Switch from canister to refug?

[vkuroczka]

Ok so I'm thinking about switching from my canister filter to something else. I was woundering if someone could point me in the right direction as to where to begin. I have an 80 gallon and I just can't get my nitrates down.... long story short the last thing left that I think it could be is my canister.... I need to start doing some research on the difference between sumps and refug. I already have a skimmer,uv steralizer and all that stuff, my tank has been established for 5 years and in the past 4 months I can't get my nitrates down, I added LR, changed from CC to LS and still they are high (80+)..if anyone can provide me with links or even what I should do that'll be helpfull... great thanks in advance :0)

 

[nordy]

I know that canister filters have a reputation as "nitrate factories", but that is actually BS, as long as you maintain it with regular filter changes and keep it clean. I run a canister filter (on my 55 gal reef tank) constantly and my nitrates are at zero. I have 4 fliter cartridges so I always have a clean one to rotate in.
What you don't mention is what you do for water changes? How much, how often? That is the first line of defense agaionst high nitrates in otherwise "normal" or seemingly properly functioning tanks, even long established ones like yours. Also, do you have a sump now? How do you maintain it, if needed?
Changing from CC to LS can certainly cause problems when you stir up all that gunk (I know, I recentlychanged my tank from 7 years old CC to sand!).
One of the other prime drivers of high nitrate levels is bioload and over feeding issues. The more data you provide, the easier it is to help you figure out just what is causing your high nitrate levels!

 

[vkuroczka]

Originally Posted by Nordy
http:///forum/post/2611292
I know that canister filters have a reputation as "nitrate factories", but that is actually BS, as long as you maintain it with regular filter changes and keep it clean. I run a canister filter (on my 55 gal reef tank) constantly and my nitrates are at zero. I have 4 fliter cartridges so I always have a clean one to rotate in.
What you don't mention is what you do for water changes? How much, how often? That is the first line of defense agaionst high nitrates in otherwise "normal" or seemingly properly functioning tanks, even long established ones like yours. Also, do you have a sump now? How do you maintain it, if needed?
Changing from CC to LS can certainly cause problems when you stir up all that gunk (I know, I recentlychanged my tank from 7 years old CC to sand!).
One of the other prime drivers of high nitrate levels is bioload and over feeding issues. The more data you provide, the easier it is to help you figure out just what is causing your high nitrate levels!
I clean and scrub my canister filter every month and do a media change every month. I have done numerous upon numerous water changes for the past 4 months ( 50 % every two days sometimes) currently I am doing 10 gal. changes daily. I only have three fish and they eat everything when I feed them, there isn't any food being wasted and rotting away, I also have an eel but he gets hand fed so you know that he eats. The reason I changed from CC to LS was because I though it was due to the high nitrates. I have a CUC, and LR in my tank..... like I said earlier... its the last common to my problem....