How long does it take for a Wet/Dry Refugium 2 Cycle?

[thomasvision]

Went to a LFS and got the question answered. Thx.

[returnofsid]

The problem is that wet/dry filtration offers a great environment for nitrates to flourish. The bio-balls, being constantly oxygenated, will become a perfect nitrate factory.

[thomasvision]

xx

[kronos5]

The problem is that wet/dry filtration offers a great environment for nitrates to flourish. The bio-balls, being constantly oxygenated, will become a perfect nitrate factory.

What do you recommend instead of a wet dry set up?

[returnofsid]

A sump/refugium would be a much better way to go. The sump area would hold all of your equipment and give you a place to set your skimmer. The refugium, with a deep sand bed and Macro Algae, would offer a place for beneficial bacteria and other beneficial critters (copepods, amphipods, mysid shrimp etc.) to grow, without predation from fish. The Macro Algae will also contribute to nitrate removal, as it grows and is pruned.

[thomasvision]

We actually have a Refugium in our system as well. We are slowly taking out the bio balls and we have removed the canister filter about 3 days ago and the fish seem to be fine. Hopefully we can fix our Nitrate problem in the 75g now that the canister is gone.

GB

[returnofsid]

If you don't have it growing already, get a ball of Chaeto growing in your fuge.

Nitrates aren't naturally removed or naturally eliminated like Nitrites. Nitrates must be manually removed. The 3 ways to do this are water changes, aggressive skimming and Macro Algae. Macro Algae absorbs Nitrates, but those nitrates aren't removed from the system until you prune the macro algae, thus removing a portion of the algae, along with the nitrates that portion has absorbed.

Water changes are your best means of removing nitrates. The other element is finding out how the nitrates are making it into the system, to begin with. The bio-balls are probably one source. Over feeding, or feeding, in general, can be another source. You'd be amazed at how much nitrates are in the foods we feed our fish. If you feed frozen foods, it's best to rinse them, with RO/DI water, outside the tank, before feeding.

Water source is usually another large source of nitrates. Are you using tap water? If so, it's time to invest in an RO/DI unit. If you already use an RO/DI unit, make up a fresh batch of saltwater and test it for nitrates. That'll tell you if your adding nitrates with water changes. All of your water, saltwater and fresh water for top off, need to be RO/DI. Tap water will fluctuate in the amounts of nitrates and phosphates, throughout the seasons of the year. A few months after agriculture activity, you'll see a rise in nitrates and phosphates, in tap water.

[kronos5]

I would have to agree with you Return

[thomasvision]

Yep. Well we are taking 25% of the Bio-balls out every 2 days until their gone. We have been doing 15 Gallon water changes 2 days on and 1 day off and our Nitrate Level today is no 40ppm it was 80 ppm 3 days ago so we are making progress. All of the Bioballs should be gone by Friday (Nitrate was not from Bioballs because they were only there for 2 weeks).

Thanks guys for your help.

[returnofsid]

Drop a handful of those bio-balls in a container of newly made saltwater and test that water for nitrates. You're probably correct, in that they were only 2 weeks old, so weren't contributing to the nitrates.

Are you using an RO/DI unit? Have you tested freshly made saltwater for nitrates?

The water changes will go a long way towards lowering the nitrates, however, if you don't figure out how they got in the tank to begin with, and correct that issue, your nitrates will likely climb again. WOW, that was a long sentence!! I think there should be a period before "however," lol.

[thomasvision]

Hello

Thanks for your reply. I think the problem was a few factors. First off we had a canister filter (and we let the service go not as frequent as we should have). Two, we followed the directions on the feeding package and we OVERFED (No wonder our fish were so FAT AND HAPPY). We never vacuumed our substrate. And "at the time" we had no sand sifting livestock. I am pretty sure all of this contributed to our High Nitrate problems. We were a book on what not to do lol. But with time we have learned more and more everyday and forums like these have taught us a lot so we are trying to doing everything right now.

Thanks again for your comment and we will keep you updated until our Nitrates get to zero :-)