Hi all;
This question is regarding what media to use on the BioQube 14 and the BioQube 32 LED.
I set up a 14 gallon as a mini-reef tank for a biology class, all inverts. That has gone well for 8 months, so I set up a 32LED at home : )
I have a question about nitrate levels and the bioballs in the 14, and am looking for advice on the media to use in the 32 as it does not come with any.
1) I have a 14gallon that has been set up for 8 months, as a reef tank.
I read in multiple forums that the 14 gallon and the included bioballs would often work fine but as the tank became established, nitrates would be a problem due to bacterial growth on the bioballs being a "nitrate factory".
This is the problem I seem to be having. This 14 gallon is set up as a reef tank, for invertebrates- it has one small goby, lots of live rock with corals, and then a sea cucumber, couple other small inverts and a small clean up crew. It is fed dinoflagellate powder and roe, but the nitrates became elevated after about 5 months in, are not dropping. Just as folks in forums said would happen : ) Nitrate levels do not drop with decrease in or cessation of feeding the tank for e.g. a weekend.
Should I remove some or all of the bioballs? What to replace them with?
2) 32 gallon LED. This is just set up, just passed the green algae phase of initial cycling. I have live rock in, some GSP, just adding a few CUC. All tests show normal.
I haven't added any filter material to the filter chambers yet.
For the 32, folks seem to use sponge but then recommend tossing the sponge out almost _weekly_ to avoid nitrate issues as with the 14? It seems like there should be a better way...
For example:
forums/showthread.php?t=2595274 (sorry, had to edit as I can't yet post links- that is a post on this website)
We like placing macroalgae in the main tank and we don't have to worry much about it getting eaten, but I could set up one or more chambers as refugia. There isn't much space in the chambers though for that purpose, and I haven't decided what might work for affordable lighting, or if this is the best use of the space.
Thanks for thoughts-
Brian.
This question is regarding what media to use on the BioQube 14 and the BioQube 32 LED.
I set up a 14 gallon as a mini-reef tank for a biology class, all inverts. That has gone well for 8 months, so I set up a 32LED at home : )
I have a question about nitrate levels and the bioballs in the 14, and am looking for advice on the media to use in the 32 as it does not come with any.
1) I have a 14gallon that has been set up for 8 months, as a reef tank.
I read in multiple forums that the 14 gallon and the included bioballs would often work fine but as the tank became established, nitrates would be a problem due to bacterial growth on the bioballs being a "nitrate factory".
This is the problem I seem to be having. This 14 gallon is set up as a reef tank, for invertebrates- it has one small goby, lots of live rock with corals, and then a sea cucumber, couple other small inverts and a small clean up crew. It is fed dinoflagellate powder and roe, but the nitrates became elevated after about 5 months in, are not dropping. Just as folks in forums said would happen : ) Nitrate levels do not drop with decrease in or cessation of feeding the tank for e.g. a weekend.
Should I remove some or all of the bioballs? What to replace them with?
2) 32 gallon LED. This is just set up, just passed the green algae phase of initial cycling. I have live rock in, some GSP, just adding a few CUC. All tests show normal.
I haven't added any filter material to the filter chambers yet.
For the 32, folks seem to use sponge but then recommend tossing the sponge out almost _weekly_ to avoid nitrate issues as with the 14? It seems like there should be a better way...
For example:
forums/showthread.php?t=2595274 (sorry, had to edit as I can't yet post links- that is a post on this website)
We like placing macroalgae in the main tank and we don't have to worry much about it getting eaten, but I could set up one or more chambers as refugia. There isn't much space in the chambers though for that purpose, and I haven't decided what might work for affordable lighting, or if this is the best use of the space.
Thanks for thoughts-
Brian.
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