Nitrates and Phosban Reactors w/ Carbon.

[steveperry98]

I feed once a day. I put just enough into the tank so as the inhabitants will eat it up before it hit's the sand bed, I repeat this process until everyone stops showing interest in the food. I will be getting a new test kit tomorrow one that will be able to test lower levels of NO3.

My system is a 125 acrylic Flat back hex. It has been running since June, 2010. The contents have been in my 90 Gal since Febuary, 2010. It has a center over flow w/ 1 inch drain and 2, 3/4 inch returns feed by a mag drive 9.5 in the refuge/sump(I'm scared to drill the sump). It has a 40 gal sump, with the drain running over filter media that is suspended above the water line. My skimmer is a Reef Octopus NW-200-6540B, rated for up to 250 gallons. I am running 2, 250w DE Metal Halides, w/ 20000k bulbs. Along with the Mag 9.5, I have 2, Koralia 4's for added water movement.

The tank has a sand bed about 4 inches deep. I put 160Lbs of live sand in the tank when I was building it. the rookie mistake I did make, was using the 120Lbs from my already running 90 Gal bow front. In my defense that tank had only been running for about 6 months. So we aren't talking about a lot of build up in the sand bed. Although I didn't wash the sand either. I did have the 90 gal still up and running while I switched the sand bed and live rock over. I also waited for almost two months before putting any livestock in the tank. I did countless water changes in those two months. I also went through a full test kit monitoring my levels. I have 270Lbs of Fiji live rock. When I built the sump I included a single bubble trap with a distance of about 2 1/2 inches between the two glass baffles which I put reef rubble into for added filtration.

I currently have 11 medium size fish in the tank. 2 Hippo tangs, a Powder Blue Tang, a Yellow tang, 3 Green Chromis, Lawn Mower Blenny, Cardinal and 2 Percula Clowns. I have about a hundred Blue Legged Hermits and a hundred Astrea Snails, 2 Fire Shrimp, Coral Banded Shrimp, and a 4" Ultra Crocea Clam. Countless corals as well.

I have been doing regular cleanings of the filter media once a week by washing them in the sink and scrubbing them until they are clean. I have started to think about using a filter sock and dropping the drain below the water level, the sound of running water is driving my wife nuts. I have learned to block it out.

I've, up until today, cleaned the skimmer of the thick sludge once or twice a week. I am now learning that I haven't tuned in the skimmer and like stated above have started dailing it in to skimmer a wetter skim mate.

I also have about a 5 gallon bucket worth of cheato in the refuge. I have no sand bed in the refuge due to the return pump being in there too. I don't want to chance the sand doing any damage to the return pump.