Nitrate and general help.

[Mihai]

< tiny ones, my largest is 1.5" diameter and they don't grow more than that. They are all white and are all over the Hitchhicker forum. They are true brittelstars, > Yep Mihai, those are the sand stars I meant, never knew them to be "true brittlestars" learn somthing new every day I guess..... a beginner will have to be careful not to go buying any green brittle stars

No problem, I'm a beginner myself, I just figured out this part. Actually I refer deano to the RDO hitchhicker FAQ - see micro brittle stars pic, those are the ones I meant.

http://www.reefs.org/hhfaq/pages/main_p ... q_sand.htm

Good luck, keep us posted,
M.

 

[tah532]

OK, now hold on just a minute! I post this very same very similar question just a few days ago and all I get is a bunch of arguing about macro algaes and refugiums. Where were all you other folks with actual useful information for my same situation? Hmmmmm... makes me rethink ever asking a question on these boards again!

 

[PamRich]

Sorry, what is your question tah532?

 

[Mihai]

I'm sorry tah, I saw your thread and I'd say that Len good gave you good advice. FYI beaslbob is known on this board to lead people astray at times, mainly by preaching "plant life" for every possible problem. While I believe that macroalgae can solve some problems, he's pushing it too far.

I got excellent advice on this board most of the time, however, people take time off from time to time .

Sometimes I have to bump up to get an answer, but I always got answers to my questions.

Good luck,
Mihai

 

[Anonymous]

OK, now hold on just a minute! I post this very same very similar question just a few days ago and all I get is a bunch of arguing about macro algaes and refugiums. Where were all you other folks with actual useful information for my same situation? Hmmmmm... makes me rethink ever asking a question on these boards again!

Hanging out in the Sump arguing about politics.

 

[tah532]

Oh i am sure i will hang around, just venting! Anyway for those who havent read it, the entire THREE page thread is a few main pages back.

 

[Anonymous]

Makes you wonder if there should be a FAQ to save on all that typing.

http://www.reefs.org/library/

 

[deano77]

Thanks for all the input, I am slowly going to be removing the 4 inch bed of crushed coral a couple of ponds a day. I purchased deltec 500 skimmer and set up a Q tank. I am in the process of getting a tank and plumbing for a refugium. Isin't a refugium a sump? I have also started feeding less and I am changing out 1/3 of the water every 2 weeks untill I get everything in order. Any other suggestions would be welcome. I should have talked to more people before starting.

Len if you are out there if I reduce the crushed coral substrate to an inch will that suffice or do I need to replace is with fine sand. If I replace it should I relace with live sand or just regular sand and let it season on it's own.

Bob

 

[Anonymous]

I'm a firm advocate of not fixing things if they aren't broke. Your system isn't broken, but it could probably use some tweaking.

It isn't clear to me that you need to pull out the crushed coral. You can add finer sand (argonite, not silica) a little at a time to the top of the crushed coral. It won't be perfect, because it will eventually mix, but I don't think it is a major problem if that happens. You can build up the sand bed gradually by filling little zip-locked sandwich bags with sand and sink them to the bottom and then open up the bags. You can add a couple of pounds of sand this way each week (or few days, or whatever), without grossly disturubing the system. This procedure was recommended to me here several years ago, and although it is not flawless, it worked pretty well. The main point is that the crushed coral, for all its sins, is now part of your biological filter, and I think it might be a mistake to simply yank it out.

 

[Anonymous]

I should add that it never pays to rush stuff in this hobby. If you want to take 3 weeks to read everything in the library on this site, talk to people, read books, and solicit opinions, that time will be better spent than using it to rip apart your aquarium.

 

[starfish 1]

New tanks usualy have high nitrates after all the cycling is done. Skimmer is nessesary you got that now. Some caulerpa in the tank will help with nitrates.there are very attractive caulerpas about.Crushed coral will trap a lot detrious so vacuming will help.Removing it is even better.Have you considered going bare bottom? for a while?When you get a sump put some Carbon in a bag in to it.And get a nitrate remover, I forgot the name of it.And make alot of water changes using RO water.

 

[deano77]

My first inclination is to always overdo everything. In this case i want to err on the side of caution. I want to remove the crushed coral very slowly and replace it very slowly wiith sand.
I was told that deep beds of crushed coral will inevitably lead to a total tank crash (within 3 or 4 years). Is this true? I am not sure if the crushed coral is a bad problem or just a tweak that I need to keep vacumed. Due to the live rock I can't even vacum at least 60% of the substrate anyway. A friend of mine said the answer is always to be patient and spend more money :lol:

 

[Anonymous]

I've never vacuumed anything in my life. I have a tank at work that has crushed coral on top of an undergravel filter that I no longer use. I think it has become a plenum. It has been going for several years. It has not crashed. I wouldn't recommend it, but crushed coral isn't going to destroy your life.

 

[danmhippo]

I've never vacuumed anything in my life. I have a tank at work that has crushed coral on top of an undergravel filter that I no longer use. I think it has become a plenum. It has been going for several years. It has not crashed. I wouldn't recommend it, but crushed coral isn't going to destroy your life.

Certainly not his life, but probably his bank account will.

CC is too porous and detritus gets in much more easier than traditional fine grained sand bed. More trapped food = more nitrate eventually.

However, CC is gonna be good for a macro algae tank! Where is Bob?

 

[Anonymous]

A few sea stars or red legged hermits can help to keep it clean.

I'm not advocating crushed coral. All I am saying is that it might be more harmful to remove it than add finer sand to it.

 

[deano77]

I think I am going to remove the crushed coral slowly over the next year, untill I am down to about an inch.

on the subject of macro algae tanks. Since my tank is not plumbed for the new tank and I am going over the back with the piping I am assuming I'll need chk valves to keep from over topping the macro algae tank if a pump fails, since it will be below the display tank.
I never realised that to have 1 great reef tank I would need 3 or 4 tanks

Bob = deano77

 

[danmhippo]

To avoid the flooding, you need to make sure:

1. you set the overflow box at a desired height, and make sure your refugium/sump below has enough capacity when power failure occurs.

2. You also need to set a siphon break on the hose that goes from the sump back to the display tank. This will prevent water drain back to the sump via this line.

3. You need to run a few simulation to make sure everything works.

 

[deano77]

Damnhippo, thanks I will do alot of testing before leaving the macroalge tank in service.
Bob