|
Posted by RJAG on May 18, 2005, 3:33 am
Please log in for more thread options
I have a 33 gallon tank almost full of live rock, last time I checked it was
about 40Kg but things don't seem to work too well with the live rock. the
sump is a 36x15x12 tank partitioned off and filled with bio-balls and
ceramic material. the skimmer is in the last chamber but it has to return
to the chamber before it.
the main tank has a 1" bed of aragonite/crushed coral and is left alone to
allow some form of de-nitrification but alas this isn't up to the job
either.
massive waterchanges are all that I can use to control my problem.
the fish etc are on a near starvation diet to control the problem of over
feeding.
I am getting frustrated to the point of quitting.
R
|
|
Posted by unclenorm on May 18, 2005, 7:20 am
Please log in for more thread options
Hi again RJAG,
The further info you have given helps a lot,
so lets see if we can put you on the right track to sort out your
problems.
First of you have far to much live, 40Kg is
88lbs, to much is as bad if not worse than not enough. If you intend
your 33gall tank to be FOWLR you need about 50lbs. If you intend it to
be a reef tank then you need about 66lbs. Know your substrate, 1" of
crushed coral and aragonite will not work for de-nitrification you need
about 4" of live sand for that which you could put in the sump if you
so wish.
Now your sump which it would seem you have
turned into a nitrate factory, you need to remove the bio-balls and
ceramic material and sell them to someone that keeps fresh water fish.
Now the next thing you need to ensure is that
you have sufficient water flow, especialy through and around the live
rock, if your going for fish only I recommend that you have a total
water flow into and around your display tank of 450 to 500gall per
hour, If your going for a reef tank I would say 650 to 700gall per hour
random flow.
The other thing you need is a good protein
skimmer, I'm afraid the prizm skimmers are next to useless, you should
be able to trade your surplus live rock for a descent protein skimmer.
If you do all these changes your problems
should be solved, but beer in mind that good thing happen very slowly
in a marine tank, It could take a couple of months for things to settle
down. The bulk of what I am suggesting should involve little spending
unless you need to buy power heads to get the required flow.
I hope you try my suggestions and succeed,
I hate to see people giving up through lack of good advice, I've spent
the last fifty odd years learning the hard way. Let me know how your
getting on in a month or two. If you want any more info feel free to
e-mail me direct.
normnam2000@hotmail.com
regards,
unclenorm
|
| Similar Threads | Posted | | RED SEA PRIZM SKIMMER | May 13, 2006, 5:12 pm |
| Prizm Skimmer | August 12, 2005, 10:09 am |
| Need a New Skimmer | May 19, 2005, 5:39 pm |
| Eco Aqualizer or Skimmer? | June 12, 2006, 2:57 pm |
| Skimmer choices | March 28, 2005, 12:01 pm |
| Seaclone Skimmer | May 25, 2005, 3:47 pm |
| skimmer Question | September 7, 2005, 1:09 am |
| Coralife Super Skimmer | May 1, 2006, 3:40 pm |
| Quick Skimmer question? | March 26, 2005, 9:19 pm |
| Protein skimmer overflowing | May 26, 2010, 11:40 am |
|
|
Yahoo! 
Google 
Windows Live 
del.icio.us 
digg 
Netscape 
XML Sitemap