Couple of Maintenance Questions...

[windlasher]

Q1: How much water can you safely change when attempting to lower nitrates in a tank and over what period of time?
Q2: I recently asked if it would be OK, to rinse out the "pre-filter" in a wet/dry instead of replacing it every time. Some said yes, but do it in SW to preserve the beneficial bacteria which confuses me. If I just throw it away and put in a new piece then there would be no bacteria to preserve so if I rinse it, out who cares if the bacteria is preserved?
Q3: If I replace the BIO-Balls in a WET/DRY with LR Rubble, would you just use an equivalent physical amount of rubble, or is there just some sort of odd formula?
Q4: I am about to set up a 220 with a 120 SUMP in the basement. How much LR would you throw in that bad boy?
Thanks All.

 

[phtby]

Q1: How much water can you safely change when attempting to lower nitrates in a tank and over what period of time?
i would say 30% a week.... This has work for me.....
Q2: I recently asked if it would be OK, to rinse out the "pre-filter" in a wet/dry instead of replacing it every time. Some said yes, but do it in SW to preserve the beneficial bacteria which confuses me. If I just throw it away and put in a new piece then there would be no bacteria to preserve so if I rinse it, out who cares if the bacteria is preserved?
Rinse it how ever you want it will not hurt.... the liverock / bioballs will hold enough bacteria to maintain the stablity if the tank
Q3: If I replace the BIO-Balls in a WET/DRY with LR Rubble, would you just use an equivalent physical amount of rubble, or is there just some sort of odd formula?
in a standard wet dry i just take out the bioballs and replace with as much liverock as the chamber will hold and still let the flow remain fine...
Q4: I am about to set up a 220 with a 120 SUMP in the basement. How much LR would you throw in that bad boy?
As much as you can afford.. the more the better in my eyes
hope this helps

 

[tr1gger]

Q4: I am about to set up a 220 with a 120 SUMP in the basement. How much LR would you throw in that bad boy?

Easy formula, 1lb of LR to each 1gallon