Filter media and nitrates.

[sagxman]

I've been away from this forum for a year or two while taking a bit of a tank break. I'm looking for a couple bits of advice in getting my tank back to its old condition.
A little background:
My tank has been running for a couple of years now but with no major life or maintenance being performed. I've really only been doing topoffs.
Well, I'm ready to get things back again. My water parameters are in decent shape with the exception of nitrates that I've battled in the past. I think the culprit must be my canister filter. I have a DSB in a 29 gal. with a good bit of live rock. Water is crystal clear and no algae problems.
I'm running a Fluval 205 with the filter pads, carbon and the Biomax ceramic doohickies (I'm chuckling that the spellchecker didn't correct "doohickies"). I don't have space for a fuge or sump so I don't want to lose the canister but would like some advice on how I should be running it. Can I get away with ditching the Biomax and making sure to change out the pads and carbon regularly?
Any recommendations appreciated. It feels good to come back here after being gone for a while. I see a lot of familiar faces.

 

[superman]

Welcome back. What are you topping off with? I would assume some combo of RO/DI, but if not, make the switch. I use a Fluval 305 in my 40 gal and don't have much issue with it. I have heard that fluvals are mainly freshwater filters, but I don't agree. Are you running a skimmer as well? Also, If you don't have much life in it yet, change out 1 of the filter pads, and keep doing this about once a month until all the pads are new. This will allow for some fresh filtering, but also maintain the good bacteria.

 

[sagxman]

Yes, forgot to mention that I'm topping off with RO/DI. I did a major water change today and the new water tested 0 for trates.
No skimmer right now. My old one crapped out and I'm about to get an AquaC Remora.
Since there is no life and I've got the live rock as a natural filter I put in fresh pads and biomax. I even put in a bag of Clearmax (Don't yell at me, I have no inverts and don't plan to run it forever). My guess is that with live rock I don't even really need the biomax at all. Anyone agree?

 

[superman]

I won't yell, if it works it works lol. However, I would say the biggest piece of the puzzle will be the new skimmer. The live rock can definitely act as the biofilter. I still use the ceramic "doohickies" however. It really just comes down to personal preference and what your tank responds to.

 

[sagxman]

The skimmer won't reduce the nitrate. Are you suggesting that it might eliminate what is causing the excess nitrate buildup?
Once I get some lighting back on the tank I'll probably get some plants and I hope that will help a bit too. I'll just have to hold off on adding corals and such while the trates are there.

 

[geoj]

I would add a GFO reactor. I would then remember that the filter system has a limit to what can be removed. If you put more in then can be removed then waste numbers raise.

 

[sagxman]

Quote:
Originally Posted by GeoJ http:///t/390913/filter-media-and-nitrates#post_3464079
I would add a GFO reactor. I would then remember that the filter system has a limit to what can be removed. If you put more in then can be removed then waste numbers raise.
Why should I use a GFO reactor?
Of course a filter has a limit to what can be removed, but did you read any of the previous posts?

 

[njbillyv]

Quote:
Originally Posted by SaGxMAN http:///t/390913/filter-media-and-nitrates#post_3464073
The skimmer won't reduce the nitrate. Are you suggesting that it might eliminate what is causing the excess nitrate buildup?
Once I get some lighting back on the tank I'll probably get some plants and I hope that will help a bit too. I'll just have to hold off on adding corals and such while the trates are there.
I'd definately go with a good skimmer, it takes the crap out before it can turn into nitrate.

 

[gemmy]

What size tank are we talking about?
I am in the same situation. I have a 55 and can't have a sump. I have a fluval 305 and deltec MCE 600. My parameters have greatly improved with the addition of the skimmer. I now have coralline algae taking off in the tank. Also, I had been battling nuisance algae and that is now gone. This all happened when I upgraded to the MCE 600 skimmer. I feel it was well worth the money for me. I had the aqua c remora and it was nothing but problems for me.

 

[superman]

Quote:
Originally Posted by SaGxMAN http:///t/390913/filter-media-and-nitrates#post_3464073
The skimmer won't reduce the nitrate. Are you suggesting that it might eliminate what is causing the excess nitrate buildup?
Once I get some lighting back on the tank I'll probably get some plants and I hope that will help a bit too. I'll just have to hold off on adding corals and such while the trates are there.
Yes, I'm suggesting it will eliminate the junk before it can break down to become harmful.

