nitrate

davocean · 01/20/2006, 06:12 PM

Ever since I added full capacity of live rock, my nitrates have been high- 10 - 20 ppm.
I do weekly 10 percent water changes, and added de-nitrate, with no change in nitrate level.
I have a 100 gal with modified cpr skimmer( yes, it sucks)
I want to change skimmer, but don't know what to get.
Coral life super skimmer 220?
Any help is appreciated

Sindjin · 01/20/2006, 06:42 PM

Get an ASM G-3. I have that on my 120. Also... how long ago did you add the rock?

fishdoc11 · 01/20/2006, 06:53 PM

Did you clean the rock before you added it?
Nitrates are typically from detritus built up in your system somewhere. If you get rid of the detritus you will most likely get rid of your nitrates.
Are you looking for a HOB skimmer?

Oh and Welcome to RC

davocean · 01/20/2006, 10:42 PM

I originally had 40lbs of rock for about 2 years.
I added 70lbs more about 3 or 4 months ago. I cleaned and soaked cured rock for one week before adding to tank.
Now I have high nitrate and HA.
All other levels are great. Fish are healthy and happy.
Sea aenonomes are huge, soft corals growing etc.
I don't have a sump. LFS say not necessary.I want a new skimmer
but not sure which one. What is asm g3? I've only seen berlin,seaclone,corallife super 220. That's what I'm looking at right now. Getting tired of buying junk like my CPR

fishdoc11 · 01/20/2006, 10:56 PM

Sounds like maybe you added the rock before it was fully cured. Did you wait till the water you were curing it in had zero nitrite?
If that is the case the algae should subside with time. Water changes, along with blowing off the rock with a turkey baster or power head might be a good idea and help the process. How much do you want to spend on a skimmer? The Coralifes only look ok from what I have seen but may be fine for your purposes. The others you mentioned are not that great IMO. Without a sump you will need an HOB. The only two I would recommend from what I have used/read would be an AquaC Remora Pro(~$200) or a Deltec(~$400). Sumps are really great things to have. With a sump the variety and skimming ability rise substantially. FWIW taking what the lfs says(and what lots of people will say on RC) with a grain of salt is a good idea IMO

Here are a couple of websites to look around at skimmers on:
http://www.marinedepot.com
http://www.premiumaquatics.com
http://www.championlighting.com
http://www.myreefcreations.com
http://www.geosreef.com
hth, Chris

davocean · 01/20/2006, 11:09 PM

Thanks fishdoc. The sump was my next move, but LFS said with that much rock I shouldn't need one. Of course they also sold me my prism(absoulute crap) and my CPR(a little less crapy) I think I'll take your advice.
I wish I found this site a long time and a lot of money ago!
My CPR sounds like a rock crusher. Any feedback on the skimmers you sugested?

fishdoc11 · 01/20/2006, 11:32 PM

Quote:

I wish I found this site a long time and a lot of money ago!

Same thing happened to lots of us, including me

If you are going to add a sump anyway I would wait on a new skimmer till you get one. Then you basically have two options. A needlewheel(efficient powerwise, easy to use) or a Becket(uses bigger pump, more skimming "power", harder to learn how to use optimally).
A few good brands for needlewheels are
Deltec($$$$$$)
H and S ($$$$$$)
Geo
Euroreef
ASM
A couple good brands of beckets are
My Reef Creations
Precision Marine
I use an MRC MR2 and it kicks butt

Chris

01/20/2006, 06:12 PM	#1
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	nitrate Ever since I added full capacity of live rock, my nitrates have been high- 10 - 20 ppm. I do weekly 10 percent water changes, and added de-nitrate, with no change in nitrate level. I have a 100 gal with modified cpr skimmer( yes, it sucks) I want to change skimmer, but don't know what to get. Coral life super skimmer 220? Any help is appreciated

01/20/2006, 06:42 PM	#2
Sindjin Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Tampa Posts: 1,436	Get an ASM G-3. I have that on my 120. Also... how long ago did you add the rock? __________________ SeaTest Hydrometer?.... $8.00 Seachem Marine Test Kit? ...$24.00 The look on my wife's face as I'm staring out into our 35 acre lake and wondering how much salt I'll need?... Priceless. Current Tank Info: 120 gallon, DIY Stand & Canopy, 2-250w 14ks w/ 2- 110 VHO actinics, ASM G-3, 50g sump, 46x tank turnover.

01/20/2006, 06:53 PM	#3
fishdoc11 catch and release Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Old Hickory,TN Posts: 13,237	Did you clean the rock before you added it? Nitrates are typically from detritus built up in your system somewhere. If you get rid of the detritus you will most likely get rid of your nitrates. Are you looking for a HOB skimmer? Oh and Welcome to RC __________________ "Try to learn something about everything and everything about something" -- Thomas H. Huxley Current Tank Info: 70 gallon mixed reef

01/20/2006, 10:42 PM	#4
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	I originally had 40lbs of rock for about 2 years. I added 70lbs more about 3 or 4 months ago. I cleaned and soaked cured rock for one week before adding to tank. Now I have high nitrate and HA. All other levels are great. Fish are healthy and happy. Sea aenonomes are huge, soft corals growing etc. I don't have a sump. LFS say not necessary.I want a new skimmer but not sure which one. What is asm g3? I've only seen berlin,seaclone,corallife super 220. That's what I'm looking at right now. Getting tired of buying junk like my CPR __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

01/20/2006, 10:56 PM	#5
fishdoc11 catch and release Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Old Hickory,TN Posts: 13,237	Sounds like maybe you added the rock before it was fully cured. Did you wait till the water you were curing it in had zero nitrite? If that is the case the algae should subside with time. Water changes, along with blowing off the rock with a turkey baster or power head might be a good idea and help the process. How much do you want to spend on a skimmer? The Coralifes only look ok from what I have seen but may be fine for your purposes. The others you mentioned are not that great IMO. Without a sump you will need an HOB. The only two I would recommend from what I have used/read would be an AquaC Remora Pro(~$200) or a Deltec(~$400). Sumps are really great things to have. With a sump the variety and skimming ability rise substantially. FWIW taking what the lfs says(and what lots of people will say on RC) with a grain of salt is a good idea IMO Here are a couple of websites to look around at skimmers on: http://www.marinedepot.com http://www.premiumaquatics.com http://www.championlighting.com http://www.myreefcreations.com http://www.geosreef.com hth, Chris __________________ "Try to learn something about everything and everything about something" -- Thomas H. Huxley Current Tank Info: 70 gallon mixed reef

01/20/2006, 11:09 PM	#6
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	Thanks fishdoc. The sump was my next move, but LFS said with that much rock I shouldn't need one. Of course they also sold me my prism(absoulute crap) and my CPR(a little less crapy) I think I'll take your advice. I wish I found this site a long time and a lot of money ago! My CPR sounds like a rock crusher. Any feedback on the skimmers you sugested? __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD