I am by no means an expert here but I use a cleanup crew of about 15 hermet crabs, a scooter blenny and two snails in my 55gal setup. I would like to add a little more sand sifting but they do a pretty good job. I got my hermets at my LFS for around 10 for $10.00. It was cheap enough too. Good luck.
Best Sump contents for eating NitrAtes
- Thread starter Lee
- Start date
lcstorc
Well-Known Member
If the sump is that close to being done then I would agree with finishing that first. While you are waiting for your own RO/DI you can buy the water from your LFS or even Distilled water from the grocery. Then save for and get your own unit which will save you money and time in the long run. Even at the very beginning a sump adds water volume which will help to dilute the nitrates.
Personally I do not use crabs in my cleanup crew. Many do but I just found them killing too many snails for my liking. My cleanup crew consists of lots of various snails. If you do some google searches you will find that there are many types of snails that do different jobs. Nassarius snails for example keep the sandbed stirred as well as eating leftover food etc.
I have a number of shrimp as well but I really don't count them as cleaners since I feed the tank so much. They eat when the fishies eat.
Personally I do not use crabs in my cleanup crew. Many do but I just found them killing too many snails for my liking. My cleanup crew consists of lots of various snails. If you do some google searches you will find that there are many types of snails that do different jobs. Nassarius snails for example keep the sandbed stirred as well as eating leftover food etc.
I have a number of shrimp as well but I really don't count them as cleaners since I feed the tank so much. They eat when the fishies eat.
Lee
Member
I'm probably just going to buy an RO unit this week... I just don't have anything set up for it yet, so i'll just have to tap a line and fill a few buckets as needed for a few weeks.
When I finish the sump, I'd like to build something more permanent with storage bins with spigot drains, auto top offs, etc.
Lee
Member
I think I need some of those. I get lots of hair algae on the sand if the lights are on longer than 9 hours a day. I had 2 crabs, and they murdered like 3 snails a piece, so they got the boot... And yeah I didn't think the shrimps counted... Mine don't do anything at all. I don't even know if they're still alive.
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to imply that you had to do everything at once.
Yes, it is desirable to get the most "bang for the buck". The problem is that unless you start with water that has 0 nitrates, they are almost impossible to control. This is why so many people recommend first getting an RO/DI unit.
Glad to see you are making progress on a sump. They will help.
I would still consider the AquaC Remora Pro too small for the size tank you have. It is a good skimmer, just too small, so it will work. I think you'll find a larger skimmer will do a lot, but you do have to consider that it will take up more space, and like everythign else in this hobby cost a lot more.
bluespotjawfish
Well-Known Member
http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/drygoods-sale-trade/32225-asm-g2-skimmer.html#post470634
Michael has a great skimmer for sale if you are ready to upgrade.
Michael has a great skimmer for sale if you are ready to upgrade.
framerguy
Well-Known Member
:laughrollDon't we all Al, don't we all!Just wish the skimmate would come out smelling like Vanilla
Lot's of great advice going on in this thread. Anyone looking to reduce nitrates will benefit from it.
I like the way you handled RCPilot's post. You could have gotten angry but didn't ... karma to you!
Lee
Member
I gotcha. I started typing this thread the other day to get recommendations for the fuge contents to help consume nitrates, because I don't think my system had anything that was eating nitrates at all. Then, when I was just about to post the thread, I decided to test my tap water, and sure enough, 20ppm. I realize that this makes an RO unit even more important, but I still want to get nitrate eaters in my sump. I know what to do with the RO unit; buy one, install it, and use it. But I still didn't know what to put in the sump/fuge.
And about the skimmer, the only real reason that I have the Remora C and nothing better is because I needed a hang on skimmer, and the Remora C is widely praised. My sump will have a skimmer chamber, so at that point, I'll probably consider upgrading.
Lee
Member
Hmmm..... Thats gonna be REAL tough to pass up. 10" x 11" footprint; I'll have to see if I can work it in.
sounds like a SOLID plan to me. I do offer one bit of advice.... plan AHEAD for the skimmer and make your skimmer compartment MORE than big enough. I had my SUMP made way before I got to buying a skimmer. I had one HECK of a time finding a skimmer that would fit in the area allowed. I was VERY lucky in that the skimmer I really wanted just happened to fit in the area allowed. LUCKY!!!
Lee
Member
LOL! You liked that? The Judge, my parole officer, and my therapist said I needed to exhibit more self control, so I've been trying harder. :bluemad: (just kidding)