Just started a sump and a little overwhelmed

[Susan987]

Hi, my name is Susan and I have upgraded from a 55 gal to a 90 gal and added a sump. I have live rock, corals and fish, everything looks really good, except my nitrates are getting up there. They drop quickly after water changes, but does anyone have any other suggestions?

 

[Mike Johnson]

First, welcome to Reef Sanctuary! I grow Chaeto in my sump for nitrate reduction. Also you can step up the water changes. I do 10 percent per week.

 

[nivek]

Welcome to RS~! Can you take a photo of your sump so that we are able to see if there are any potential nitrate trap there?

 

[mcentire1123]

Welcome to RS!

 

[JJB103]

Welcome to RS. Give us some more info on your sump. Size. Setup. Equipment.

 

[sicksnoopy71]

And live stock.

 

[ddelozier]

Nitrates and Phosphates are end results of the breakdown of biological matter. It isnt a matter of whether you will have it or not, its a matter of how much do you have to do to get rid of it. A sump with Chaeto can do well for reducing nitrates. Skimmers can get some nitrate/phosphates. Reactors can be used. Algae Turf Scrubbers can do well in NON SPS Systems. I have no skimmer on my 65g system with a Hanging turf scrubber. I am seriously considering removing or reducing its size. It strips the water so efficiently of nitrates/phosphates that my zoanthids started to shrink. If you have soft corals, IE Zoa's/mushrooms/leathers/polyps etc, which are photosynthetic, some nitrate/phosphate is req to feed the algae in the coral. It is possible to have water so devoid of nutrients that your coral can starve. The trick is to find a happy medium by first deciding what coral u want to keep. Softies and LPS like water that has some nitrates. Hard Corals, ie SPS prefer water as clean as possible. If you put some chaeto and a light in your sump, that will usually(no guarantees in this hobby), keep nitrates down. When the nutrients get high, you will notice rapid growth in the algae.

 

[nanoreefing4fun]

to ReefSanctuary, a real Sanctuary of reef forums, with lots of very nice members

Start a tank thread & share your tank with us so we can follow along, we love pics

Here a great :read: on nitrates

http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/red-sea-max-owners-club/77551-nitrate-problem.html#post1074453