Want to start a refugium

1slapnuts · 04/24/2006, 03:13 PM

Does anyone know how I should go about this all? I have my 210G back, and tried to use it as freshwater, but it's not working out with the constant shutting pump on and off. So I am thinking of starting it back up to a fish only for now, with the help of a refugium to see if that will help with the huge nitrate problem i was having before.
I have a pro-aquatics sump right now, and curious as to how to transform it, if it can be done at all. And then what the best thing to fill it with would be?
And suggestions? I am open to all, and appreciate been there done that answers. Thanks.

Velcroflyer · 04/24/2006, 04:25 PM

Sent PM

markandkristen · 04/24/2006, 10:47 PM

are you using live rock in the 210 or skimmer?

1slapnuts · 04/25/2006, 06:29 AM

It would be both. But I don't have as much LR as I had before. I sold almost all of it off. I have about 80lbs? left. Medium pieces for the tank, and some rubble for the sump too. Also the same skimmer I used before, it is in-sump, and works pretty good, so I will stick with it. I am thinking of upgrading to a less maintenance kind in the future though.

1slapnuts · 04/28/2006, 08:43 PM

bump

no other ideas/suggestions?

VERVE · 04/29/2006, 02:48 PM

I have a suggestion, you can read the posting I put on this site regarding a "sulfur denitrifier" after I purchased one of these things, it completly took all the nitrates out of my tank.
Here is their site as well:
http://www.midwestaquatic.com/
Good luck.....

1slapnuts · 04/29/2006, 07:29 PM

yeah, I saw that thing. But it is way too expensive for me right now. Maybe when I hit the lotto or something (lol). If I had the money, i would have already placed an order for it. Looks like it would have done the job I needed. But too much for me at the moment. Also, anyone know where to buy Chaeto? or however it's spelled. I've heard that will help with nitrates also. If I can find where to get it, I can get some mud and try to turn my wet/dry into a refugium.

keithntracy · 04/30/2006, 03:39 AM

sea in the city has chaeto i believe, give james a call!
407-207-4056

reefguy888 · 04/30/2006, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 1slapnuts
yeah, I saw that thing. But it is way too expensive for me right now. Maybe when I hit the lotto or something (lol). If I had the money, i would have already placed an order for it. Looks like it would have done the job I needed. But too much for me at the moment. Also, anyone know where to buy Chaeto? or however it's spelled. I've heard that will help with nitrates also. If I can find where to get it, I can get some mud and try to turn my wet/dry into a refugium.

Maybe you could win a free one.

http://www.midwestaquatic.com/CONTEST.htm

1slapnuts · 04/30/2006, 02:47 PM

It's worth a shot, but I tore down the saltwater tank a long time ago, just recently got it back and tried to convert it to freshwater but not having much luck with all the shutting on and off of the pump. Besides, how can they tell if you need a denitrifier by a picture? Mine tank looked fine except for no corals would live except a small bubble coral. I was told this problem was because my nitrates were over 40, maybe 60 all the time. So I didn't have any hair algae except near the top of the tank, and my snails were fine, so I don't know how they would tell from a picture? But it also says you must update them with photos, and my old pic of thetank, won't match any future pics of the tank anyways because i sold off all the huge pieces of live rock.
I guess I am SOL.

underground · 04/30/2006, 02:52 PM

that bubble u gave me has been growing

1slapnuts · 04/30/2006, 09:04 PM

Glad to hear the bubble made it. I would have thrown it out if I hadn't given it to you that day. I can't believe it survived that long to begin with. It was in those conditions for over 6 months. I guess it is a hardy one! How big is it now anyways? I think it was about 2" x 1" when I gave it to you.

underground · 04/30/2006, 10:14 PM

that bubble has grown alot, i think its 3 inches long, the bubbles are bout nickel size

VERVE · 05/01/2006, 10:57 AM

THE FREE DENITRIFIER IS WORTH THE TRY, that UNIT ROCKS and works

cschweitzer · 05/01/2006, 01:34 PM

Just to tell you, many may say your corals will die with nitrates at 60. I have had them well over this for a long period and very little died, but nothing grew. I had mine as high as 200 for a while and corals were still fine. The biggest problem occurring was the detritus hair algae growing. It may have been phosphates that were killing the corals, or maybe a combination of both. Temp, Ca, alk, salinity, all that good stuff was in the right range? Nitrates can hurt and kill corals, but at 60 I don't think it would kill everything. Anyway, chaeto is great and does not need to be planted, just ask around and you should be able to find some. Higher flow, water changes, refugium, and mechanical filtration of a skimmer should cover any nitrate issues you ever have.

