More Nitrate Problems & Aquarium Pump Advice Needed

Following on from my previous thread about high nitrate levels http://www.3reef.com/forums/inverts/high-nitrate-levels-please-help-51277.html I am still having big problems with my nitrate levels.

Thanks to advice on this forum and further research I am getting an RO/DI filter. However, I cannot connect this up to my aquarium directly so I will be using it simply to provide water via buckets.

I think one of the big problems is that the rainbow crabs eat a lot and therefore they excrete a lot and this then contaminates the water. I am doing 40% water changes every 3 days at the moment using zero nitrate water yet
I still have nitrate levels of 80ppm and am worried that my crabs will soon die. I am not using anything on the aquarium bed like gravel because with it being a clear glass floor I can monitor the buildup of waste and clean the aquarium accordingly.

Is there a pump system anyone knows about whereby I could use an external tank of, say 10 gallons and continually circulate the water between it and the aquarium and back? This way, I could replace the 10gallon drum every few days or every week without continually disturbing the aquarium.I haven't found any pumps that can circulate water between 2 water sources. Most water pumps seem to be one way only?

Oh, finally, would an external filter, like a Fluval 405 help my cause?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Andy

 

First I would stop doing 40% water changes. You can actually disrupt the biological filter doing so many. Now that you are using RO/DI water you will not be adding to the nitrates with top off and water changes. 80ppm is not huge and is not likely to kill crabs.
My advise would be to slow down and perform weekly 10% water changes reduce your feeding

J

 

Thanks for the reply. I'm not using ro/di water yet as it will be about 2 weeks before I've got the system. I am currently using zero nitrate mineral water (and treating it separately as well).

I am feeding the crabs using food in a dry dish so there is little excess food getting into the aquarium.

The filter I am using is an internal 2-step filter. I was thinking of using the Fluval 405 because it seems like a much more thorough filtration process

 

What skimmer do you have? How much Live Rock?

Your tank is 4 month old correct?

External mechanical filters aren't really necessary if you have good LR and feed properly.

Aren't Rainbow Crabs Land Crabs? is this a Saltwater tank?

J

 

Mineral water ? if so thats a huge No No lord only knows what all you are adding to the system eithe use Distilled or R/O drinking water , Minerals are the reason we use R/O in the first place.:-[

 

But I was told that mineral water is high in calcium and magnesium (or is it manganese) and that these aren't harmful to brackish/salt water aquariums?

Neverthesless, I am getting the RO/DI system becuase I can't find anywhere nearby that sells either distilled or treated water. I am using additives like "Aquarium Safe" to reduce the minerals in the meantime.


I am not currently using a skimmer, live rocks or plants. Plants is next on my list though (once my local aquarium has them in stock).

Rainbow crabs are predominantly land crabs but I do have plenty of rocks and a floating turtle dock for them. Saying that, they do seem to spend a lot of the time in the water. I am keeping the water brackish.

 

it could be that the rainbow crabs are excessively messy and just aren't suited for aquariums, i would check that out

 

Being that the crabs do not breath through the water who cares what your nitrates are.

Could you please either post a picture of your set up or describe it in detail. It does not sound like you have a Reef tank but more a wet terrarium?

Jason

 

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