Filter question

[Young Frankenstein]

Should i remove the filter sock, I have excellent skimming but my nitrates are stuck in the 5-10 range and i want to bring them to 0, I have an 14"DSB and a nice fuge, no other filtration.

[kau_cinta_ku]

if you clean it regularly then it won't cause nitrate prob.

[Avi]

Nitrates in that range aren't anything to worry about. You do, however, mean a 4-inch DSB rather than a 14-inch DSB, don't you?

As for the 5-10ppm which aren't serious levels but I can understand how irksome it is anyway....have you tested your source water for its nitrate level? Also, how much live rock do you have in the tank?

[Young Frankenstein]

A 14" DSB outdoors Avi basically a 18 gallon home depot bucket. Heres my DIY outdoor setup, the DSB is the wooden box with very good insulation, and mangrove seeds growing in it :D

[Young Frankenstein]

oups forgot to post the pic :D
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s167/kourtaks/DSCN08341.jpg

[Young Frankenstein]

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s167/kourtaks/DSCN0837.jpg

[Avi]

That's quite a rigging you have there. And, it should be quite effective...but, still, I'd like to know how much live rock you have in the aquarium where the nitrates are showing at 5-10ppm. Also, what about your source water? Oh, and what kind of substrate do you have in it?

[Young Frankenstein]

TTL about 100 pounds LV, sand substrate (mixed) no coral, I overfeed to the point of feeding whole hearings 5" to my huge collection of hermit crabs, some of them in 1 1/2"-2" shells, and snails, urchins in the 20gl, the main display fish get 2 square meals a day 75g, and 10gl corals get DTs and cyclope ease.
I also have a nice fuge.
My problem is OVERFEEDING I know, but the 5-10 nitrate "salifert" should go away after the mangrove seeds kick in, question is do I still need a filter sock?

[Avi]

well, as far as I'm concerned, the filter sock's main value is, if it's applicable, to keep micro-bubbles from getting into your return pump so that none are sent to your reef. If you have no micro-bubble issue, then I'd say forget that filter sock altogether.

[Young Frankenstein]

Thanks Avi I will remove it for 3-4 days and monitor changes :D

[der_wille_zur_macht]

The filter sock will also help keep your sump "sterile" i.e. fewer weird things growing/collecting down there. Whether you want that or not is personal preference.

If you're cleaning out the sock more than once or twice a week, it really won't be contributing to nitrates at all, at least not beyond what a good 'fuge should handle. I think you hit the nail squarely on the head when you mentioned overfeeding.