Advice on Nitrate/Phosphate problems

Ruth · #1 09-17-2006, 05:31 PM

Well I didn't quit and still have one tank (230g) with a deep sand bed.......but if I had to do it all over again I wouldn't have one. All my other tanks are BB and I will probably eventually remove the sand from the 230g.
Sand and foam are evil. Every tank I have ever had a foam in has had high nitrates - remove the foam and the nitrates fell. Even though I was rinsing the heck out of the foam every week or even 2 times a week I still stuggled with nitrates. Not that they have totally disappeared but at least they are managable with water changes twice a month.

Sammy · #2 09-17-2006, 06:21 PM

I have found and heard from others that reef roids will increase you nitrates if used too often. Not sure if you use this or not but just a thought. Also like Albert mentioned , removing all sponge will help. You could replace the sponge with other media like a filter sock with some phosban or something like that for a few days every other week.

Cheers,

Sammy

Reefer Rob · #3 09-17-2006, 07:59 PM

What is wrong with sand?

Ruth · #4 09-17-2006, 08:12 PM

Over time sand seems to have a tendancy to collect a lot of detrious (sp). There have been a quite a few (long) threads on it on various boards. Once the sand reaches it's carrying capacity it has a tendency to crash or release all those toxins back into the tank. I am not sure on all the technical aspects of it I just know that my BB tanks appear to be heathier than my DSB tank.

Reefer Rob · #5 09-17-2006, 08:29 PM

I've read a few of those threads. They seems to be the sandheads squaring off against the the bearbottomites. Nothing conclusive ever seems to come out of them.

AndyL · #6 09-17-2006, 08:46 PM

6/10 People with sand beds quit? So whats the percentage of bare bottom who quit - bet it's about the same. Sandbed has little/nothing to do with people quitting. Contrary to the Pro BB sect's belief.

Reefer Rob · #7 09-17-2006, 08:56 PM

LOL. Nothing polarizes this hobby (affliction?) like like sand or lighting.

albert_dao · #8 09-18-2006, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyL

6/10 People with sand beds quit? So whats the percentage of bare bottom who quit - bet it's about the same. Sandbed has little/nothing to do with people quitting. Contrary to the Pro BB sect's belief.

Wrong.

I keep track Andy. None of my barebottom customers have quit. We're talking the last two years here.

I don't just whip random sh1t out of my a$$ and try to pass it off as fact.