Controlling nitrates and phosphates.......

[leptang]

I on the other hand like cyanobacteria it is one of the oldest life forms on earth, some scientists say we wouldn't have a blue sky without them. Some people think they are a algae but the are half way between algae and bacteria. They form oxygen helping this planet of ours and i welcome them.

 

[leptang]

detritus is a non dissolve carbon source. May aid in some denigration in my opinion.

 

[coralcruze]

I on the other hand like cyanobacteria it is one of the oldest life forms on earth, some scientists say we wouldn't have a blue sky without them. Some people think they are a algae but the are half way between algae and bacteria. They form oxygen helping this planet of ours and i welcome them.

let me know if you'd like some for free... i can send it to you along with some fresh detritus, lol

 

[leptang]

let me know if you'd like some for free... i can send it to you along with some fresh detritus, lol

ill take it!

 

[leptang]

Im sure it will help my pH from the O it produces

 

[leptang]

Under photosynthesis

 

[Gwitness]

I agree on nitrates number... I'm definitely good with that, I'm not trying to run an ULNS tank.... So my next question is...... How can I remove detritus and lower phosphates without lowering nitrates anymore? Haha I feel like it's never ending questions!

 

[coralcruze]

I agree on nitrates number... I'm definitely good with that, I'm not trying to run an ULNS tank.... So my next question is...... How can I remove detritus and lower phosphates without lowering nitrates anymore? Haha I feel like it's never ending questions!

bio pellets work for me. but if you are trying to remove phosphates only...it could be as simple as feeding less or use of some GFO. I would pull it out of your system after you reach the numbers you are looking for. see the problem really is the fact that you cant test for Po4 or have said you test 0 for it. I would hessitate making change to anything that you cant test for.

 

[Gwitness]

bio pellets work for me. but if you are trying to remove phosphates only...it could be as simple as feeding less or use of some GFO. I would pull it out of your system after you reach the numbers you are looking for. see the problem really is the fact that you cant test for Po4 or have said you test 0 for it. I would hessitate making change to anything that you cant test for.

Yeah you are right... I agree with you.... And what about detritus in my rocks and getting that out of system? Does detritus fall under the nutrient category or nitrate category? Haha I guess I don't even know

 

[jayhawk]

I am struggling with a similar issue. Parameters are good based on tests but the corals are not what they used to be. I combined two nano's into a 65 gallon. I used all the old rocks and transferred all the corals. I bought a pricey LED light, etc...The tank has been running a year and the corals declined. For all intents and purposes nothing changed from my nano's to the 65g. I converted to EcoBack Plus biopellets after trying ZeoVits. I run a bag of carbon, filter sock, and skimmer. I dose the basics, nothing fancy. I ditched my LED's for metal halide because I had a lot of success with MH. Soon after installing MH, I ran across an article that discussed photo-periods. I quickly realized that I may be keeping my lights on too long. I did more research to find the best photo-period. I decreased my MH's to 7 hours. The actinics run and hour in the morning (before MH) and night (after MH). My moon's run an hour and a half after the actinic. I have been using this photoperiod for 2 weeks and I am shocked with the results. Colors are coming back. The corals are fuller and expanding. I am not saying this is the answer but it's a factor that I ignored for a long time and once I changed, I think this has been my issue all along.

 

[Gwitness]

Yeah I really didn't think of that as an option....Right now I have 2 LED Actinic stunner strips and an ATI 8 bulb light fixture....Maybe I need to do some research on that and compare and contrast with what I run now...Thanks for that!

 

[sawdonkey]

Yeah you are right... I agree with you.... And what about detritus in my rocks and getting that out of system? Does detritus fall under the nutrient category or nitrate category? Haha I guess I don't even know

Detritus is just undissolved organic matter. As is breaks down, it releases nitrates and phosphates. If you can suck it out before it breaks down, you'll be helping to eliminate nitrate and phosphate from your system. We all have detritus. I blow my rocks off with a turkey baster every now and then. I also vacuum my gravel pretty often. I just put a filter sock in my sump and vacuum my tank into it. This method allows you to vacuum your gravel without doing a water change.

 

[Gwitness]

Detritus is just undissolved organic matter. As is breaks down, it releases nitrates and phosphates. If you can suck it out before it breaks down, you'll be helping to eliminate nitrate and phosphate from your system. We all have detritus. I blow my rocks off with a turkey baster every now and then. I also vacuum my gravel pretty often. I just put a filter sock in my sump and vacuum my tank into it. This method allows you to vacuum your gravel without doing a water change.

That is a great idea! Thanks for that and I will definitely start doing that to get my detritus lower! Thanks!

 

[coralcruze]

Detritus is just undissolved organic matter. As is breaks down, it releases nitrates and phosphates. If you can suck it out before it breaks down, you'll be helping to eliminate nitrate and phosphate from your system. We all have detritus. I blow my rocks off with a turkey baster every now and then. I also vacuum my gravel pretty often. I just put a filter sock in my sump and vacuum my tank into it. This method allows you to vacuum your gravel without doing a water change.

keeping it suspended is another meathod that you can try... detritus will settle in areas of low flow so increasing those areas will keep it suspended in the water column enough so that it can be taken up by fish/corals/ mechanical filtration.