High Nitrates...still
- Thread starter inigomontoya
- Start date
inigomontoya
Member
MikeTx - I so appreciate your help and all others advise. The tank I received was seriously neglected, the guy I got it from is the 'know-it-all-likes-to-hear-himself-talk' kind of guy and was very ademant that CC is very very good for lowering Nitrates and I need nothing else!! I knew no better until I found this site 
I have holes drilled into the back of my tank and am too scared to mess with it in order to clean my filter. I will try to recruit someone from my LFS to come over and do it for me.. So far I have just cleaned my LR and will vaccum the CC tonight. Then a water change tomorrow.
I have holes drilled into the back of my tank and am too scared to mess with it in order to clean my filter. I will try to recruit someone from my LFS to come over and do it for me.. So far I have just cleaned my LR and will vaccum the CC tonight. Then a water change tomorrow.
michaeltx
Moderator
if you do that have them test the water and what they would advise you to do.
but dont but anything tell ya come back and ask is this something that I am going to need or will this help. I dont know about the LFS around you but a lot of them are just after the money and could really care less if it something that would help you out.
MIke
but dont but anything tell ya come back and ask is this something that I am going to need or will this help. I dont know about the LFS around you but a lot of them are just after the money and could really care less if it something that would help you out.
MIke
inigomontoya
Member
Oh, geez!!! It is interesting..... I live in Mesa, AZ. I went to my LFS today (saturday). They (mgmt) told me that LS is now controversial and they sell it, well..once in a whenever... They told me whomever said LS was better than CC is very very wrong and LS is the same thing, just with bacteria added.. I should just go ahead and vaccum the CC and treat it as the same, just be involved in many, many water changes...
As far as me, I wil clean my filter, add the media I bought, and just vaccum my CC, and see how my tests go... UGGGHH!! This is sooo fustrating!!
As far as me, I wil clean my filter, add the media I bought, and just vaccum my CC, and see how my tests go... UGGGHH!! This is sooo fustrating!!
nacl-man
Member
You are in the midst of the opinion battle.
The problem is when you get to this point, no one is right. Go with what you think will suit you best. People on this board have had really good luck with LS and not CC. My personal experience has left me with a negative opinion of CC, if that helps at all.
Even more confused? lol.
The problem is when you get to this point, no one is right. Go with what you think will suit you best. People on this board have had really good luck with LS and not CC. My personal experience has left me with a negative opinion of CC, if that helps at all.
Even more confused? lol.
inigomontoya
Member
Oh...well !!! Now I am feeling quite rebelious indeed!! I must have the Live Sand! Oooooh yaaaaaaaaeah!!
michaeltx
Moderator
LOL I would look into ordering it online if your LFS wont get it for you.do have any other LFS close to you?
the main reason for sand is that the smaller particules allow small critters such as worms to populate the sand. the main debate that is going on now is whether or not a Deep Sand Bed(DSB) is actually doing what its supposed to do. but not really the sand VS CC. some use it and have nothing but praise but people like me that started with it and had nothing but problems have ditched it. the CC that I had is a filler for a paddle cactus bed in Arkansas thats about the only use that I would ever use it for.
Mike
the main reason for sand is that the smaller particules allow small critters such as worms to populate the sand. the main debate that is going on now is whether or not a Deep Sand Bed(DSB) is actually doing what its supposed to do. but not really the sand VS CC. some use it and have nothing but praise but people like me that started with it and had nothing but problems have ditched it. the CC that I had is a filler for a paddle cactus bed in Arkansas thats about the only use that I would ever use it for.
Mike
reefnut
Active Member
I had a lady at a LFS tell me that a mandarin was a good beginner fish and would be well in a new setup.
Same lady and same LFS told me that Xenias did not require special lighting
A guy at ***** told me that a cannister filter and one of those 20dollar air stone skimmers is all I would need for a FO setup
I think if you ask alot of people have gotten false or misleading information from LFS
IMO SSB or a DSB sand is the way to go
Same lady and same LFS told me that Xenias did not require special lighting
A guy at *****
told me that a cannister filter and one of those 20dollar air stone skimmers is all I would need for a FO setupI think if you ask alot of people have gotten false or misleading information from LFS
IMO SSB or a DSB sand is the way to go
scotts
Active Member
OK, just to chime in.
