need help reading Salifert nitrate kit/pictures

Joezreef · Dec 4, 2009

I also have rock in my sump that the water flows over....I replaced my bioballs years ago with lr could this also be causing any problems? the water flows on top of it in the sump!

benny z · Dec 4, 2009

if you are using a filter sock on the drain coming down to the sump, then it is unlikely you've got detritus buildup on the rocks in the sump. my sump stays squeeky clean with the use of a filter sock 24/7. however it certainly wouldn't hurt to pull the rocks off and swish them around in a bucket of tank water to see if crap comes off...

do you blow off the rocks in your display with a powerhead?

Joezreef · Dec 4, 2009

I have also had a breeding pair of clarki clowns that absolutely moved all the sand in the middle of my tank under a rock clear down to the glass..This may have also caused a few issues!

Joezreef · Dec 4, 2009

benny z said:
if you are using a filter sock on the drain coming down to the sump, then it is unlikely you've got detritus buildup on the rocks in the sump. my sump stays squeeky clean with the use of a filter sock 24/7. however it certainly wouldn't hurt to pull the rocks off and swish them around in a bucket of tank water to see if crap comes off...

my overflows go straight into the sump no place for a filter sock...thats why I have been using a sponge

here is what Im using!

benny z · Dec 4, 2009

ah, then yes, pull the rocks out of the sump and see what comes off them. would also be a good time to drain/shop vac out any other detritis sitting in the sump. i would be seriously considering swapping the sump out for one that will allow the use of a filter sock, or jerry-rigging up some way to make them work with the sump you have. the sponge pad is not going to catch particulate the way filter socks do. i understand their use is highly debated, but i am a firm believer.

Joezreef · Dec 4, 2009

do you keep rock in your sump? is their any value in it?

benny z · Dec 4, 2009

my "sump" is rather complex. in the very bottom tank that makes up my sump, no, i don't have anything in it but water. however on the sump side of my system i have a 50g stock tank tied in that has about 8" of sand in it and liverock. this is what i consider my "cryptic fuge" (although the sponge population hasn't yet taken off), and i do believe there is benefit to having the liverock there for cryptic animals to dwell in/on.

i don't think the rock down there is hurting anything for you, but probably isn't really helping anything either. i'd suspect the majority of your bio filtration takes place in your display.

Joezreef · Dec 4, 2009

Ok Im going to work on bigger water changes less feeding and blowing off the rocks regularly! and also vodka dosing! should I get a denitrate reactor? Im currently running a calcium reactor!

Joezreef · Dec 4, 2009

also should I try some Seachem denitrate along with my purigan?

benny z · Dec 4, 2009

if you can't get the nitrates under control otherwise, a denitrator might not be a bad idea.

though as i said a few posts before, i suspect the vodka will zap your nutrient issues in short order. just be careful with it, especially since your corals are used to nutrient-laden water.

good luck, and cheers!

- ben zimmerman

Joezreef · Dec 4, 2009

Thanks Ben!

Joezreef · Dec 4, 2009

I'll keep you guys posted!

benny z · Dec 4, 2009

do you, by chance, have a hanna po4 meter? i'd be curious to see your actual po4 level...

LegoZ81 · Dec 4, 2009

OK for this type of setup, if you have enough rock in the tank and a deep enough sandbed you should be ok. Rinse the sponge on the intake daily if you can. Run a filter sock 100 micron and change that daily. What is your flow like do you have enough to keep the uneaten food and detrius from settling out? What is your skimmer? Are you running a refugium with a macro algea that is harvested for nutrient export? How deep and what size is the sand in your tank? How much rock do you have? What is the foot print of the tank? Are all other parameters in check? what about phosphate?

LegoZ81 · Dec 4, 2009

with the rocks in that location in the sump you are basicially using them like bioballs which will allow nitrate to accumulate.

benny z · Dec 4, 2009

LegoZ81 said:
with the rocks in that location in the sump you are basicially using them like bioballs which will allow nitrate to accumulate.

kinda/sorta/not really

detritus might accumulate which can fuel nitrates. nitrates themselves don't "accumulate" - they are just the end product of the nitrogen cycle. excess detritus rotting can lead to high nitrates, but it is not an accumulation of nitrates on the rocks like po4.

Joezreef · Dec 4, 2009

LegoZ81 said:
OK for this type of setup, if you have enough rock in the tank and a deep enough sandbed you should be ok. Rinse the sponge on the intake daily if you can. Run a filter sock 100 micron and change that daily. What is your flow like do you have enough to keep the uneaten food and detrius from settling out? What is your skimmer? Are you running a refugium with a macro algea that is harvested for nutrient export? How deep and what size is the sand in your tank? How much rock do you have? What is the foot print of the tank? Are all other parameters in check? what about phosphate?

no visible algae in the tank at all....I have 3 tunze 6202's and 2 tunze 6055's for flow...I run a mrc 3 skimmer....the tank is all glass aquarium
I use to run a cheatomorpha refugium but took it all out since starting vodka! I have a lot of rock in the tank...here is a few more pics of the setup!