does Chemi Pure (Elite) and Chaeto do the same thing?

[moorjames]

Just curious if you'd only choose 1 or the other, and not both. I realize they both help control Nitrate and phosphate- but wasn't sure if there was any added benefits to either. I ask because I'm currently running both- and having a hard time getting any nitrate readings. I have a biocube 32, and only 4 fish, a handful or soft/lps corals- and I pellet feed 3 times a day, frozen food chunk 2-3 times a week, and reef roids 2-3 times a week and I'll still bottom out.

 

[blaxsun]

ChemiPure Elite is essentially carbon and GFO, so it actually won't removed nitrates (just silicates and phosphates). If your phosphates ate bottoming out, ChemiPure Blue may be a better choice as it's mainly carbon.

4 fish isn't a heavy bioload for a 32-gallon system. What are you using for your nitrate testing?

 

[Tamberav]

It is mostly carbon…. Expensive for what it is. I would keep running some carbon to remove DOC the macro can produce but I would buy something like rox carbon and media bags to make your own.

 

[moorjames]

ChemiPure Elite is essentially carbon and GFO, so it actually won't removed nitrates (just silicates and phosphates). If your phosphates ate bottoming out, ChemiPure Blue may be a better choice as it's mainly carbon.

4 fish isn't a heavy bioload for a 32-gallon system. What are you using for your nitrate testing?

I use the Red Sea kit and the new Hanna High Range checker- both show 0.

 

[moorjames]

I've turned down the fuge light to 7 hours- down from 8hrs and harvest a good portion every other week. I'm hoping those changes will show some something lol

 

[blaxsun]

I've turned down the fuge light to 7 hours- down from 8hrs and harvest a good portion every other week. I'm hoping those changes will show some something lol

I suspect you have a low bio load and a very efficient refugium. You can also try feeding frozen a bit more frequently (ie: daily) as well.

 

[moorjames]

I suspect you have a low bio load and a very efficient refugium. You can also try feeding frozen a bit more frequently (ie: daily) as well.

probably not a bad idea. I was hoping the uneaten pellets would contribute more- but I'll bump up the frozen food

 

[mdb_talon]

If your cheato is actively growing you have not really bottomed out nutrients so that would be the first thing i look at. It quickly goes downhill and starts deteriorating without nutrients.

 

[moorjames]

If your cheato is actively growing you have not really bottomed out nutrients so that would be the first thing i look at. It quickly goes downhill and starts deteriorating without nutrients.

that is the part that gets me. The chaeto does grow really well- but i notice my coraline algea gets stunted or even die off on some areas. I can sometimes get my phosphate to up to around .03-.05 (Hanna Checker) but nitrates almost always show 0 (Red Sea & Hanna Checker).

I'm going to give it a couple more days of heavy feeding- because recently I found a clown fish had white sting poop hanging and figured it was a parasite. So I used Humblefishs' recipe of food, general cure, focus, and a little garlic and fed the whole tank that for 10 days. Once the 10 days were up- I started feeding normally again (which was a week ago today) and that's when I noticed my coraline was starting to go backwards. I waited a couple days to see if anything changed- and tested yesterday and noticed 0 nitrates (just got the hanna in the mail).