BIGGEST ISSUE: Wait until your tank is established before you start putting things in it. It is a lot easier to take care of a problem that is not continually being added to. It's like telling someone to separate all of the coins in a pile and as he's solving the problem, someone comes and dumps 1,000 more coins into the mix. If this keeps happening, he'll never be able to finish. In other words, sort through the nitrate issue before you add fish and corals that in turn create nitrates or you may never be able to solve it.

MDKyleZ · 05/01/2006, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by cschweitzer

BIGGEST ISSUE: Wait until your tank is established before you start putting things in it. It is a lot easier to take care of a problem that is not continually being added to. It's like telling someone to separate all of the coins in a pile and as he's solving the problem, someone comes and dumps 1,000 more coins into the mix. If this keeps happening, he'll never be able to finish. In other words, sort through the nitrate issue before you add fish and corals that in turn create nitrates or you may never be able to solve it.

IMO this is the largest problem people in this hobby have..."I see it therefore I have got to have it"

Kyle

VERVE · 05/01/2006, 02:58 PM

All you have to do is submit a picture and nitrate readings and you are in the contest, you could win it free ? I wish I've had that opportunity, nevertheless i am happy with my sulfur denitrifier.
It's saving me time, water, water changes every 2 months, eventually will save me on salt and checking calcium levels, because it keeps the calcium levels steady.

1slapnuts · 05/05/2006, 09:57 PM

Thanks everyone for all the great info. I won't be turning my tank back to saltwater anytime soon. It's just to expensive to start it over again. Not as expensive as the FIRST time, but still....

I will make sure to have a refugium up and running as well as the tank parameters steady before I add anything this time. Last time was my first time with saltwater, period. So I am a little more educated this go around hopefully.

Thanks again for all the info!

04/24/2006, 03:13 PM	#1
1slapnuts Moved On Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Saint Cloud, FL Posts: 303	Want to start a refugium Does anyone know how I should go about this all? I have my 210G back, and tried to use it as freshwater, but it's not working out with the constant shutting pump on and off. So I am thinking of starting it back up to a fish only for now, with the help of a refugium to see if that will help with the huge nitrate problem i was having before. I have a pro-aquatics sump right now, and curious as to how to transform it, if it can be done at all. And then what the best thing to fill it with would be? And suggestions? I am open to all, and appreciate been there done that answers. Thanks.

04/29/2006, 02:48 PM	#6
VERVE Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Orlando, Florida Posts: 228	I have a suggestion, you can read the posting I put on this site regarding a "sulfur denitrifier" after I purchased one of these things, it completly took all the nitrates out of my tank. Here is their site as well: http://www.midwestaquatic.com/ Good luck..... __________________ :fish2: Current Tank Info: None

04/30/2006, 02:52 PM	#11
underground Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: fayetville Arkansas Posts: 209	that bubble u gave me has been growing __________________ always looking for rare corals and making fun of my friend juan Current Tank Info: 50 gallon, 5gallon,75

04/30/2006, 10:14 PM	#13
underground Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: fayetville Arkansas Posts: 209	that bubble has grown alot, i think its 3 inches long, the bubbles are bout nickel size __________________ always looking for rare corals and making fun of my friend juan Current Tank Info: 50 gallon, 5gallon,75

05/01/2006, 10:57 AM	#14
VERVE Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Orlando, Florida Posts: 228	THE FREE DENITRIFIER IS WORTH THE TRY, that UNIT ROCKS and works __________________ :fish2: Current Tank Info: None

04/24/2006, 04:25 PM	#2
Velcroflyer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: St Cloud Posts: 256	Sent PM

04/24/2006, 10:47 PM	#3
markandkristen Moved On Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Winterhaven, fl Posts: 4,090	are you using live rock in the 210 or skimmer?

04/25/2006, 06:29 AM	#4
1slapnuts Moved On Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Saint Cloud, FL Posts: 303	It would be both. But I don't have as much LR as I had before. I sold almost all of it off. I have about 80lbs? left. Medium pieces for the tank, and some rubble for the sump too. Also the same skimmer I used before, it is in-sump, and works pretty good, so I will stick with it. I am thinking of upgrading to a less maintenance kind in the future though.

