Originally Posted by daytonaree
Just a couple thoughts, 2nd a 2" depth is more than adequite and anything deeper only traps traits and keeps them high. Using a phosphate sponge and nitrate sponge, phosguard helps a great deal. Place them in the higher h2o leveled area of your sump. Use both for three days then test your h2o. At the same time, using a sufficient sized container remove enough sand to bring your tank depth closer to approx. 2" . The sand ise i trapping detrius/ uneaten food etc.. which in return is maintaining your trait levels.
Not sure if i really want to stir up the sand bed in the tanks for 1 of two reasons. First i think it will spike the trates even higher than they are and i do not want to kill all the fish. Second the first layer of my sand bed is crushed coral and the top layer is regular reef sand. If i try to take anything out the fine sand will settle to the bottom and leave the crushed coral on top and i really dont like it very much. i will 'measure' the actualy depth today and see what it is.
I am going to try to do a fuge in about a month and see if the cuperla rock or whatever its called will help take down the trates. Also skidsmore suggested taking out some of the bioballs, i think i might try that before a fuge too...we'll see, something will work eventually. Right now things are not all dying nor do they seem stressed. I think it might just be new tank issues......thanks for all the ideas, i will try them to see how things go.....
