Originally Posted by
acrylic51
http:///forum/post/3269442
Yes indeed a smoking deal.....IMHO the HOB filter won't cut it keeping your nitrates at "0". One thing we have to remember here is that all living things are putting off "waste" big, small whatever.....With that said, even with a sump utilizing filter socks we have to remember that the tank water is constantly running through the socks or being pulled through the filter media in a filter....There is were the problem lies....People who run filter socks and others will tell you that they must be changed frequently and do clog as well with HOB power filters....Are you running any media in the filter area? You must also remember the "clams" aren't and won't magically pull your numbers to "0" instantly.....It will take time and no method is foolproof.
Limiting the input of food will help some and you have to remember that carbon can be exhausted rather quickly...I would try to eliminate the the biowheel and anything that would actually harbor larger particles from being trapped or that isn't quite logical, I would try to pull my media out daily and rinse in RO water........
I do have carbon in my filters, and I changed them after a month. So you think I should rinse them daily? Should I try using a different media that is better? I did rinse the biowheels today. Although, they didn't seem to be growing anything on them like I thought. I am mixing about 12 gal of salt water overnight, and will do a water change with it tomorrow.
I was really hoping that the chaeto would help, but it doesn't seem to...at least not yet. I was thinking maybe I need to get the nitrates down to a low level FIRST, and then maybe it will make a difference. I will also cut down on feeding. Maybe just twice a week.
Is there something else that I can do?
