Hi all,
I recently got back to the hobby after being away for almost 13yrs. I started reefing in 1996 and kept mixed reef tanks fairly successfully. I had been using downdraft skimmers, live rock, refugiums, metal halides, etc at that time. I remember those days I strived to have as low nutrients as possible. I always kept a sand bed usually 2-4 inches and it was always a battle to lower nitrates down to <10. I also had minimal fish then to keep nutrients low. I shut down all my tanks in 2005 and have not been back until earlier this year. I started a Biocube 29 just to try out the hobby again. I used the methods I was familiar with including live rock, 2-3" layer of sand, skimmer, and water changes. I cycled with grocery shrimp and the tank did fairly well. The only "modern" equipment I got was an AI Prime. I stocked it with a few fish and several SPS frags incl Pocillopora, Birdsnest, green slimer, monti caps, and some zoas. It did really well and I had good growth and encrusting. My NO3 were in the 10-20 range, Phos ~0.1-0.2, Ca 450, and dKH 8. Only issue was pH being relatively low 7.6-7.8. My skimmer didn't really do much but I think doing 5gal water changes on a 20gal total volume of water every week took care of any nutrient issues.
I eventually got the bug to start a bigger tank after finding a used deal on a whole set-up this August. This time I decided to do a bare bottom as I've always wanted to try it even from the last time I kept a reef. The tank is a 120 gal with a 30 gal sump (120gal total water volume), Vertex 180i skimmer, 80lbs dry rock, 1 Marine Pure block, 2 Hydra26's, 4 T5s, etc. I cycled with Fritz and added some rubble from the Biocube to cycle. It was fully cycled after 1 week. At this time, my ammonia/nitrites were 0 and NO3 was 10. I used the Biocube as my quarantine tank and slowly moved the corals to the bigger tank. I haven't lost any coral at all. Fish were quarantined for at least 4 weeks and slowly transferred too. I recently treated the tank with Prazipro but my low nitrates started even before this.
Now for my question, and sorry for the long winded story. Since adding all the fish and corals, my nitrates and phosphates have persistently stayed low (NO3 0 to barely detectable on Salifert, Phos 5-10ppb on Hanna ULR). I expected it to go high. Rest of my parameters: Ca 450, dKH 9.5, 78-79F, pH 8.0-8.1, sg 1.026. I have a medium Regal Angel, medium Copperband, chalk bass, 2 fairy wrasses, Randall's anthias, twinspot blenny, and a small Kole tang. I feed almost 3-4x a day (frozen cubes x2, flakes/pellets, and live black worms). I started dosing Acropower and Reefroids ~2 weeks ago. And so far NO3 this morning is 0 and Phos 5ppb. I've double checked the values with my LFS and they were the same. Corals are doing well and have polyps out but are pale. I've cut back on the intensity of the Hydras and also turn on the skimmer only 10hrs a day now too. I've also only barely did any water changes. Just 5 gallons every 2 weeks ago after Prazi and just to replenish any trace elements if at all.
I am stumped. After all those years battling high nitrates, I don't understand why I can't get them up now. Is it because of the bare bottom? Too efficient skimmer? Is it the Fritz I started the tank with? Is there too much filtration with the live rock and Marine Pure block? I doubt the food I feed is too clean, although I've always rinsed frozen food as a rule. Are the fish too efficient? I barely have any algae. Coralline is growing though. Is my tank too new (3 months). Anyway, it's an interesting problem that is new to me. I am sure I am producing nitrate as my ammonia and nitrites have remained 0. Maybe the experts can explain what exactly consumes nitrates and causing it to be low in my tank.
Thank you!!
I recently got back to the hobby after being away for almost 13yrs. I started reefing in 1996 and kept mixed reef tanks fairly successfully. I had been using downdraft skimmers, live rock, refugiums, metal halides, etc at that time. I remember those days I strived to have as low nutrients as possible. I always kept a sand bed usually 2-4 inches and it was always a battle to lower nitrates down to <10. I also had minimal fish then to keep nutrients low. I shut down all my tanks in 2005 and have not been back until earlier this year. I started a Biocube 29 just to try out the hobby again. I used the methods I was familiar with including live rock, 2-3" layer of sand, skimmer, and water changes. I cycled with grocery shrimp and the tank did fairly well. The only "modern" equipment I got was an AI Prime. I stocked it with a few fish and several SPS frags incl Pocillopora, Birdsnest, green slimer, monti caps, and some zoas. It did really well and I had good growth and encrusting. My NO3 were in the 10-20 range, Phos ~0.1-0.2, Ca 450, and dKH 8. Only issue was pH being relatively low 7.6-7.8. My skimmer didn't really do much but I think doing 5gal water changes on a 20gal total volume of water every week took care of any nutrient issues.
I eventually got the bug to start a bigger tank after finding a used deal on a whole set-up this August. This time I decided to do a bare bottom as I've always wanted to try it even from the last time I kept a reef. The tank is a 120 gal with a 30 gal sump (120gal total water volume), Vertex 180i skimmer, 80lbs dry rock, 1 Marine Pure block, 2 Hydra26's, 4 T5s, etc. I cycled with Fritz and added some rubble from the Biocube to cycle. It was fully cycled after 1 week. At this time, my ammonia/nitrites were 0 and NO3 was 10. I used the Biocube as my quarantine tank and slowly moved the corals to the bigger tank. I haven't lost any coral at all. Fish were quarantined for at least 4 weeks and slowly transferred too. I recently treated the tank with Prazipro but my low nitrates started even before this.
Now for my question, and sorry for the long winded story. Since adding all the fish and corals, my nitrates and phosphates have persistently stayed low (NO3 0 to barely detectable on Salifert, Phos 5-10ppb on Hanna ULR). I expected it to go high. Rest of my parameters: Ca 450, dKH 9.5, 78-79F, pH 8.0-8.1, sg 1.026. I have a medium Regal Angel, medium Copperband, chalk bass, 2 fairy wrasses, Randall's anthias, twinspot blenny, and a small Kole tang. I feed almost 3-4x a day (frozen cubes x2, flakes/pellets, and live black worms). I started dosing Acropower and Reefroids ~2 weeks ago. And so far NO3 this morning is 0 and Phos 5ppb. I've double checked the values with my LFS and they were the same. Corals are doing well and have polyps out but are pale. I've cut back on the intensity of the Hydras and also turn on the skimmer only 10hrs a day now too. I've also only barely did any water changes. Just 5 gallons every 2 weeks ago after Prazi and just to replenish any trace elements if at all.
I am stumped. After all those years battling high nitrates, I don't understand why I can't get them up now. Is it because of the bare bottom? Too efficient skimmer? Is it the Fritz I started the tank with? Is there too much filtration with the live rock and Marine Pure block? I doubt the food I feed is too clean, although I've always rinsed frozen food as a rule. Are the fish too efficient? I barely have any algae. Coralline is growing though. Is my tank too new (3 months). Anyway, it's an interesting problem that is new to me. I am sure I am producing nitrate as my ammonia and nitrites have remained 0. Maybe the experts can explain what exactly consumes nitrates and causing it to be low in my tank.
Thank you!!
