proper cleaning???

[beattyr]

What constitues proper cleaning/maintenace in a reef tank?
Other than refilling from evaporation and cleaning out the skimmer cup, the only other things im doing are water testing and the weekly scrap of the glass.
Should I be siphoning out stuff at all? I ask this cause I have a Na level of about 25ppm and it never has dropped in the tank. It sometimes spikes up as high as 40ppm and I'll do a 40-50% water change which will drop it back down to about 25 again.
I'm just curious to see what others do on a daily/weekly basis to maintain their tanks and perhaps change what im doing.
Thanks
Rob

 

[trying4reef]

What kind of filtration are you using? I had a Na problem with my wet/dry, so I took all the bio balls out and just used it as a sump tank and levels droped over night. I also recommend pulling your power heads out every 6 mounths or so and clean them out good especial the impeller.

 

[beattyr]

Originally posted by TRying4reef
What kind of filtration are you using?
I am using LR/DSB and thats about it. I have a Skilter skimmer with a bag of Nitrasorb sitting in it.
I had a Na problem with my wet/dry, so I took all the bio balls out and just used it as a sump tank and levels droped over night. I also recommend pulling your power heads out every 6 mounths or so and clean them out good especial the impeller.

Hmmm powerheads sounds like a good idea, been running about 6months + on all of those.
The basic thrust of my post was to see if there is something critical im missing, such as should i be siphoning out crap once a week or something.
Thanks
Rob

 

[trying4reef]

no sounds like your doing it right. "siphoning out crap" would most likely kill more good stuff then bad.

 

[beattyr]

Originally posted by TRying4reef
no sounds like your doing it right. "siphoning out crap" would most likely kill more good stuff then bad.
ok im doing it right then why am i having a hell of time bringing Na down?
I do admit my Skilter is a bit on the cheap side, should i really need to spend 150-175 on a good skimmer? Is there a good DIY skimmer out there?
Would increasing the depth of my LS bed help? its about 3-4" deep now, would another 1" or 2 help?
Thoughts?
Thanks
Rob

 

[beattyr]

bumpity

 

[hairtrigger]

Depends if you have a DSB or not. I hear, if you do, to not vaccum it at all. That could seriously disrupt the denitrification process.
Now, if you dont do a DSB, I believe syphoning the sand is ok.
I am not for sure, a shark could probably help more. I just set up my DSB so I am going on what some trustworth folks say about that one though.
And as long as your skimmer is producing a thick, nasty foam, I would say it's doing the job.
But, depending on the sandbed, routine water changes are a must. I hear folks do 20 percent once a month. But, it also depends on what works best for your individual system. I do about 15-20 percent every two weeks. I am not sure if that is the best thing, but it seems to be that with my system.
Good luck.

 

[ags]

Not an expert on this but your nitrate levels will never be zero unless you have a refugium, or the like, with some algae that use the nitrates as nutrients (ie caulerpa etc). Someone could probaly elaborate on this better than that but as far as getting your nitrates to zero that probably won't happen without the refugium