ACBlinky
09/05/2006, 07:44 PM
My 65g is BB, and I'm having trouble keeping nitrates under control. I guess I've been in denial, but I'm finally ready to accept that my bio media (1/2 ceramic rings, 1/2 Seachem Matrix, which is supposed to reduce nitrates) is the cause of the problem.
I have a little HOB fuge (modded AquaClear 70) full of Chaeto, but it's not enough to keep up with the nitrates. I tested phosphates tonight, expecting to see that they were also an issue, but PO4 is absolutely undetectable.
Levels:
Ca 425ppm
alk 8dKH
Mg 1200
pH 8.3
NH3 0
NO2 0-0.1 (very slight colour)
NO3 ~15ppm (looks between 10ppm and 20ppm)
PO4 0
Corals look fine, and there's no nusiance algae at all, but NO3 has been steadily creeping up despite regular 15-20% water changes (all parameters match) and wet skimming (Remora).
I'm not sure how to go about removing or replacing the media. I could leave the Matrix and just remove the rings, remove both and leave the filter empty, or fill the canister with some small live rock pieces. If I replace it with live rock, is it safe to remove all the rings/Matrix at the same time?
I have 100lbs of LR in the tank, but it's supporting a fairly heavy bioload of 10 small fish (CB, flame, white tail pygmy angel, ocellaris, Lubbock's fairy wrasse, Talbot's damsel, neon dottyback, South Seas damsel, yellow clown goby and a pixy hawk). I don't want to cause a spike, but I also don't want to leave this stuff in the filter because levels are rising fast -- I've been rinsing it weekly in SW to remove any detritus, but over the past week NO3 has gone up from 5 to 15ppm.
Thanks :)
I have a little HOB fuge (modded AquaClear 70) full of Chaeto, but it's not enough to keep up with the nitrates. I tested phosphates tonight, expecting to see that they were also an issue, but PO4 is absolutely undetectable.
Levels:
Ca 425ppm
alk 8dKH
Mg 1200
pH 8.3
NH3 0
NO2 0-0.1 (very slight colour)
NO3 ~15ppm (looks between 10ppm and 20ppm)
PO4 0
Corals look fine, and there's no nusiance algae at all, but NO3 has been steadily creeping up despite regular 15-20% water changes (all parameters match) and wet skimming (Remora).
I'm not sure how to go about removing or replacing the media. I could leave the Matrix and just remove the rings, remove both and leave the filter empty, or fill the canister with some small live rock pieces. If I replace it with live rock, is it safe to remove all the rings/Matrix at the same time?
I have 100lbs of LR in the tank, but it's supporting a fairly heavy bioload of 10 small fish (CB, flame, white tail pygmy angel, ocellaris, Lubbock's fairy wrasse, Talbot's damsel, neon dottyback, South Seas damsel, yellow clown goby and a pixy hawk). I don't want to cause a spike, but I also don't want to leave this stuff in the filter because levels are rising fast -- I've been rinsing it weekly in SW to remove any detritus, but over the past week NO3 has gone up from 5 to 15ppm.
Thanks :)