto, a waterfall ATS or coil denitrator. A improved skimmer wouldn't hurt either. I had a seaclone and I thought it worked good for the money until I got an octo and realized it hadn't been doing crap.

05/17/2009, 03:21 PM	#1
basssnake Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Kansas Posts: 838	Nitrate problem( even with DSB, Chaeto and Mangroves) My system is a 180 gallon main display(with about 200lbs of live rock and lots of corals, about 10 fish, and a large cleanup crew) that drains into a 100 gallon rubbermaid plastic stock tank(with a 6 inch deep sand bed, and full of live rock), which then drains into a 45 gallon glass sump(filled with rock rubble in about 1/3 of it, with a ball of chaeto about a foot in diameter or so, and about 35 red mangroves). I have two skimmers running: 1 seaclone 150 and a Aqua Medic Turbo Floater 1000 multi. My nitrates used to be around 15ppm to 20ppm, and now they have climbed up to 80ppm to 100ppm(they was worse, but i did a 33% water change a week ago). About a month and a half ago, I moved some live rock to the sump from another tank that had high nitrate problems. I wonder if that brought some of it over? What do i need to do? For some reason my DSB isn't working yet, i think? Any way to jump start it? Suggestions? I do have a tank that has a DSB that works great(only 15ppm of nitrate and i only do a water change once a year, the tank actually ran for 2 years at 0ppm without any water changes). thanks for any help

05/17/2009, 04:59 PM	#5
dudley moray sisternofuselessknowledge Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: orillia ontario Posts: 795	check your make up water for nitrates also test your salt mix the problem is not your skimmer unless it's not working properly try cleaning you venturi if equipped __________________ We urge hobbyists to develop a good 'BS' detector that will allow you to question information presented to you without any experimental evidence to support it. chris Current Tank Info: 90 gal south pacific biotope 40 gal sump/fuge ,65 gal rebuilding

05/17/2009, 09:41 PM	#10
jenglish Marquis de Carabas Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 2,523	I would double check the test against another test just to rule that out. Are you trying to run a 0 water change system? You may want a better light for your chaeto, a waterfall ATS or coil denitrator. A improved skimmer wouldn't hurt either. I had a seaclone and I thought it worked good for the money until I got an octo and realized it hadn't been doing crap. __________________ Jeremy Brown liquor never hurt anybody “Je n'ai pas besoin de cette hypothèse" Pierre-Simon Laplace I should want to cook him a simple meal, but I shouldn't want to cut into him, to tear the flesh, to wear the flesh, to be born unto new worlds where his flesh becomes my key. Current Tank Info: broken and dry

05/17/2009, 04:34 PM	#2
mounts327 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 85	I don't have much experience with the Aqua Medic, but I will say that the seaclones are garbage IMO. I would say your first step is to try to upgrade your skimmer to something more powerful.

05/17/2009, 04:57 PM	#3
basssnake Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Kansas Posts: 838	Well, I think that the seaclones work good for what they cost, but i am only using it as a extra. The aquamedic is way more powerful than the seaclone. Anyone have any more input on this whole scenerio?

05/17/2009, 04:58 PM	#4
basssnake Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Kansas Posts: 838	Oh, this system has been setup for about 10 months.

05/17/2009, 05:01 PM	#6
Shmax Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 596	You may have brought some over with that LR, but still, that's pretty high. You didn't mention how much/often you feed. Sounds like overfeeding to me.

05/17/2009, 05:08 PM	#7
basssnake Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Kansas Posts: 838	I only feed the fish every two or three days. I usually just throw in some OSI shrimp pellets and maybe a few marinleand algae wafers. The fish eat it up and the cleaners(hermits, starfish, coral banded shrimp, and emerald crabs). I really don't think that i overfeed. The skimmers seem to be working fine. I really think that the DSB isn't working and I am not understanding why. The deep sand bed IMO should be getting rid of some nitrates along with the 35 red mangroves and chaeto(which isn't growing fast due to needing to getting my light source closer to them). Any ideas??

05/17/2009, 05:18 PM	#8
mounts327 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 85	Are you using RO/DI? If you are or aren't, test your water either way.