View Full Version : Help w which media I should use
vlapinta
01/14/2015, 08:41 PM
I had a major outbreak of dinos for over a month! I finally followed someone's suggestion on here and turned out my lights for 4 days, did 2 water changes, and added carbon and phosban. I just turned my lights back on, tested my water. Nitrates were a little high so I did another water change. Everything looks clear. The sand bed is clean. This is a fairly new 40 gallon cube. I started it in April. Now I am not sure what I should run as far as media goes. When I tested my phosphates today they were low. I don't see any algae. Right now I have carbon, chemipure elite and phosban. I feel this might be overkill, but I am not sure what to remove. I added a skimmer 3 weeks ago. Any suggestions what I should remove? Should I take out the carbon and just run the cpe and phosban? or should I run phosban and carbon and get rid of the chemipure? Any suggestins?
nmotz
01/15/2015, 06:10 AM
I think what most people would tell you is that it all depends on what you have in the tank/what your goals are. Do you want to keep SPS, soft corals, or FOWLR? Literally every set-up needs something different.
Your bioload drives the levels of nutrients (nitrate/phosphate) in the tank that lead to problems with algae/cyano/dinos, etc. It sounds like you've already implemented some of the general procedures for dealing with dinos.
If it were me, I would be looking for the most natural long-term solutions. In other words, find a way to increase nutrient export capability without using excess carbon/chemi-pure/phosban.
I would add macroalgae, alter feeding habits, introduce orgranisms that feed on problem algae, etc. to ensure that my system can naturally deal with excess nutrient problems as much as possible. Then, if I still have issues I'll only have to use a minimal amount of GAC/GFO to take care of things.
Like I said, every system is different, but I've always valued those who advise only using GAC for a few days per month, same with GFO.
Finally, you mentioned you have a skimmer and that's good. Not all skimmers are created equal though so it is generally considered good practice to ensure that you have a high performance skimmer. More costly, but worth it in the end.
HTH!
vlapinta
01/15/2015, 10:15 AM
I think what most people would tell you is that it all depends on what you have in the tank/what your goals are. Do you want to keep SPS, soft corals, or FOWLR? Literally every set-up needs something different.
Your bioload drives the levels of nutrients (nitrate/phosphate) in the tank that lead to problems with algae/cyano/dinos, etc. It sounds like you've already implemented some of the general procedures for dealing with dinos.
If it were me, I would be looking for the most natural long-term solutions. In other words, find a way to increase nutrient export capability without using excess carbon/chemi-pure/phosban.
I would add macroalgae, alter feeding habits, introduce orgranisms that feed on problem algae, etc. to ensure that my system can naturally deal with excess nutrient problems as much as possible. Then, if I still have issues I'll only have to use a minimal amount of GAC/GFO to take care of things.
Like I said, every system is different, but I've always valued those who advise only using GAC for a few days per month, same with GFO.
Finally, you mentioned you have a skimmer and that's good. Not all skimmers are created equal though so it is generally considered good practice to ensure that you have a high performance skimmer. More costly, but worth it in the end.
HTH!
Thank you for your response
What microorganisms can I add that feed on nuisance algae? I have a mixed reef. I have mostly lps ,but a couple of small SPS from another tank that my son dismantled. I have 2 clowns (from a previous tank), 1 small chromis, 1 small blue damsalfish, and a firefish
I am definately a reefer that would love a more natural approach, rather than using a lot of chemicals. I have an Innovative Marine 40g nuvo tank. I have the IM ghost skimmer, which I think is a very good one.
I only feed every other day. I was thinking of adding cheato with a light.
bertoni
01/15/2015, 03:21 PM
What was the phosphate measurement? I might start by adding some GFO, since that sometimes works, and is easy to do. If there's too much food going into the tank, though, you'll probably need to work on that.
vlapinta
01/15/2015, 08:34 PM
Well the problem is because I had the dinos my phosphate levels were normal. Yesterday I had the LFS test everything again for me in case I missed something and all that was high was nitrates. I did a 5 gallon water change. As far as feeding I don't think I feed too much. I don't even feed every day. I use pellets every other day and I watch how much they eat. I add very slowly. Twice a week I feed mysis.
bertoni
01/16/2015, 12:25 AM
Unfortunately, whether the fish eat the food or not is less important than the quantity. What goes in, mostly comes back out.
vlapinta
01/16/2015, 08:46 AM
Unfortunately, whether the fish eat the food or not is less important than the quantity. What goes in, mostly comes back out.
Got it. So curious how much you feed on a weekly basis. Maybe I feed too much. I really don't know.
bertoni
01/16/2015, 05:55 PM
I fed about ¼ tsp per day to a 29g tank, along with some phytoplankton.
vlapinta
01/16/2015, 06:53 PM
I probably feed less than that so feeding is probably not my issue.
bertoni
01/16/2015, 07:53 PM
Okay, I'd probably look into removing any detritus buildup, such as in crushed coral substrates, or check for any artificial filtration media, like bio-balls or ceramics.
vlapinta
01/16/2015, 09:52 PM
No bioballs or ceramics. All media is changed regularly. I change chemipure every 3 -4 months. Filter floss is changed daily or every 2 days when it is dirty. The only thing I can think of is I was buying my salt from LFS. I never asked what he uses. I just started making my own salt water again with Red Sea pro coral salt. I didn't have a skimmer for a while. Now I have one running for 3-4 weeks. I am hoping these changes will help.
bertoni
01/16/2015, 10:29 PM
Dinoflagellates can be tough to kill. I might consider the lights out treatment net, although I have no idea of what the success rate might be.
vlapinta
01/16/2015, 10:50 PM
Dinoflagellates can be tough to kill. I might consider the lights out treatment net, although I have no idea of what the success rate might be.
I had my lights out for 4 days. Within those 4 days I started running phosban and carbon. I did 2 water changes of @ 25% and changed out the media twice. This procedure was discussed in detail in another thread. When I turned my lights on I did not see any dinos! Now on day 3 of lights on I am seeing some white specs on my glass. I am not sure what that is. I am hoping that is good because I have been adding Brightwell Aquatics MicroBacter7. Keeping fingers crossed and a watchful eye on my tank
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