Filtering System

[murph213]

Hi , I'm new to reefing. I am now running an emporer 400 left over from my fw tank. Now I hear wet dry is good , then no good/out dated. My problem with the emporer is my water chem. is always off , especially nitrates. can anyone suggest a better filter or which way I should go to improve my filtration?
Thanks,
Murph

[dendro982]

Power filter will mechanically clean water (and you will remove collected debris manually), and bacteria on the wheel will process ammonia to nitrates.

To remove nitrates, there are 5 main options:
- LR in big enough amount - anaerobic and low flow regions should house bacteria, processing nitrate to NO2 (If I remember right);
- denitrator - separate housing for anaerobic bacteria: DSB in a bucket (there is thread with this name), coiled and so on.
- refugium with macroalgae, which will consume nitrates;
- organic carbon dosing (vodka or sugar), if you have very efficient skimmer.
- by water changes.

Wet-dry shouldn't remove nitrates, it is not its work :D

You may reduce nitrates production by removing all uneaten food and all visible poop, skimming water for dissolved organics and smallest particles, and basting LR - to lift in water column the settled particles for removing by mechanical filtration.
And clean/replace mechanical filter media frequently.

HTH.