LR VS Sump and other questions...

[Jimmer]

Needless to say there are a number of different ways to filter your reef tank. What are the pros and cons of a "sump" system and a LR/PS only system??

Currently I have 55 gal tank and am wondering if I can get away with just LR filtering for me? I currently have 80lbs of LR and a hang on the back PS, as well as 2 Marineland penguin 330 power filters. The filters are each rated at 330GPH. Needless to say I'm paranoid about filtration.
I also am using an UGF with a couple Power heads. I have a couple cruddy damsels that I gave up on trying to catch months ago. I have a couple good sized shroom colonies which are thriving and a brain that is suffering right now. Seems his flesh is receeding and the bony skeleton is being revealed.

I'm basically looking for a bit of direction as to which way I should go with my filtration. I'm leaning towards getting rid of the powerfilters and leaving it all to the LR and PS.

Sorry forgot to mention I use a crushed coral substrate.

[Prismaco]

You got plenty of LR. I would go with LS but sicne your tank is already dont cycling and you have some shrooms in it, if you add LS your tank will cycle again and most likely kill everything in your tank from a massive spike...$0.02...


-Paul

[Brooke]

The live rock you have would have seeded your crushed coral with bacteria...therefore making it "live". If you do a gradual switchover from the crushed coral to a sandbed it will continue to seed the new stuff with bacteria and critters.

When you stop using the UGF you might pollute the tank. I would probably disconnect the powerheads running the UGF for a few days and see if there are any ill effects. Have some water on standby in case the tank looks off. Then I would gradually remove the crushed coral and replace with a sandbed (I'll leave the type and depth up to you). If you want to then add a pound or so of live sand to the tank you should not see a major spike. It only takes a small amount of live sand to make the dead sand come alive.

HTH-
Brooke

[Jimmer]

Why switch from the crushed coral to LS?

[Geoff]

how often are you changing out the media in the powerfilters. powerfilters will become an enemy if not cleaned on a bi-weekly basis. these will become nitrate factories, which the fish are not as effected, but the shroom and the brain will be seriously affected. i would actually suggest removing all media in the filters and just use them as water circulators. i would disable the UGF like Brooke said. the same filtering techniques in FW do not work in SW.

my .02,

G~

[Jimmer]

Originally posted by Geoff
how often are you changing out the media in the powerfilters. powerfilters will become an enemy if not cleaned on a bi-weekly basis. these will become nitrate factories, which the fish are not as effected, but the shroom and the brain will be seriously affected. i would actually suggest removing all media in the filters and just use them as water circulators. i would disable the UGF like Brooke said. the same filtering techniques in FW do not work in SW.

my .02,

G~

I agree however how do I prevent the same nitrate factory from forming if the ugf is shut down? At least that keeps H2O flowing through the substrate.

[Geoff]

it is the water flow that is creating the problem. when you shut down the UGF you then create a low oxygen environment for the bacteria that reduce nitrate down to nitrogen. with flow through the UGF then your substrate just collects detritus and the bacteria can only break down the ammonia and nitrite to nitrate.

G~

[Jimmer]

AHA


I get that part of it now! Now why switch from Crushed Coral to Live Sand? My understanding was the Crushed Coral helps to maintain proper Ph as well as trace elements and Ca. Geoff I owe ya huge! Thanks for the advice!

[Brooke]

Crushed coral tends to trap detritus ....but your case is a little different with the UGF. I think if you actually took the plates of the UGF out of the tank you would be shocked at the amount of gunk and toxic sludge down there. Aragonite sand will also help to buffer the tank...smaller particles also equals more surface area for bacteria to grow on. If you aren't having nitrate or algae problems...then why mess with a good thing. It sounds like you are on top of your maintenance, etc. If you keep up with the filter changes and vacuuming the crushed coral (and aren't having problems) then I would keep things the way they are. You can always add a sump divided into sections for a remote live sand bed.

I think I forgot to mention earlier that sumps are great to have to hide your heaters, skimmer, etc....plus they help increase overall water volume.

Ok..enough babbling..let me know if I confused you more.

Brooke

[Geoff]

i am a little worried about your brain. what kind of lighting do you have? how long have you had it? what are your water parameters? i like what Brooke said, if it ain't broke don't fix. i would just like to see if there is anything else that could be annoying the brain. any kind of change to your substrate now would be very shocking to all involved? would also like to avoid this if possible.

G~

[Jimmer]

Nope, makes perfect sense to me now.

I will remove the nitrate bags from the power filters. I'm gonna leave the bio-wheels though. I'm gonna shut down the UGF but leave the plates in place.

I guess I was just paranoid with shutting down the external filtering I have going but I can see that it is largely needless and potentially harmful. Same holds true with the UGF.

Don't think I'll go sump especially if things stay as good as they are now with making these changes.

As I alluded to earlier I'm having issues with my brain coral. Any ideas on that one?

[Jimmer]

Originally posted by Geoff
i am a little worried about your brain. what kind of lighting do you have? how long have you had it? what are your water parameters? i like what Brooke said, if it ain't broke don't fix. i would just like to see if there is anything else that could be annoying the brain. any kind of change to your substrate now would be very shocking to all involved? would also like to avoid this if possible.

G~

I had to juggle tanks about 5 months ago as we had new carpeting installed. He was fine befor and after however in the past 3 weeks is when I've noticed the problems. I'm thinking its the lighting as I am only using NO 1 coralife 50/50 and 1 coralife daylight. Overally I think I'm only getting about 80 watts into the tank, thus the reason for getting PCs. I know, I know, VHO would be better but when I post the pics of my canopy you'll see why I can't do that.

[Geoff]

when was the last time you did a water change? can you find out your nitrate and nitrite levels for us? also what is your ph.

G~

[Jimmer]

Originally posted by Geoff
when was the last time you did a water change? can you find out your nitrate and nitrite levels for us? also what is your ph.
G~

I can check those levels tomorrow. (going to the ball game with my wife tonight free luxury box tickets!! )

I last did a water change roughly 2 weeks ago and I top off weekly as necessary.

[Jimmer]

Heres a pic of my brain, any ideas why he's so crabby and whats happening to him? BESIDES THE FACT THAT MY URCHIN IS CRAWLING ALL OVER HIM!