1. You had an aquarium with CC as the base and you moved it. During the course of the move you obiously stirred up all of the gunk in the CC and released it to the water. This probably caused you nitrate spike.
2. CC bases are not real popular on this board. Do a search on this board and you will see that many people have switched from CC to LS. This will also help you when you switch over.
3. The opinions of the lfs are not real popular on this board either. I can personally tell you that I have learned more during my first 3 months on this board than in the year before I found this board. (FYI one of the lfs that I go to is currently having one of it's main display tanks run over with apstasia (sp?))
4. One thing that you will need is a clean up crew. When I started I listened to my lfs and when I had a problem he would sell me a bottle of chemicals for $20 a bottle. Another problem another $20 bottle. Then I found this board. I learned to feed less, stop adding "Miracle cures" and get a clean up crew. In a couple of months my problems were gone, including hair algae. You may want order a clean up crew from this site.
These are all my opinion, and in my opinion Michael has given you some good advise. Bob is... well let's just say controversial on this board.
Scott
1. You had an aquarium with CC as the base and you moved it. During the course of the move you obiously stirred up all of the gunk in the CC and released it to the water. This probably caused you nitrate spike.
2. CC bases are not real popular on this board. Do a search on this board and you will see that many people have switched from CC to LS. This will also help you when you switch over.
3. The opinions of the lfs are not real popular on this board either. I can personally tell you that I have learned more during my first 3 months on this board than in the year before I found this board. (FYI one of the lfs that I go to is currently having one of it's main display tanks run over with apstasia (sp?))
4. One thing that you will need is a clean up crew. When I started I listened to my lfs and when I had a problem he would sell me a bottle of chemicals for $20 a bottle. Another problem another $20 bottle. Then I found this board. I learned to feed less, stop adding "Miracle cures" and get a clean up crew. In a couple of months my problems were gone, including hair algae. You may want order a clean up crew from this site.
These are all my opinion, and in my opinion Michael has given you some good advise. Bob is... well let's just say controversial on this board.
Scott
inigomontoya
Member
Thanks Scott!! By the way, I grew up in N.P. my parents live in Dos Vientos! You lucky duck! I wish I could afford to live back in T.O.!! Thank you for the advise...
scotts
Active Member
IM,
Wow that is cool. I learned a while ago that it is a small world. We lived in N.P. for 10 years. One of the reasons that we moved was because of Dos Vientos. Our backyard was up against Borchard Road. We figured with 2,500 homes going in that the traffic on Borchard would be incredible. So we moved into a bigger house in T.O. We are now in the neighborhood near the golf course.
We looked at the houses in Dos Vientos, but it did not work for us. It is incredible how fast those houses sell. When we were looking into moving there was a trailer set up and some of the foundations were raised. However no concrete had been poured yet. We stopped in and they said that phase 1 had already been sold out and they were starting to sell phase 2. The only thing that they had was a sheet of paper showing the layout of the house, no models had been built yet. I'm sorry but if I am going to shell out 400K for a house I want to see what it looks like before I buy it.
The housing market here is CRAZY. We moved into our house 2 years ago and we found that our house has already increased by about 200K in that time. We kind of talked about about cashing out and paying cash for a house in the sticks.
BTW I see that you are in Arizona, what part? I lived in Tucson for 6 months.
Scott
Wow that is cool. I learned a while ago that it is a small world. We lived in N.P. for 10 years. One of the reasons that we moved was because of Dos Vientos. Our backyard was up against Borchard Road. We figured with 2,500 homes going in that the traffic on Borchard would be incredible. So we moved into a bigger house in T.O. We are now in the neighborhood near the golf course.
We looked at the houses in Dos Vientos, but it did not work for us. It is incredible how fast those houses sell. When we were looking into moving there was a trailer set up and some of the foundations were raised. However no concrete had been poured yet. We stopped in and they said that phase 1 had already been sold out and they were starting to sell phase 2. The only thing that they had was a sheet of paper showing the layout of the house, no models had been built yet. I'm sorry but if I am going to shell out 400K for a house I want to see what it looks like before I buy it.
The housing market here is CRAZY. We moved into our house 2 years ago and we found that our house has already increased by about 200K in that time. We kind of talked about about cashing out and paying cash for a house in the sticks.
BTW I see that you are in Arizona, what part? I lived in Tucson for 6 months.