 

[sagxman]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Superman http:///t/390913/filter-media-and-nitrates#post_3464125
Yes, I'm suggesting it will eliminate the junk before it can break down to become harmful.
Great, making sure we were on the same page. I agree with the posts above suggesting a skimmer. On my very first tank I saw the benefits of one when I had a algae bloom that turned the water cloudy green. I put a skimmer on it and it was clear in a day. They really do make a difference.

 

[geoj]

Why should I use a GFO reactor?
 
Of course a filter has a limit to what can be removed, but did you read any of the previous posts?
You say that you have battled nitrates in the past. This is more wasted going in then coming out. When you have decomposition phosphate is released the reasons I recommend you to add a GPO reactor is to reduce the phosphate. Take some time to do some testing to see if you keep the phosphate at 0.06-0.10 ppm

 

[sagxman]

Fair enough. I currently have no major waste going in with no livestock. I'm basically starting from scratch. I'll monitor a bit more as I go.

 

[reefkprz]

I personally would do a massive water change like 90%, and wash all the rock out in the old tank water as well as the little ceramic "doohickies" that way your tank gets a full "reset" on water parameters, let the tank go for a week or two and retest your water to see whats leached out of the rock, and possibly do another large water change again depending on the test results. then go through and change all your sponge media or floss media
you can also (according to your test results) use various media to absorb phosphates if needed

 

[flower]

I'm confused...no fish..no life at all. Where are the nitrates coming from? Are you using an API test kit?

 

[sagxman]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Flower http:///t/390913/filter-media-and-nitrates#post_3464379
I'm confused...no fish..no life at all. Where are the nitrates coming from? Are you using an API test kit?
I did have fish at one time and keeping in mind I haven't been doing water changes I assume the trates are just chilling in my filter media. Since I know my trates are out of line I'm only using test strips now as a gauge. I'll get an accurate kit when things start getting back where they're supposed to be.
Quote:
Originally Posted by reefkprZ http:///t/390913/filter-media-and-nitrates#post_3464361
I personally would do a massive water change like 90%, and wash all the rock out in the old tank water as well as the little ceramic "doohickies" that way your tank gets a full "reset" on water parameters, let the tank go for a week or two and retest your water to see whats leached out of the rock, and possibly do another large water change again depending on the test results. then go through and change all your sponge media or floss media
you can also (according to your test results) use various media to absorb phosphates if needed
Wash the rocks? Think that will help? Do nitrates hang out in live rock like they do in filter media? I already changed out the filter media to new and did about a 80-90% change. Currently no significant change in nitrates. I did test the new water going in and there are 0 nitrates there.
Should have my new skimmer on Wednesday.
Thanks for the advice everyone.

 

[sagxman]

Just ran some tests today. I had been using old salt and I think that was keeping my pH and alk too low. Phosphates are 0 but trates are off the chart.
Does the lack of buffer keep the nitrates from being processed?
I'm about to do another major water change with new salt so I'm hoping it will start to work.
Are pH, alk and nitrate cycling directly related at all?

 

[geoj]

I personally would do a massive water change like 90%, and wash all the rock out in the old tank water as well as the little ceramic "doohickies" that way your tank gets a full "reset" on water parameters, let the tank go for a week or two and retest your water to see whats leached out of the rock, and possibly do another large water change again depending on the test results. then go through and change all your sponge media or floss media

you can also (according to your test results) use various media to absorb phosphates if needed
I should have agreed with Reefkprz on this. I would also add that a good siphoning of the sand would be a good idea. Knowing that the testing you have been doing is correct would be good also and how I do that is by testing the related waste numbers to see if they are all making sense. But it is likely too late to do that as any ammonia and nitrite may not be readable. So is your test kit reading correctly?

 

[geoj]

My water parameters are in decent shape with the exception of nitrates that I've battled in the past. Water is crystal clear and no algae problems.This statement seams to be a contradiction. I would find out why...

 

[sagxman]

I should have agreed with Reefkprz on this. I would also add that a good siphoning of the sand would be a good idea. Knowing that the testing you have been doing is correct would be good also and how I do that is by testing the related waste numbers to see if they are all making sense. But it is likely too late to do that as any ammonia and nitrite may not be readable. So is your test kit reading correctly?
I did do the rock rinsing. They always say don't siphon the sand but I have no livestock so I would do it if I have to. Anyone else agree with sand siphoning? I'm hoping more water changes and proper buffering will help. I just got brand new test kits. I tested the samples they came with and they seem to read accurately.
This statement seams to be a contradiction. I would find out why...Eh, you're right, it is a contradiction. Forget I ever said that. I think the problem is mainly letting things get out of hand in the first place. Now I just need to correct things.