Lowering Nitrates????

What size CuC's are you running? I went the ATS route so my nitrates are always pretty low, but CuC size is going to play a role too.

 

Lol yeah I noticed it too. I believe its not needed if u have enough in your dt

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My clean up crew is on a UPS truck, hopefully nearby.

Right now I have a half dozen hermits, another half dozen dwarf hermits, 3 turbo snails, a handful of ceriths, and a single fighting conch. Obviously this CUC is not ideal in a reef for many reasons, and so I agree maybe this might be part of my problem.

Curious to know what Kristiavi's CUC is.

 

Everybody here who has nitrates, go buy a reactor and biopellets.

 

I've heard good things about going that route. But it's not exactly the cheapest thing to get setup.

 

They say canister filters are a nitrate factory.

 

Well they can be, if you use them how they were intended. I only have carbon in mine, no filter pads or floss or anything else that would trap detritus. I only setup the canister about 2 weeks ago. 1 week ago I replaced the week old carbon with new carbon and cleaned out the canister in process, which didn't have much of anything in it. So even if the canister does become a source of nitrates down the road, there is no chance it is the current source.

 

It's cheaper then you would think, the pellets last at least a year before they need more added. The reactor is the most expensive part, which sells for 100-150 dollars but that is a one time purchase.

If you have a smaller tank a two little fishes reactor($40) will work with atleast 300 gph(need more if you fill the reactor past half full). it would probably work well on your 36 assuming you have skimmer

 

Canister filters are not nitrate factories. The people that dont maintain them are nitrate factories. A canister filter does what is it supposed to do; it holds media. Yes that media can be deterius and other build up gunk. Its that build up that a person doesnt take care of that causes the problems.

 

I have a huge CUC! probably more then I need. 30 snails(ceriths, nassuarius, nerite snails, and turbos) 10 hermits, 1 emerald crab, and 1 sand sifting star.