quick math question

[chrisarca]

A little backround first. I have a 55 gallon reef with about 90 lbs of live rock. I have an 18 gallon sump with alot of chaeto, an aqua c remora run by a Mag pump, Uv sterilizer, 2 aquaclear phs and 2 maxi jet 1800s with the nozzles sawed off to decrease velocity. In the tank I have ALOT of zoos,shrooms,leathers,rosy brain,frogspawn,red blastomussa,green goniopora(which is 3 years old and still doing well).Its all under Coralife pcs(265 watts). Anyway heres the question. I like the natural beauty of fish and my tank is a little over stocked. Just purchased my last fish and Ive noticed a little increase in trates. My nitrates were at 15-20 ppm and now at abot 25(salifert). Do I have anything to worry about? I do 10 gallon changes a week with tropic marin pro reef and all of my other parameters are on the money. Tank is just over 3 years old with Alot of coralline and it looks great. Learned alot from this sight (THANKS). One more thing I also have an LT anemone who is thriving under pcs.

 

[wax32]

¡Hola! Welcome to the boards!
Your nitrates are still fine.

 

[chrisarca]

I was hoping someone would say that. Cool avatar!

 

[chrisarca]

Im sorry. I never asked my math question. If I have about 90 lbs of live rock in my 55 how mch water is actually in the tank. And if I do a 20 gallon change my trates will go from25 to ?

 

[fishieness]

yeah, about the amount of gallons in your tank... not sure about that one.... lol
but if you have 90 gallons, your nitrates will go to about .2
but a water change isnt going to solve the problem, only delay it. find why you have nitrates, then eliminate the problem taht way.

 

[wax32]

Thanks.

It's hard to say, depends on how porous your rock is. I'd GUESS you have about 40 - 45 gallons. I wouldn't do that huge a change, but technically it should cut it in about half. I'd do about 5 gallons weekly on your tank.

 

[wax32]

He/She knows why they have nitrates... they said they have a high bioload. Maybe I read that wrong...

 

[fishieness]

Originally Posted by wax32
He/She knows why they have nitrates... they said they have a high bioload. Maybe I read that wrong...
nope, i guess i skipped that part. well then, we know the solution right?

lol

 

[chrisarca]

Thanks guys.

 

[wax32]

I like the natural beauty of fish and my tank is a little over stocked...
Hehe.

Mine is too and I have the cyanobacteria to prove it!

 

[chrisarca]

Wax32 I like yor attitude! These boards are really great and no offense to anyone but alot of people make such a big deal about keeping salt tanks/reefs. Been keeping planted fresh tanks for years and jumped right into my reef. Do not add anything to my but water changes weekly. Have not lost A fish or coral and have never had ich.

 

[wax32]

Cool beans!

 

[revjaxson]

chrisarca, What are you feeding your gonoporia? 3 years is incredible. Good job! ***)

 

[wax32]

Goniopora like "dirty" tanks, like his or hers. (OK, which is it?)

 

[mike35019]

Chrisarca, i have an off topic question about your tank lighting. You mentioned that you are running a coralife pc setup 265watts, are you running a open top? If so how often do you top off? I'm setting up a 55 gal reef, and I'm looking for the best light without emptying my wallet...lol. Can you describe your light set up, does coralife sell this setup complete ready to plug in? Do you have a pic of the light setup or reference online where you bought it. I'm starting to see a lot of people running a 55 gal reef use approx. 265 watt pc, nothing really more. So i'm actually narrowing down my choice, any feedback will greatly help. thanx Mike....oh what price would I be lloking at ?

 

[revjaxson]

Wax, I too read that. But, I also read the contrary. I

have noticed that most successful gonoporia stories seem to have pc lighting. Weird.

 

[shu-perman]

Originally Posted by chrisarca
Im sorry. I never asked my math question. If I have about 90 lbs of live rock in my 55 how mch water is actually in the tank. And if I do a 20 gallon change my trates will go from25 to ?
The weight of the rock doesn't displace the water but the size(volume) of the LR does....
example
a 2"x2"x2" cube that weighs 50#'s displaces x amount of water
a 4"x4"x4" cube that weighs 25#'s displaces more water than the other cube....
sorry I can't answer your math question....

 

[wax32]

They aren't a high light coral that's for sure. My LFS has VHO lighting that is WAY overdue for a change and "dirty" tanks (because of hurricane katrina... they are getting better)... anyway, Goniopora live GREAT in those tanks. He has one that has doubled in size in a couple months.

 

[chrisarca]

Mike35019, My tank is an open top. I have the coralife pcs with lunar lights on the mounting stands that pivot so you can flip the lights upward for maintenance. Unfortinately(spelling?) my daughter dropped my digicam last week and cant post pics. If you wanna keep softies,zoos,shrooms and some hard corals these are great lights. Out of the box they are ready to go. Dont let anyone fool you. You can have a beautful reef with pcs.New cam will be coming fri,will post pics.

 

[mike35019]

Chrisarca, thanx for the reply. I seen coralife stuff at the LFS, but really paid it no mind. Everyone wants to sell you MH which I now I don't need. Now I'm seeing a lot of people running it. I think I'm going to go for it, the same setup you have. Do you have a part # or site that I can shop around for these. Also the kit comes complete with mounting hardware fans and pivot. What a ballpark price? thanx again CHris..Also do you have your lights on a timer, I mean the moon lights?
Mike