Weekly Discussion: Nutrient Mangament strategies

[jenglish]

Let's talk nutrients. They go in, they come out.... are we taking out as much as we put in? What sort of methods do you use to remove nutrients like nitrates and phosphates? What have you tired and stopped? What do you hear other people doing that you think they must be crazy?

[Elegance Coral]

Originally Posted by jenglish

What do you hear other people doing that you think they must be crazy?

I know you don't want me to answer this one.

Great topic though.

To be honest, I believe one of my biggest nutrient exports is the simple 100 micron filter sock. I bet I've removed more nutrients with filter socks than any skimmer I've owned.

I also vacuum sand beds and blow LR out with a power head to keep them clean.

I grow and harvest macro algae.

I use GAC and sometimes phosphate removing media.

I don't feed dry foods like flakes or pellets.

I have a rule that I force on myself. I always have the same or more water volume outside the display than I do in it. This way it takes much longer for nutrients to build to problem causing levels. I'm not about to change water every weekend. I'm simply to lazy and I know it.

I also use a skimmer.

[Brocnizer]

Originally Posted by Elegance Coral

To be honest, I believe one of my biggest nutrient exports is the simple 100 micron filter sock. I bet I've removed more nutrients with filter socks than any skimmer I've owned.

I have to agree. Since I started using my filter sock and cleaning it daily, my skimmer production is way down.

And the sock looks so nasty if I go three days without cleaning it!

[biowheel]

I'm confused about the whole nutrient thing . My tank has more strange algae growing . Not slime or hair . Well like this . What's feeding all this growth ? Nutrients ?

[Elegance Coral]

Originally Posted by biowheel

I'm confused about the whole nutrient thing . My tank has more strange algae growing . Not slime or hair . Well like this . What's feeding all this growth ? Nutrients ?

Yes. It's nutrients. It's not that bad though. I bet there's some small little thing you could change that would fix your algae issues. Talk to us about your system and how you run it.

[fchidsey]

there are a Lot of things here to consider. Currently I use a filter sock 100 micron I think. then the skimmer, a UV sterilizer whick flow into a refugium (currently it has nothing but I have had good luck in the past with spagetti algea) that covers some items, as for nitrate removal the tank is not compltly cycled yet and I will probable have to do two 25 gallon W/C per month for the nitrate removal.

I also run 2 1200 gph Coral Vue Highseas power heads, plus two rio 1200 which are going to be replaced soon with a 3000 gph coral vue highseas power head. to keep the detritus off the bottom of the tank.

the return pump is a gex x 4 which also adds about 1000 gph turn over to keep the stuff moving to the sump into the sock.

the sock gets washed once per week in the sink and once per month in the washer with some oxy clean.

[biowheel]

Originally Posted by Elegance Coral

Yes. It's nutrients. It's not that bad though. I bet there's some small little thing you could change that would fix your algae issues. Talk to us about your system and how you run it.

Pretty simple actually . 34g Red Sea max Tunze skimmer LMB and 6 line . Tons of corals . 5 gallon water change every week . new bulbs every 4 months
That's it . No carbon,sponges or pre filters .just flow . Some dead spots .I change the current twice a month . Meaning I move the PH directions
Everything does well especially my birds nests

[fihsboy]

I use a felt filter sock. Its 100 micron then a 50 micron on the outside f the 100, it clogs FAST. but it sure does polish the water nicely though. I agree, if I clean my socks daily.....my skimmer almost doesnt pull anything. if I leave it for a day.....the skimmer pulls a nice dark wet foam. So its got to be the filter sock. Now if we can just make filter socks change themselves.....we are in business.

[Elegance Coral]

Originally Posted by biowheel

No carbon,sponges or pre filters .just flow . Some dead spots

That's probably your problem. You're not removing much detritus. When Sprung and Delbeek came out with their first book, advising us to go without mechanical filtration, I removed mine for about a week. I saw the amount of detritus building up in my sand and rocks and about flipped out. If you're not removing it, it will simply decompose and release phosphate and nitrate into the system. This fuels algae growth.

[Seamore]

75G RR: 4000+Gph flowing, vacuum and/or powerhead the 80 Lbs of rocks prior to WC, 10%weekly WC, filter sock changed out every two days, and Euro 135 Skim. I feed heavier on the evenings before morning sock change, and light the next day, My clown and wrasse are constantly stirring the minimal sand bed, CUC & GAC. I used GFO if indicated by test.

45G BB FT: 3000 Gph flowing, vacuum bottom into filter sock used on overflows before changing the bag every other day, Turkey baster as needed, 25Lbs live rock in the sump, 10% weekly WC, Euro 80 Skim snails & GAC.

I'd run more water volume as EC said if I could. As for crazy: Any filter media collecting waste left in the circulating water for more than two days. Bio-balls.

[fchidsey]

I truly Believe that the lack of any mechanical filteration lead to the over taking of Aptaisa in my last tank they wer just getting feed daily.

[wharyat]

I use a skimmer, high flow and water changes for my primary organics removal. Blast the rocks with a power head every WC. Feed only what's necessary.

My current setup doesn't allow for easy use of a filter sock (wouldn't be able to clean it daily), but I will be incorporating two in my new build.



I'd love to have a clam tank specifically for filtration, a 6' or 8' x 2' or 3' x 8" tank packed full of tridacnids. It would be cool to get them when they are tiny and raise them to 6", probably in the next build.

I've also thought about an automatic filter sock type system. That will probably be on the next build too, maybe in my current one if I feel it's worth it.

[SoK]

i use a filter sock, skimmer, barebottom. i also blow the bottom and the rocks off w/ a baster every water change.

i also have high flow in my tank.

when i feed, i turn off all pumps and feed only what the fish will eat.

i siphon everything off the rocks n bottom when i do water changes. i change out 10% every sunday.

here in a few weeks i'm going to start running carbon in my filter sock for 2 days, then 2 days with gfo, 2 days empty, then 1 day without.

[jenglish]

I do not currently have a setup that allows for a filter sock, and believe that the potential does exist for them to do more harm than good. I have a mechanical filter that attaches to a powerhead that I run periodically when I blow everything off. I also rely on a decent amount of flow for a lagoonal tank and a pretty good skimmer. I used to do 5 gallons worth of w/c every week but have backed off to see more softie growth. I also grow chaeto. I used to to in in a HOB fuge but now I just put it behind the rocks until I get a sump built

[fchidsey]

sok you may want to use a Power head to blast the detritus off LR .... think about the wave action and how they pound the detitus off the rocks

Just MHO