Rob in Puyallup
Active Member
Curious if you're vacuuming your gravel/sand?
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Bizarre, Clueless & ******!
- Thread starter specialk
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specialk
Valuable Member
My mixing container is one of those 18 gallon totes from Home depot. Not very old -- maybe 6-7 months. (I store them in my garage when not in use) I just tested the plain RO water in one of those totes and the nitrates are 0. I would test it with the salt now but I am out of that salt I was using ---> is there a better salt you recommend? --- Also as for my filtration, I use a canister filter, in which I keep clean and clean out every 2-3 weeks that runs out of my sump, and in there I have some filter socks with carbon and silicate (2 socks for each) as well as a phosphate remover pad in my sump.
Sounds like its time to Carbon Dose.
Melevsreef.com - Dosing Vodka to Lower Nitrate & Phosphate
Vodka Dosing by 'Genetics' and 'Stony_Corals' - Reefkeeping.com
Melevsreef.com - Dosing Vodka to Lower Nitrate & Phosphate
Vodka Dosing by 'Genetics' and 'Stony_Corals' - Reefkeeping.com
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specialk
Valuable Member
I have not actually, vacuumed the sand in a little while .. I would say about 1-2 months. Also thanks to all for all the tips -- this is EXTREMELY helpful stuff and I am soaking it all in. I am going to def add macro algae into the equation as well.
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specialk
Valuable Member
So with my activated carbon in my canister this is not sufficient?
bknapp
Has been left unattended
Is that container marked NSF? Which means it's food grade. I personally use regular Red Sea Salt and like it. I would look into removing the canister and look into a skimmer and maybe macro algae to help with nitrates (or carbon dosing, bio pellets, algae scrubber. )
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specialk
Valuable Member
Ok -- so in your opinion, water changes just to drop that nitrate level .. which I was under the understanding is the fail proof way to get it those levels down, is not necessarily the way to go here?
Acivated carbon isn't going to do anything for you.
beaslbob
2500 Club Member
No this is a different carbon dosing. Not the carbon absorbtion of stuff.
The idea is to provide a carbon source (vodka, sugar, among others) to feed bacteria to consume nitrates.
It is very low level additions to the tank. Like from a syringe type of thing.
Several have reported that done correctly nitrates and phosphates drop down.
And it is possible and very easy to overdose and kill thngs like corals.
So you have to be very careful.
I just use macro and other algaes to do the same thing to nitrates/phosphates in a much safer and stable environment.
my .02
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specialk
Valuable Member
No the containers are NOT marked NSF. And Yes I am actually in the process of doing that now .. getting a skimmer for sure and I was also advised by someone else to dump the canister filter and add some macro algae into the mix too -- so that is something that this week has been on my mind. The skimmer will take care of those issues that the canister filter took care of (or if the canister filter was even taking care of anything ...lol)
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specialk
Valuable Member
Looks like I'm gonna start adding a lot of macro algae's then .. seems to be a pretty safe and easy bet/fix
Rob in Puyallup
Active Member
Wondering how often you clean out the canister filter, at least rinsing the sponges in it. Rotting things accumulate in those sponges producing nitrates.
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Last edited:
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specialk
Valuable Member
Yah I clean those babies out good.. I get all that crap out of there and really clean the inside of them out. I clean the entire inside of that canister.
cdness
2006 - Present
I'll keep this short and to the point... (or not...)
Canister filters are nitrate producers if not cleaned well. Your tank is still fairly new at 8 months. It is still going to be producing waste from the inner cycles of the rocks and will take time to fully stabilize. This is getting trapped in the canister. If you decide to keep the canister, increase your cleanings to weekly cleanings to help avoid the nitrate producing waste from accumulating.
Skimmers are a great way to remove the waste from the water column. It will get it out of the filter and away from the main tank water as it is held in the collection cup. Canisters trap the waste and keep the water flowing through it. Adding a skimmer and removing the canister would be a great choice at this point.
Filter socks are great polishing tools for the water. They are great at removing fine particles, but like a canister can be nitrate producers if not cleaned enough. I change out the filter socks every 2 - 3 days when I use them. The dirty ones go into a bucket and are washed with a light bleach solution in the washing machine then dried for 3 - 4 days before going back to tank use. This evaporates all the chlorine residue that may be left.