04/28/2006, 08:43 PM	#5
1slapnuts Moved On Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Saint Cloud, FL Posts: 303	bump no other ideas/suggestions?

04/29/2006, 07:29 PM	#7
1slapnuts Moved On Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Saint Cloud, FL Posts: 303	yeah, I saw that thing. But it is way too expensive for me right now. Maybe when I hit the lotto or something (lol). If I had the money, i would have already placed an order for it. Looks like it would have done the job I needed. But too much for me at the moment. Also, anyone know where to buy Chaeto? or however it's spelled. I've heard that will help with nitrates also. If I can find where to get it, I can get some mud and try to turn my wet/dry into a refugium.

04/30/2006, 03:39 AM	#8
keithntracy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: winter park, fl Posts: 1,080	sea in the city has chaeto i believe, give james a call! 407-207-4056

04/30/2006, 02:47 PM	#10
1slapnuts Moved On Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Saint Cloud, FL Posts: 303	It's worth a shot, but I tore down the saltwater tank a long time ago, just recently got it back and tried to convert it to freshwater but not having much luck with all the shutting on and off of the pump. Besides, how can they tell if you need a denitrifier by a picture? Mine tank looked fine except for no corals would live except a small bubble coral. I was told this problem was because my nitrates were over 40, maybe 60 all the time. So I didn't have any hair algae except near the top of the tank, and my snails were fine, so I don't know how they would tell from a picture? But it also says you must update them with photos, and my old pic of thetank, won't match any future pics of the tank anyways because i sold off all the huge pieces of live rock. I guess I am SOL.

04/30/2006, 09:04 PM	#12
1slapnuts Moved On Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Saint Cloud, FL Posts: 303	Glad to hear the bubble made it. I would have thrown it out if I hadn't given it to you that day. I can't believe it survived that long to begin with. It was in those conditions for over 6 months. I guess it is a hardy one! How big is it now anyways? I think it was about 2" x 1" when I gave it to you.

05/01/2006, 01:34 PM	#15
cschweitzer Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: UCF area, Orlando, Fl Posts: 3,162	Just to tell you, many may say your corals will die with nitrates at 60. I have had them well over this for a long period and very little died, but nothing grew. I had mine as high as 200 for a while and corals were still fine. The biggest problem occurring was the detritus hair algae growing. It may have been phosphates that were killing the corals, or maybe a combination of both. Temp, Ca, alk, salinity, all that good stuff was in the right range? Nitrates can hurt and kill corals, but at 60 I don't think it would kill everything. Anyway, chaeto is great and does not need to be planted, just ask around and you should be able to find some. Higher flow, water changes, refugium, and mechanical filtration of a skimmer should cover any nitrate issues you ever have. BIGGEST ISSUE: Wait until your tank is established before you start putting things in it. It is a lot easier to take care of a problem that is not continually being added to. It's like telling someone to separate all of the coins in a pile and as he's solving the problem, someone comes and dumps 1,000 more coins into the mix. If this keeps happening, he'll never be able to finish. In other words, sort through the nitrate issue before you add fish and corals that in turn create nitrates or you may never be able to solve it. __________________ Two fish are sitting in a tank...one looks over to the other and says, "I hope you know how to drive this thing!" Current Tank Info: 180G, mandarin dragonette, a leather, an acan, and a micromussa

05/01/2006, 02:58 PM	#17
VERVE Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Orlando, Florida Posts: 228	All you have to do is submit a picture and nitrate readings and you are in the contest, you could win it free ? I wish I've had that opportunity, nevertheless i am happy with my sulfur denitrifier. It's saving me time, water, water changes every 2 months, eventually will save me on salt and checking calcium levels, because it keeps the calcium levels steady. __________________ :fish2: Current Tank Info: None

05/05/2006, 09:57 PM	#18
1slapnuts Moved On Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Saint Cloud, FL Posts: 303	Thanks everyone for all the great info. I won't be turning my tank back to saltwater anytime soon. It's just to expensive to start it over again. Not as expensive as the FIRST time, but still.... I will make sure to have a refugium up and running as well as the tank parameters steady before I add anything this time. Last time was my first time with saltwater, period. So I am a little more educated this go around hopefully. Thanks again for all the info!