Refugium

[vdubzboi]

Hi all!!.. I have a boyu TL-450 with a boyu 308 protein skimmer with about 4 kilos of live rock and 2inch deep live sand. I have 2 false perc clown fish, 3 hermit crabs, some snails, a tuxedo sea urchin, frogspawn and zoas. My nitrate level is at 10mg/l but i cant seem to lower it even if i do a water changes once a week. I've read up about refugiums how they can reduce phosphate and nitrate levels. I was thinking about making one in one of the compartments at the back of the tank. Does anybody have any ideas on how i can successfully do this?

 

[rdnelson99]

Hi all!!.. I have a boyu TL-450 with a boyu 308 protein skimmer with about 4 kilos of live rock and 2inch deep live sand. I have 2 false perc clown fish, 3 hermit crabs, some snails, a tuxedo sea urchin, frogspawn and zoas. My nitrate level is at 10mg/l but i cant seem to lower it even if i do a water changes once a week. I've read up about refugiums how they can reduce phosphate and nitrate levels. I was thinking about making one in one of the compartments at the back of the tank. Does anybody have any ideas on how i can successfully do this?

Do you currently have a canister filter? I have heard they can become nitrate factories. If so, taking all the media out of it could be the answer but I would ask someone who knows more than I do. I have one and so far have had no trouble but I expect I will over time.

 

[carey]

Even if you do them weekly? How often were you doing water changes adn how much do you feed and how often? That can build up nitrtaes just as quick.

I do weekly water changes and always have on almost eveyrt ank I have and run 0 nitrates usually.

 

[vdubzboi]

I dont have a canister filter...just the standard wet/dry filter that comes with the tank..i feed my fish once a day with granules and about three times a week a swap the granules with mysis shrimps... I might be that my skimmer hasnt been working since yesterday not totally sure.

 

[vdubzboi]

Sorry i mean my skimmer only started working yesterday

 

[carey]

Are youusing ro/di water? And if so or even if not, have you tested that water before salting it for nitrates? Just a thought.

Also could be the bio balls, they are known to collect nitrates. :-(

 

[vdubzboi]

I buy ro water from my lfs but Never thought of testing the water for nitrates..i will make sure i do that next water change.. Although my tank is doing pretty well, its been running for about 5weeks now.

 

[carey]

My old lfs had phosphates and nitrates in his ro/di water. lol live and learn.