Does this new tank setup sound OK? - Page 2

Birdlady · 06-28-2005, 07:57 AM

Sponges over the strainers....

DanS · 06-28-2005, 09:26 AM

Thanks for all the input everyone. OK, I'll remove the power heads from the uplift tubes (and probably take them off) - the undergravel plates/grates being under there and just not used shouldn't hurt anything though would it?
Also, any thoughts on the amount of flow I've got with my current power heads? Too much? Not enough?

Birdlady · 06-28-2005, 09:30 AM

Hehe! You can never have tooooo much flow! LOL!

I have an 800 gph overflow and return and use 2 Tunze turbelles (500+gph each) running full out in my tank! (58 gallon)! Funny thing is, when you stick your hand in the tank, it does not feel like all that much!

Mr._Bond · 06-28-2005, 11:39 AM

Birdlady, had a question about one of your comments... You said the wet/dry was good for the eel who was a heavy producer of waste. If DanS was going to have 5 or 6 fish, wouldn't he/she want to beable to handle a high amount of waste from the 5 or 6 fish and thus want to keep the wet/dry and bioballs?
The reason I ask is that I'm in the process of removing my bio balls, but also have 5 fish currently in my 55 gallon. Why is the skimmer more important in the case of fish over the eel? Just trying to understand for my own situation. Thanks! Again, sorry if I seem to be taking over your post DanS.

Matt Rogers · 06-28-2005, 01:08 PM

Well if you have a lot of rock (1-2 lbs. per gallon) you can start removing bioballs.. If not I would be tempted to leave it with a big eel or a lot of fish. A lot of rock will provide surface area for bacteria that eats ammonia. Ammonia from fish waste can kill faster than nitrates. Wet/drys due to the surface area of the balls and oxygen exchange kick ammonia's butt but leave nitrates. Occasional partial water changes will help with that. And a good skimmer.

fletch · 06-28-2005, 03:33 PM

I still have the bio balls in my wet dry IMO The reason for the nitrates building in the wet/dry with the bio balls is either not using pre-filter media in the filter tray or not changing it enough, Letting uneaten food to get trapped in the bio balls and decay causing a rise in nitrates. JMO John

Birdlady · 06-28-2005, 04:02 PM

OK, here is the deal.....

Food/Poop ------> Ammonia (by decaying and bacteria and whatnot)

Ammonia-------> Nitrites (by ammonia eating bacteria leaving nitrite as a waste...this bacteria is Aerobic or needs oxygen to perform this function)

Nitrites------->Nitrate (by nitrite eating bacteria leaving nitrate as a waste product, this also needs oxygen to occur)

now, here is the rub.....

Nitrate------->Harmless nitrogen gas which bubbles up out of the tank (now this nitrite eating bacteria is Anaerobic, needs lack of oxygen to perform its function)

When you have bioballs, generally they are exposed to water and ...AIR....leaving only area for Aerobic bacteria to grow. Where are the anaerobic bacteria in a wet/dry? There usually isn't much.

IF all your bioballs are submerged, completely underwater, you get fewer nitrates because the aerobic process is not as efficient.....the anaerobic process in the rock and sand can keep up. But I still think you would get higher nitrates eventually. Which means more water changes.

Now, the skimmer.....It REMOVES alot of the proteins and waste from the water BEFORE it turns into ammonia.....which translates to less ammonia, less nitrates, and less nitrates in the end....

I hope this helps a little.....

Nitrates are not so bad for fish as they are for corals and inverts...so that is why a wet/dry is OK for a heavy FO population....it is not that good in a reef aquarium where you want as close to nutrient free water as possible.

fletch · 06-28-2005, 04:13 PM

My ammonia , Nitrates and nitrites are 0 But I do have a DSB 4 1/2" 80 lbs of LR and a refugium so that may also be a factor. John

Birdlady · 06-28-2005, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fletch

I still have the bio balls in my wet dry IMO The reason for the nitrates building in the wet/dry with the bio balls is either not using pre-filter media in the filter tray or not changing it enough, Letting uneaten food to get trapped in the bio balls and decay causing a rise in nitrates. JMO John

Well, your husbandry helps too! Removing waste before it can decay definetly helps!!!

And the sandbed!

Like I said, more than one way to skin a cat!!

DanS · 06-29-2005, 08:56 AM

You guys must get sick of repeating this stuff over and over again... Sorry about that. So, is the general consensus that it's better to not have the bio balls in the wet dry as long as you have sufficient live rock and sand? The idea being that the rock and probably more so the sand bed would be where the anerobic nitrate to nitrogen gas conversion would happen? Just making sure I understand how I need to get things setup and running. I assume, by using the undergravel uplifts for the power heads, I would in essence be pulling oxygenated water through the sand bed, thus not allowing for this anerobic process to take place, thus creating a build up of nitrates. Right?