What's best to run in a sump

[Toni1984]

I've recently bought a mature reef set up and it came with a sump in it is a skimmer in the first section, then bio max media, cheato and a bag of rowa phosphate remover then a carbon reactor and also a uv sterilizer on the return pump, I've got about 30 kilos of live rock in a 200l tank. The trouble is that I'm still getting nitrates and phosphate when I'm testing so my question is, is what I've got in my sump ok? Or should I replace the bio max media with something as I don't feel it's doing anything?
Many thanks

 

[RobZilla04]

What are the nitrate and phosphate levels?

 

[Be102]

I run a marine pure block in my sump.

 

[Toni1984]

What are the nitrate and phosphate levels?

Nitrates are around 25 and phosphates are 0.25

 

[Toni1984]

I run a marine pure block in my sump.

I run a marine pure block in my sump.

is there one that you would recommend and how often do you change it. I was also thinking of putting in some miracle mud in instead but I've heard mixed reviews on that one

 

[Be102]

A marine pure block is a block that allows billions of little surface area spots to help create spots for nitrifying bacteria to grow. It goes in my sump and I never have take it out.

 

[Toni1984]

A marine pure block is a block that allows billions of little surface area spots to help create spots for nitrifying bacteria to grow. It goes in my sump and I never have take it out.

A marine pure block is a block that allows billions of little surface area spots to help create spots for nitrifying bacteria to grow. It goes in my sump and I never have take it out.

Ok thank you, does it work in the same way that media works? The difference being that you don't have to change it after a certain amount of time? Thank you for your advice

 

[Be102]

Ok thank you, does it work in the same way that media works? The difference being that you don't have to change it after a certain amount of time? Thank you for your advice

I would say it works essentially similar to biomax. Others could chime in.

 

[Toni1984]

I would say it works essentially similar to biomax. Others could chime in.

Ok thank you

 

[Mical]

How "recently" is recently? Your nitrate and phos could be tank is cycling, if that's the case I would'nt add anything and just track your params.

 

[Toni1984]

How "recently" is recently? Your nitrate and phos could be tank is cycling, if that's the case I would'nt add anything and just track your params.

It's a year old and I bought it 6 weeks ago. I was just worried that the bio media has been in there to long and is not doing anything
Many thanks

 

[Mical]

Nah, it's just a mini cycle from moving it. Sit back and track it's progress.

 

[Toni1984]

Nah, it's just a mini cycle from moving it. Sit back and track it's progress.

Ok thank you that's a bit of a relief, i would of thought it would of cleared it self by now. I do between 10 and 20 percent weekly water changes, I was told to wash the media in cold water I don't know if that was the right thing to do. How long would you say it will take for the mini cycle to finish? Thanks again

 

[NewGoby]

Ok thank you that's a bit of a relief, i would of thought it would of cleared it self by now. I do between 10 and 20 percent weekly water changes, I was told to wash the media in cold water I don't know if that was the right thing to do. How long would you say it will take for the mini cycle to finish? Thanks again

cycle depends on the size of the tank, you mentioned 200liters, and 30kg of live rock, is the 200liters 'effective' volume? or is that total volume? if it's total, it's probably closer to 180-200 liters depending on if the sump is factured into the 200liters or not.
Could be anywhere from a week or two, to 1 or 2 months.

Just to be clear, most corals do not enjoy 0 nitrate & 0 phosphate, and some will even die.

 

[Mical]

I'ld give it at least another month to settle in before changing anything. I suspect you rattled the bacteria in the move and it's getting re-established. As they say "nothing good happens fast in a reef tank".

 

[Toni1984]

cycle depends on the size of the tank, you mentioned 200liters, and 30kg of live rock, is the 200liters 'effective' volume? or is that total volume? if it's total, it's probably closer to 180-200 liters depending on if the sump is factured into the 200liters or not.
Could be anywhere from a week or two, to 1 or 2 months.

Just to be clear, most corals do not enjoy 0 nitrate & 0 phosphate, and some will even die.

cycle depends on the size of the tank, you mentioned 200liters, and 30kg of live rock, is the 200liters 'effective' volume? or is that total volume? if it's total, it's probably closer to 180-200 liters depending on if the sump is factured into the 200liters or not.
Could be anywhere from a week or two, to 1 or 2 months.

Just to be clear, most corals do not enjoy 0 nitrate & 0 phosphate, and some will even die.

Ye that's what I was worried about I've got a few corals in there and a couple if then are sulking, the tank has 190l and the sump is 40l so with all the rock in there I was guessing at 200ish. Thank you

 

[NewGoby]

Ye that's what I was worried about I've got a few corals in there and a couple if then are sulking, the tank has 190l and the sump is 40l so with all the rock in there I was guessing at 200ish. Thank you

Sounds like a Red Sea Reefer 250 to me, do you have pictures of your sulking corals?

 

[Toni1984]

Sounds like a Red Sea Reefer 250 to me, do you have pictures of your sulking corals?

It's a aqua one 190 ye I'll post some now

 

[Toni1984]

 

[Toni1984]