Scott
nacl-man
Member
Originally posted by ReefNut
I think if you ask alot of people have gotten false or misleading information from LFS
Yup. "Use this UGF, it is all you need with CC substrate" and "You don't need a protien skimmer, just buy this $27 bottle of Marine Tank Clarifier, it'll clear it right up" got another problem, "Buy chemical x for $x.xx, it'll clear it right up." repeat until you feel like throwing up because of all the money you wasted on plastic bottles filled with snake oil.
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inigomontoya
Member
Protein Skimmer?! I just use good 'ol C.L.R. (just kidding)
Scott - We live in Mesa, AZ. I regret making the mistake of being independent and wanting to go to ASU and leaving the Conejo Valley almost ten years ago.. My parents own the 1-story house up the small hill at the dead-end of Kimber Rd. They used to live off Ventu Pk Rd right behind Amgen. I visit at least once a month. As soon as I win the PowerBall, I will be happy to buy up Neptunes Net and move into Hidden Valley, or North Ranch
Scott - We live in Mesa, AZ. I regret making the mistake of being independent and wanting to go to ASU and leaving the Conejo Valley almost ten years ago.. My parents own the 1-story house up the small hill at the dead-end of Kimber Rd. They used to live off Ventu Pk Rd right behind Amgen. I visit at least once a month. As soon as I win the PowerBall, I will be happy to buy up Neptunes Net and move into Hidden Valley, or North Ranch
inigomontoya
Member
I went to Aquarium Arts on Sat morning. That is where I was told that LS is "controversial". At least they can answer my questions. Maybe LS will make an appearance on Oprah sometime, as it is said to be so "controversial" I am going to head out there later today and get about 10 lbs of LR.
As far as the gas, I just got back from Fry's and there was a HUGE line at the station, all the way down the street!! I went to Chevron last night at 10pm, paid $1.85 a gallon and they are totally out of gas today! I suggest go late at night, there are still long lines, but not as many cranky folks and at its a little cooler!
I am going to head out there later today and get about 10 lbs of LR.As far as the gas, I just got back from Fry's and there was a HUGE line at the station, all the way down the street!! I went to Chevron last night at 10pm, paid $1.85 a gallon and they are totally out of gas today! I suggest go late at night, there are still long lines, but not as many cranky folks and at its a little cooler!
overanalyzer
Active Member
InigoMontoya -
INCONCIEVABLE
OK now that i got that out of my system ....
you have entered into the second worst discussion - the first being - never get into a land war in Asia.....
OK - seriously now .....
Check out the Home Depot's in yoru area for some play sand call SOUTHDOWN. Supposedly there is some out there.
Second - I would strongly encourage you to practice the blank look and nod - which helps when dealing with LFS employees who try to sell you items you don't need ...... or tell you items you do need (which they don't carry) are not needed.
Third - have someone else test your water - with high trates -unless you are doing somethign to get those numbers down (water changes, filtration, setting up a refugium) then they still exist. With the results of those tests I woudl move forward with either MichaelTX 's advice on how to clean it and then convert to a sand bed of some sort. If you want to stay with CC then get the trates as low as possible and be prepared to clean it on a regular basis!!
Good luck!
INCONCIEVABLE
OK now that i got that out of my system ....
you have entered into the second worst discussion - the first being - never get into a land war in Asia.....
OK - seriously now .....
Check out the Home Depot's in yoru area for some play sand call SOUTHDOWN. Supposedly there is some out there.
Second - I would strongly encourage you to practice the blank look and nod - which helps when dealing with LFS employees who try to sell you items you don't need ...... or tell you items you do need (which they don't carry) are not needed.
Third - have someone else test your water - with high trates -unless you are doing somethign to get those numbers down (water changes, filtration, setting up a refugium) then they still exist. With the results of those tests I woudl move forward with either MichaelTX 's advice on how to clean it and then convert to a sand bed of some sort. If you want to stay with CC then get the trates as low as possible and be prepared to clean it on a regular basis!!
Good luck!
inigomontoya
Member
Maybe it was me, there were two guys with me. ALthough, lady sounds a little old for me.. You work there? Can I get a smokin' deal on some LR? If not, I have a four year old that LOVES to tap on glass of aquariums!! (is that a good blackmail?) ha!