Eheim Wet/Dry?

[Liam]

I am currently running a Eheim wet/dry along with Berlin Turbo skimmer and about 85lbs live rock and I just added a small hang on refugium. I am having trouble with my Nitrates about 20ppm. all other parameters are good. My question is do I need this filter. Or can I just use it empty for water flow. It currently has the eheim substrate in it. Should i put something else in there? Carbon,Live Rock?
The tank is a 72 gallon and I have 1 small yellow tang 2 clowns and a gramma. All habitants seem very happy and content.I do a 10% water change about every 2-3wks or when needed.
Thanks :confused:

[Michael_Lambert]

Liam,

Its more than likely your filter that is causing it! Mechanical filters will cause nitrates as they are not cleaned as often as they would need to be ( once every day or two) ideally you want to run 1.5 pounds of rock per gallon of water and DSB for all the Biological filtration you would need..

So i would remove the Ehime.. Try not to remove it all at once, just some of the media at a time! over say 3 weeks! just dont want to cause a cycle in your tank, as well just watch the feeding while you are doing this!

[Liam]

Would it help to run any carbon with the filter to help reduce the nitrates.
When would you use carbon in a filter?

[Michael_Lambert]

Carbon wont remove nitrates!.. it needs to be broken down naturally or removed with water changes!

what you want to do is this :

remove the filter best to remove the media 1/3 ever week! then when its all gone you can contiune to use it for water flow..

Using carbon its a big debate some use it all the time, and then some just use its once a month kind of thing! Carbon does remove somthings that your tank will need as well it removes stray colors in the tank !

[afss]

I agree with toooloud. I would remove the media over a period of time. personally i might even do it a bit slower. 1/4 ever week or 2. Probably wouldn't make a huge difference either way. I just like taking it slow when it comes to a reef tank.

As for carbon i only run it on occasion. If i find the water getting yellowy or if i have run medication, like green-X, that suggests you use it after treatment.

Scott

[Liam]

I have slowly been removing the substrate and over the last couple weeks my Nitrates have been cut in half. I am not sure if it was the small refugium or the substrate removal or both. I am hoping to completely remove the eheim over the next two weeks.
Seems scary removing a filter but it seems to be helping.

[Michael_Lambert]

Oh it will..

I mean you would not have the nitrates if you cleaned the media in the filter.. but you would have to clean it every couple of days!

too much work for most!

[darylm]

i had the same 20-30 ppm on my 72 gallon and i removed the subsrate in my 2227 when the tank was approx 4 weeks old and within a week or so the nitrate was 0.......good luck..........remember if you remove the substrate you must reprime your lines or you will have a mess with bubbling