Nitrates

i have been hearing that sponges on my overflows and in my sump are causing my green hair algae ...people say they are nitrate traps....
i run a sump with about a 5 gallon pail full of bio balls ..
could this be my problem????? so my question is why do the manufacture put them there???
should i remove all my sponges and bio balls???

 

nfarocks:
If you want an excruciatingly detailed discussion of nitrates, see the article at http://www.wetwebmedia.com/nitratesmar.htm.
To answer your question, the foam "sponges" on your plumbing will collect debris. When this detritus rots, nitrates are produced. Clean or replace your mechanical filtration media at least every couple of weeks. (I use filter floss in a large AquaClear hang-in-the back filter and replace it weekly).
But if you have a fish-only with live rock system, the nitrates shouldn't be a big concern. In my fish only system, the nitrate level has been 20 to 40 ppm for a couple of months, with no ill effects.

 

NFArocks
SAW39 is correct. I clean or replace all "nitrate traps" at least weekly. I know guys who clean their overflow sponges daily after feeding. Even so you will probably not see a big drop in your nitrates. Depends on your bioload. If you have inverts sensitive to nitrates then you should consider algae scrubber, fuge, mangroves, DSB, etc.

Best of luck in a fascinating hobby.

 

i don't have a big bio load...1 yellow tang,one blue tang,1 coral beauty,1 clown ,1 serpant star,1 sand sifting star,1cleaner shrimp and an algae eating blenny that doesn't eat algae....10 turbo snails and 50 blue leg hermit crabs...
i find it gets worse after cleaning and a water changes???

 

I had the same problem I used to have DLS filters and then went to bio balls that helped out but the best thing I did was to add a refugium now my nitrates are 0

 

Using r.o. water? If you are, when was the last time you changed the membranes? If you aren't using r.o. water, I would test your water source for nitrates and phosphates.

 

nfaRocks,
You don't have a big bioload?
You're right, for a 125 gallon tank, you don't have a large biomass per gallon. But, you still have 5 fish, two major inverts and 60 minor inverts. They'll produce a lot of excrement. How has the nitrate problem been in the month since you started this thread?