just installed a new sump need some help

[hanley0019]

I just installed a sump i made on my 90g and i got a question. On melevsreef it says not to use any socks sponges or pads because they cause nitrates to rise. Right now i have a sponge on my overflow downpipe and a sponge on my return pump. Should i take there off? Im trying to get my nitrates down . There about 30-40 but i just got rid of my wetdry with bioballs so it should drop with a water change. I just need some advice on getting nitrates below 10 so i can start with corals.

 

[dustyboy316]

I think it happens over time. If you don't maintain them (clean or replace) they hold nitrates. It shouldn't be affecting your reading now imo.

 

[trouble93]

Originally Posted by hanley0019
http:///forum/post/2909035
I just installed a sump i made on my 90g and i got a question. On melevsreef it says not to use any socks sponges or pads because they cause nitrates to rise. Right now i have a sponge on my overflow downpipe and a sponge on my return pump. Should i take there off? Im trying to get my nitrates down . There about 30-40 but i just got rid of my wetdry with bioballs so it should drop with a water change. I just need some advice on getting nitrates below 10 so i can start with corals.
If you have anything in your tank it will be hard to get your down below 10, water changes may bring them down some. You can have a healthy tank with your trates as hi as 20 or so. The sponge on your overflow will help keep some noise down and if you have small fish it will keep them from taking that hard ride to the sump.

 

[spanko]

All a maintenance issue. If you clean them at each water change, or weekly whichever comes first, they will be fine.

 

[jackri]

Just keep them changed out and you'll be fine. Funny side story about fish making the hard ride down... I had a clown that loved to go into the overflow of my 90... but I had a peppermint shrimp somehow get in there and actually made it down to the sump. Pain in the rear getting him out of the sump with the skimmer and all the turbulence in there.

 

[robertmathern]

Originally Posted by jackri
http:///forum/post/2909221
Just keep them changed out and you'll be fine. Funny side story about fish making the hard ride down... I had a clown that loved to go into the overflow of my 90... but I had a peppermint shrimp somehow get in there and actually made it down to the sump. Pain in the rear getting him out of the sump with the skimmer and all the turbulence in there.
I had a chromis go down there. It is a pian to get them out I had to remove everything and it still took me a couple hours to get him out. he would hide in between my baffles.