Opinions about my setup

many of your who are reading will know I have post algae questions about my tank and also some questions about my water quality. what I would like to know here is from these pics, does it look like a good setup so I can fully benefit from water flow through my live rock.

also on a second question: I went to my LFS, and asked some questions....
I have high nitrate levels, they said No! my using tap water has no affect on my nitrate at all...? they also said that the reason I have high nitrate is because my skimmer is not good enough for my tank...then tried to sell me a Coralife skimmer for $200. I do know my skimmer is small for a 75 gallon tank and yes it needs to be replaced, but I didnt think a skimmer had a big impact on nitrate levels? I also only have 2 fish, 1 clown and 1 dottyback and 1 large brittle star... with that bioload a skimmer shouldnt be the issue...right?

anyway here are updated pics of my tank. any input would be greatly appreciated.

 

hi pecco22

these are just my comments / opinions based on images above

I know from previous posts your nitrates are 20ppm ? which is not a big deal honestly

your rock work aquascaping looks good to me

your wavemaker placement - I note from the 1st picture you dont have a lot of surface movement, with both Ks pointed down at the rock work, the area top left as I look at picture is very still and has a white film on it (Protiens locked there by surface tension)

so if it where my tank I would want more flow accross the surface to prevent this as it can interfere with gas exchange

next point
I assume your LFS sells skimmers but not RODI systems?

IMHO - with 2 fish in a 75 gallon tank skimming is not something I would consider a priority

but having control over what exactly goes in your tank from your water supply is something I consider important/ a priority

if you decide to go for corals/ reef up your tank and good skimmer is the next thing on the list IMO but not the 1st thing you need right now IMHO

Steve

 

The lfs is wrong in that tap water can affect your nitrates if it has nitrates to begin with, which most public water does. My tap water initially was 20ppm, so every water change I was adding that to my tank. Tap water also can contain a host of other nasty things or compounds not great for salt water aquariums.

As for the skimmer, I'm not positive on this, but if your skimmer isn't removing enough of the organic compounds in the water, then they can foreseeably break down resulting in nitrates. You do have a very light bioload though. Anyways, $200 for a coralife skimmer is way too much to pay IMO.

 

hhhmmm. how long has it been set up?? do you use chaeto or mangroves? whats in your sump? what type of skimmer? could it still be cycling? answer these and we may be able to help you better.

 

dang we almost had a triple post at the same time!

 

ok surface water movement... I have a small powerhead that I can use for movement on the surface more. I was only using the return from my sump as the primary surface movement, so it seems maybe not enough...the reason I pointed both Powerheads down was because I wanted to keep movement across the Liverock. am I wrong on that.

tank has been setup since march of this year, not it isnt cycling, or shouldnt be from the tests I have done on it. right now my sump has nothing more than a foam sponge/pad to collect big items. otherwise nothing else is in it. I have a 20 gallon sump with baffles I made, that I need to put back in. the skimmer is a very old prism skimmer that I am trying to make work for now till I can afford a good one. again I figured even a small skimmer was better than nothing with the small bioload in the tank.

 

not wrong pecco, I have 5 different sources of flow in my 5ft
so that I can achieve water movement throughout the tank and across and around the rock but still ensure good surface aggitation
and your right about the skimmer, for that bioload your fine for now IMHO

Steve