CC substrate ok for FOWLR set up?

[bobber3]

I was wondering what everyone thought of 1" deep CC bed for a FOWLR set up. I have a 50G tank thats 8 months old, 3" of CC w/ UGF,skimmer and a large hang on box filter (I am removing the UGF next weekend,finally!!) I have: 1- coral beauty
1- yellow tail damsel
1- percula clownfish
1- cleaner shrimp
2- turbo slails & 2- scarlet crabs

I was wondering if when I remove the UGF and go to a 1" deep or so CC bed can I expect any worse or better nitrate levels? Right now my nitrates are at about 15ppm (it usually hangs around 10-20ppm) I'm also removing the UGF because I feel that I will be able to keep more L/R in the tank without it. I worry about all the diatrus accumulating under the rocks. I currently have about 20 lbs of L/R. My idea is to temperarly stack it more vertically to avoid as much contact with the CC as possable (at least till next weekend) after I remove the UGF I plan on getting more rock and taking out the remaining dead coral. I've thought of going to a sand bed but it seems like a drastic change. Is a sand bed very common in a tank with FOWLR?
Any suggestions or comments are more than welcome!

thanks
Bob

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[ohenry]

For a FOWLR tank, your nitrate levels are not harmful to the fish. Granted, zero would be better, but that's not always achievable. Many fish tanks are quite successful with nitrate levels above 50ppm. Anyway, why have cc substrate at all? Do you just like the look of it? CC has a tendency to be a particle trap. It does little if anything to aid in the biological process. If you do decide to keep the CC bed, I strongly recommend frequent vacuuming of the substrate to remove uneaten food, fish droppings and other detritus. You didn't mention how much LR you have or will have in the tank. With sufficient live rock, you probably won't need the hang on filter. Keep the skimmer as it will aid in breaking down organics before they have the chance to create a problem.

Good luck!

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When you smell an odorless gas, it is probably carbon monoxide

[bobber3]

Do you think if the nitrates got into the 40-50ppm range it would be harmful to my cleaner shrimp, crabs & snails? I also plan on getting a couple Brittle Starfish to stir the CC. I've read that they eat detritus. Is this true? Do you think that would help my situation with the CC. You asked how much L/R I have. I have about 20 lbs now and plan on adding about 20 more a little at a time over the next few weeks. Do most people use CC or do they go with sand in a FOWLR tank?

Thanks

[hcp28]

Personally I would go with the sand bed rather than the CC. Just because the CC bed traps a lot of destrious and you can't have many sand sifters in there because they can't get through the CC. JMO

Henry


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Tragedy is when I cut my finger. Comedy is when you fall down an open manhole and die.
-Mel Brooks

[Ironreef]

I would alway try to keep nitrates as low as possible but I would also take out the cc and use fine grade it will also help with nitrates if its at least 3" deep. You can keep some cc but very little in the mix like 10%. And never vac suc. Now cc if good if your gonna have dead sand and vac suc all the time but thats more work

[bobber3]

So if I go to a smaller size substrate like sand I should never vac? Even if the sand I add is dead? I suppose some of the critters from my L/R will eventually move into the sand and that to will become live. Is this correct?

thanks

[Ironreef]

the LR will seed it but I would also add a few # of LS or add an activator kit. Help it out. Don't make it to thick if you are adding all dead sand 2-3 " I would leave room to add LS if you can or add an activator and slowly thicken it up as the animals multiply and dig down. When I've added thick beds fast they tend to clump from cal. and not enough animals stirring it up. Don't vac suc LS cuz you are killing what you are trying to create. a fully populated DLSB

[This message has been edited by Ironreef (edited 11-11-2000).]