Carbon dosing requires both phosphate and nitrate to work well. It can also cause bacterial blooms if you do not have a powerful enough skimmer. I see you have no skimmer so I would not carbon dose at this time. You are also running phosphate remover so they will fight for the nutrients to work...
Water changes are going to decrease your nitrates, but 30% a month is not enough at this point. You are going to need to do larger more frequent changes in order for it to make a difference. I would say start with a 50% water change then do 30% water changes weekly until you have the nitrate level under control. Then modify your schedule as needed. Whenever you do a water change though, you need to first clean out that canister or you are just polluting the fresh and clean water you added to the tank.
Remember this is a learning process and will always be a learning process. The people seen as geniuses here at Reef2Reef are still learning new things daily as well. The best advice I can give you is slow down and research all purchased before you make them. Make sure you are verifying advice given to you by the LFS to make sure it is good advice. Keep us posted with what you do to fix the issue. I hope you are able get on top of it before you lose any other fish or corals.
Canister filters are nitrate producers if not cleaned well. Your tank is still fairly new at 8 months. It is still going to be producing waste from the inner cycles of the rocks and will take time to fully stabilize. This is getting trapped in the canister. If you decide to keep the canister, increase your cleanings to weekly cleanings to help avoid the nitrate producing waste from accumulating.
Skimmers are a great way to remove the waste from the water column. It will get it out of the filter and away from the main tank water as it is held in the collection cup. Canisters trap the waste and keep the water flowing through it. Adding a skimmer and removing the canister would be a great choice at this point.
Filter socks are great polishing tools for the water. They are great at removing fine particles, but like a canister can be nitrate producers if not cleaned enough. I change out the filter socks every 2 - 3 days when I use them. The dirty ones go into a bucket and are washed with a light bleach solution in the washing machine then dried for 3 - 4 days before going back to tank use. This evaporates all the chlorine residue that may be left.
Carbon dosing requires both phosphate and nitrate to work well. It can also cause bacterial blooms if you do not have a powerful enough skimmer. I see you have no skimmer so I would not carbon dose at this time. You are also running phosphate remover so they will fight for the nutrients to work...
Water changes are going to decrease your nitrates, but 30% a month is not enough at this point. You are going to need to do larger more frequent changes in order for it to make a difference. I would say start with a 50% water change then do 30% water changes weekly until you have the nitrate level under control. Then modify your schedule as needed. Whenever you do a water change though, you need to first clean out that canister or you are just polluting the fresh and clean water you added to the tank.
Remember this is a learning process and will always be a learning process. The people seen as geniuses here at Reef2Reef are still learning new things daily as well. The best advice I can give you is slow down and research all purchased before you make them. Make sure you are verifying advice given to you by the LFS to make sure it is good advice. Keep us posted with what you do to fix the issue. I hope you are able get on top of it before you lose any other fish or corals.
OP
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specialk
Valuable Member
Awesome reply and thanks a ton -- to all replied and are helping me with this. Well, looks like I am now going to ---> hang tite for 3-4 days while my new skimmer comes (is that ok to do or is more immediate action needed until that skimmer comes?) and then yank that canister filter out of there and simply run my skimmer right out of my sump. I am assuming adding macro algae right now certainly is not going to hurt and will help right now in lowering those a bit? And you are not kidding .. def a learning process and I love it .. can't say thanks enough to everyone on here! I'd buy a round of drinks if I could ... in fact if everyone wants to give me your local watering holes name and phone number, Ill call in and buy first round next happy hour! hahaha:smile:
A+++
cdness
2006 - Present
Ha HA! If only it was that easy. I hope your fish pull through. To be 100% honest, if you did a water change you could just pull that canister off and wait for the skimmer. It isn't needed and is causing more harm than good right now.
bknapp
Has been left unattended
This. Lose the canister.
beaslbob
2500 Club Member
Woopsies.
Looks like I missed this one.
Water changes "just" drop nitrates down assuming they are done correctly. And there is a danger that a water change will go wrong also.
IMHO the best way to go is to setup a system or eco system that just simply maintains nitrates at unmeasureable levels. that way water changes are at best unnecessary. At worse can crash the tank.
my .02
