DSB problems.. I think? Lol

[evanjah]

I have a heavily stocked 240 reef that drains to my sump which is an empty 180 that have a 6 inch DSB and that drains to a stock tank that has a few hundred lbs of lr......been up for almost a year........nitrates are around 80 on the api test..very frustrating... i do 250 gallon water changes every month in two Bj weekly installments..had nitrate issues for years.... any ideas?

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[evanjah]

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[evanjah]

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[evanjah]

Has a brisk flow....I just added another one of those power heads on otherwise of bank after reading they need decent flow...ideas thoughts? Concerns? Its paragonite sand btw

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[evanjah]

Tank*

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[evanjah]

Also my skimmer is the proper size

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[lakeviewink]

I would start with a different test to eliminate the possibility the API test is bad. Red Sea pro is an awesome test. My API always said my nitrates were either 0 or 40ppm and so I got the RSP and found out they are around 2-3 ppm usually

 

[evanjah]

I'm sorry..I meant sailfert

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[evanjah]

Any help would be awesome

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[mike007]

I had the same problem but after 10 years. I tore down tank and replaced sand bed with new. After that i started carbon dosing and have not had any more problems. It looks to me you have way to much substrate.

 

[AZDesertRat]

I have a 9+ year old 5-6", 330 lb. Southdown DSB in my 100G mixed reef display and have non detectablephosphates and nitrates using Salifert kits.
The DSB has never been vacuumed, stirred or disturbed since day one. In the early years I would carefully suck any detritus off the top 1/4" in very small sections but have not done that in years.
I try to keep only critters that do not dig but inherited a wrasse from a friend tearing his system down but do have a variety of snails which keep it clean.

Years ago I had a fellow club member who studied under Dr. Ron Schimek, she used to bring microscopes to club meetings so we could all bring in samples of our DSB's for inspection. Those who left their DSB alone and did not have things that eat the sandbed critters like sand sifting stars had thriving populations while others did not. DSB's are still widely cussed and discussed but I have found mine to work well if I leave it alone, do not disturnb it and do not overfeed or overstock my system.

 

[beaslbob]

As I understand you you have a 6" DSB in a sump and nitrates still high.

Simply add macro algaes to the sump and make it a refugium.


my .02