I have had nitratres at around 60. I have done what small changes you can make like frequent water changes, malgrove plants, DSB. I was looking at a hang on refuguium and it looked pretty simple. It actually loooked kinda like my filter, which is a ahng on I think it is the bio wheels one. So I took out all the filtering and added cheto for the nitrates and I also added a deep crushed coral and sand bend. I have a seperate tank that I was just doig an experiment with and had copepds and amphipods and cheto in a 5 gallon. That is where I got everything from. I couldnt add a refugium under neath my tank becauseI j ust laid brand new oak floors and I have already had disasters. Please let me know if this will take my nitrates down. Should I add more cheto? Is there anything else I can do, Thnanks everyone
I did it, ya think it wikk work?
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Yes, a hang on fuge is always going to help to keep your levels down..Just start off with a handfull of cheto...It should take off fine, and start measuring you water again and keep a close eye on the results..
On your nitrates..60 is really high...Do you currently have bio-balls or a cannister filter in your setup? If you do, i would remove the filter media, or give it a really good clean in some tank water..Both of these mediums of filtration are bad for becoming nitRATE factories..If you have enough live rock in the system, you dont really need to be running a filter anyway..Moreso, use the filter cannister, but only for extra circulation...no media inside..
Niko
On your nitrates..60 is really high...Do you currently have bio-balls or a cannister filter in your setup? If you do, i would remove the filter media, or give it a really good clean in some tank water..Both of these mediums of filtration are bad for becoming nitRATE factories..If you have enough live rock in the system, you dont really need to be running a filter anyway..Moreso, use the filter cannister, but only for extra circulation...no media inside..
Niko
I have no bio balls and took out the substrate rocks I had in there. It help drop the nitrats but can get passed 60 so now I am converting this dual bio wheel filter into a hang on refugium. How far down do you think it will get me. I am addind a Prizm protein skimmer tommarow. What else can I do. Also I have added a Deep bed of crushed coral that has many amphipods and copepods in my ghetto hang on refugium. Should I put the Cheto under the coral or over it?
Thanks
Thanks
Firstly...STAY AWAY FROM RED PRIZM SKIMMERS....i had one..it was like pulling teeth out to get it working, and when it did work, it was pathetic..I once has it running spot on..for about a week...then i gave up and threw away..Piece of junk..
Second..As Ghost Knife asked, dont use crushed coral in the fish tank..You want sand that is aragonite based in is lowest possible in silica..Crushed coral is bad for trapping detrius and causing problems..I did the same and used it..But, saw the light and slowly filtered it all out..never again..
Put the cheto over it, so it is free in the water, you may attach it to some live rock rubble if you like with some fishing line..
Trying to think of any other reasons why your nitrates are so high...
Do you have an plenum or under gravel filter in the tank?
Have you tested the water you are using for saltwater mixing and top-off to see if the high nitrate is at source?
What temperature is your tank running at?
See what your answers are to these and take it from there mate...
Niko
Second..As Ghost Knife asked, dont use crushed coral in the fish tank..You want sand that is aragonite based in is lowest possible in silica..Crushed coral is bad for trapping detrius and causing problems..I did the same and used it..But, saw the light and slowly filtered it all out..never again..
Put the cheto over it, so it is free in the water, you may attach it to some live rock rubble if you like with some fishing line..
Trying to think of any other reasons why your nitrates are so high...
Do you have an plenum or under gravel filter in the tank?
Have you tested the water you are using for saltwater mixing and top-off to see if the high nitrate is at source?
What temperature is your tank running at?
See what your answers are to these and take it from there mate...
Niko
I have sand in my tank but I have crushed coral in my ghetto refugium, is that bad. I can easily take out the crused coral and sand from my tank to and put it at the bottom of the refugium. How does that sound? I also have a couple little pieces of live rock in there. It is actually prrttey big. To answr you ?'s No I do not have underwater filter. I have testde my water I am using for water changes and there is basically no PH. My tank runs anywhere from 78-82 degrees. It is a reef tank what do you think the best temp. is. I do have pictures in the phot gallery. Thaks for your help!
My only reall suggestions is to get rid of the crushed coral and use the normal fine sugar grade sand..
Your tank temp is great anywhere in the range you have at the moment...
All looks good to me
Niko
Your tank temp is great anywhere in the range you have at the moment...
All looks good to me
Niko