Do I need a filter

iidylii

iidylii

Active Member
so I know the nitrates topic is beat to death but I'm wondering if I need some sort of filtration unit and not just natural filtration...

I have about 180 gallons of water, 60 lbs of live sand, 100 lbs of LR, at least a basketball size shrub of calerpa in the sump, a skimmer that's rated for approx an 800 gallon system and I think that's it..

.do I need some sort of mechanical filtration?

Could I slowly over time add 100lbs of Rock and have that alone fix the problem?

My nitrates are off the charts on both the salifert and api test both reading max readings...which is completely my fault do to laziness and just not thinking water changes mattered...I am definitely going back to regular water changes starting last week

I think I am going to try 50% water changes weekly until I get them back under control and then continue with like 10% weekly
 
iidylii

iidylii

Active Member
Skimmer in the first chamber where the water returns from the tank...calerpa and LR in the middle chamber and just LR in the last chamber that returns to the tank...the sand and remaining rock are in the DT
 
beth

beth

Administrator
Staff member
I had a 72 gal reef tank with live sand and live rock and HOB protein skimmer. Zero nitrates since day one. Also used RODI water. Mechanical filters tend to cause nitrates unless you change the filter medium very regularly. I also did 1 gal water change daily in addition to a 1 gal FW topoff due to evaporation. This meant that taking up a half a day to do maintenance was really cut down. I did have 6 powerhead in the tank, in addition to the skimmer's pump. Fish stock was low because it was a reef tank. Also had very large halimeda which contributed greatly to the macrofauna in the tank as it acted as a safe-haven-nursery.

Have you tested your source water?
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
I've been in the hobby for over 35 years and have never used mechanical filtration with one exception - I occationally use a canister filter filled with GAC to remove gelbstoff when it accumulates.
 
iidylii

iidylii

Active Member
bang guy said:
I've been in the hobby for over 35 years and have never used mechanical filtration with one exception - I occationally use a canister filter filled with GAC to remove gelbstoff when it accumulates.
Click to expand...
So in your opinion do I need more rock? Could I just add a few lbs each week as to not spike any levels?

But my thoughts are this...if I don't over feed and get back to regular water changes and tank maintenance the trates should just take care of themselves...duh lol
 
Last edited:
beth

beth

Administrator
Staff member
Is this a reef tank or fowlr? How deep is your sandbed? I didn't mention that I did have a 6" DSB (deep sand bed) system, and I know bang guy also has used this at least on some of his systems. Maintaining a good DSB system pretty much guarantees zero nitrates.
 
beth

beth

Administrator
Staff member
What do you use for circulation in your tank? Do you have any sandbed critters that will keep the bed turned over to prevent detris from accumulating? What is the particle size of your live sand?
 
iidylii

iidylii

Active Member
I have a reeflo wahoo pump that is dispersed from 3 loc line ends into the DT I can pretty much blow the fish out of the tank if I wanted ;)

I have numerous nassarious snails "maybe 5" along with a sifter star and soon a tiger watchman goby After QT

I'm not really sure on the sand size anymore...I know it's not real fine but also not real coarse...very middle of the road
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top