scrubbers are okay.....but they will yellow your water and tend to smell. And they take constant cleaning to stay effective. UGH. its a pain in the rear. Oversize your skimmer, add a refuge with minimal sand and algae. If you want to try out the xenia scrubber.......all it will do is make you money if it doesnt pull your nitrates down. Either way its good. And, agreed, skimmer is a must. Algae scrubbers are good, but if they crash. you have no back up. and a yellow tank full of nutrients. Bigger is better.
http://www.saltysupply.com/Reef-Octopus ... oc1047.htm
this paired with a refuge, and your water will be crystal clear. :)
Is a denitrator worth it?
32 posts • Page 2 of 4
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jnelson1983 - Posts: 38
- Joined: Wed Apr 22, 2009 9:39 pm
Another option I'm now looking at... A Deep Sand Bed (4-6 inches).
Apparently it's a similiar setup or concept as a denitrator, where the lower levels have the aerobic bacteria that can't live where there's a lot of oxygen in the water, and will eat the nitrate for food.
Opinions?
Apparently it's a similiar setup or concept as a denitrator, where the lower levels have the aerobic bacteria that can't live where there's a lot of oxygen in the water, and will eat the nitrate for food.
Opinions?
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fihsboy - Posts: 1837
- Joined: Wed Mar 19, 2008 4:20 pm
use a refugium with a dsb. :) same concept. I have 5-7 inches in my refuge, and nothing ever shows up on tests.
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jnelson1983 - Posts: 38
- Joined: Wed Apr 22, 2009 9:39 pm
Good to hear... Now to find a place that's cheap enough so I don't spend have to spend several hundred on the sand lol. Apparently with putting in place THAT much sand, there's a VERY high chance of the bacteria souring and wiping out my tank.... So it sounds like i'd have to soak it all in hot water or something first.
I added it up, and I need another 600-650lbs of sand **in addition** to what i already have. UGH. Looks like it's time to talk to a truck driver who has a run goin to florida! lol
I added it up, and I need another 600-650lbs of sand **in addition** to what i already have. UGH. Looks like it's time to talk to a truck driver who has a run goin to florida! lol
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fihsboy - Posts: 1837
- Joined: Wed Mar 19, 2008 4:20 pm
.......600lbs. JESUS! how big are you making your refuge......you dont need a giant one. 20 gallons would be MORE than enough. in that case you would need about 80lbs or two bags. if you want some mangroves ill ship you some. but then you will need good lighting on your refuge. My mangroves like 10000k. Thats what they have been rooted on.
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jnelson1983 - Posts: 38
- Joined: Wed Apr 22, 2009 9:39 pm
Oh...given my lack of space right now, and for as far ahead as i can see, i was going to put that sandbed into my tank. Right now, the sand bed in my tank is about 2 inches deep.
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fihsboy - Posts: 1837
- Joined: Wed Mar 19, 2008 4:20 pm
hmmmmm, well do it slowly, add a bag.......see if it helps. Make sure you rinse it really well before you put it in your tank. What kind of skimmer do you have on your tank?
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jnelson1983 - Posts: 38
- Joined: Wed Apr 22, 2009 9:39 pm
Yeah, I plan on adding it slowly. I'm just not sure exactly HOW SLOWLY I add the sand in. How much could I safely add at a time without the bacteria going sour on me?
Also, if I do a small section at a time, is a small amount of the bacteria going sour going to be a major impact on my tank? My original idea was to add the sand so a small section at a time went up to 5 or 6 inches deep and work my way across the tank. That way, there would be at least some part of the sand bed that was deep enough to start developoing the nitrate eating bacteria, so when i expanded the deep sand bed, the new deep section would populate with that bacteria more quickly.
My other idea, was to pull the sand out down to the glass for the section I planned on doing (small sections at a time), and rinse it all under hot water (not only to clean the debris out, but to kill any bacteria to prevent the bacteria from souring). I figure that way, there would be no chance of bacteria souring, and the bacteria that's in the rest of the sand and on the rocks can easily migrate back to the new sand. Should work right?
Also, if I do a small section at a time, is a small amount of the bacteria going sour going to be a major impact on my tank? My original idea was to add the sand so a small section at a time went up to 5 or 6 inches deep and work my way across the tank. That way, there would be at least some part of the sand bed that was deep enough to start developoing the nitrate eating bacteria, so when i expanded the deep sand bed, the new deep section would populate with that bacteria more quickly.
My other idea, was to pull the sand out down to the glass for the section I planned on doing (small sections at a time), and rinse it all under hot water (not only to clean the debris out, but to kill any bacteria to prevent the bacteria from souring). I figure that way, there would be no chance of bacteria souring, and the bacteria that's in the rest of the sand and on the rocks can easily migrate back to the new sand. Should work right?
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fihsboy - Posts: 1837
- Joined: Wed Mar 19, 2008 4:20 pm
Before you go out and buy a bunch of sand....Try what I do first. If you add one teaspoon of sugar per 50 gallons a month......it will cause a bacteria bloom enough to surge your bacteria and help your nitrates. So pull out your sugar, and pour maybe 4-6 teaspoons in your tank. Bacteria like everything in this world thrive off of glucose, so if you add straight sugar, it will boost your populations of bacteria and help you with your nitrates. It wont hurt anything in your tank either. If your really into that....you can also use vodka. Theres a link about vodka dosing. Its VERY effective. but sugar works just as well.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/articl ... rue&cat=53
http://www.associatedcontent.com/articl ... rue&cat=53
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jnelson1983 - Posts: 38
- Joined: Wed Apr 22, 2009 9:39 pm
So I put the sugar in my tank (6 teaspoons), and now I can't see more than 2 feet(ish) into my tank. How long til the water clears up? Roughly...
