Does cleaning the tank cause a nitrate spike?

i can see the skimmer i there, but unsure of where the filter is located, maybe just how i am looking at the pictures..

I can see a lot of sponge in the sump...how often do you clean these sponges and how do you clean them? Sponges are notorious for building up nitrates on them and require a clean every week in tank water to keep the nitrate level under control...

Niko
 
I think the filter she's refering to IS the skimmer.

That's a protein skimmer. They basically suck up water and air and make bubbles, and the nutrients in the tank end up on top of that skimmer in the collection cup. It's like nasty black stuff.

With my skimmer, I need the 'microbubbles (the 1/2 of foam on the top of the water) right at the base of the collection cup, then the little bubbles occasionally bubble over the edge of the cup and after a while you get some nice black 'skimmate'.

Now, the one thing you want to be careful of is that sometimes the bubbles get too close to the top, and the cup can fill up and overflow. Or you might need to empty it every 15 minutes.

A good running protein skimmer will need to be dumped every few days to every few weeks, and the 'skimmate' should look like coffee.

Hope that helps.

Your best bet is to look on the side of that baby and see if there's a model # or name of a company, or whatever...then go to their site and download their manual.

:)
 
Well balls, I didn't know that about the sponges. I didn't put them there, they came with the setup. I wonder if I should just take them out?

I don't think I have a filter, only the skimmer, I misspoke when I asked for an identification--I meant of the skimmer. Sorry!
 
Germanman said:
tanks looking good! i would remove the bio balls as well.
Click to expand...

Okay, great, I'll do that. Just one question...what the heck are those? :read:
 
I have live rock rubble already in there, about how much is needed?

I will definitly be taking the sponge out, thanks everyone!

On a separate note, I'm such a fish geek already. I just spent 20 minutes taking pictures of my sea cucumber because he's out on a rock cleaning, and it's the first time he's been out like that. I even got a few of the goby hovering directly over him.
 
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