Our 6 month old RED SEA Max (RSM)pics

Hi, its been a while since i have been online as ii have been really busy...with my tanks

I have just loaded some picks of the RSM 250 we purchased in September 2009 to replace our small 90Ltr lounge tank. Its been going very well for 6 months now and great growth in the corals. Fish are all happy: But its all about the corals for me. The fish add a new challenge - Nitrate! We added a chiller in the first 2 weeks as the temp was out of control due to the number of pumps in the back. We have also added a Nitrate filter but not sure if this is working well. Still doing 20% water change every Thursday evening and nitrate still around 10.

Most of the picks are about a month old so will update with current ones in a day or two. Let me know what you think, and any ideas on Nitrate. I only feed every second day and its always fresh brine or frozen mysis, with occasional dry food.

http://www.3reef.com/forums/members/aussiejodie-albums-my-redsea-max-250.html

 

aussie jodie
just had a look at the pictures and my advice would be to stop worrying about numbers
everything in there looks very healthy and contented to me

forgive my old eyesight, but I cant see any SPS corals in there
I can see plenty of softies and LPS corals
which are going to be better off at 10ppm nitrate then they would be at 0 (credit to Inwall75 for that knowledge )

you dont have an algae problem as far as I can see
your sand bed is pristine as is the rock work

are you syphoning over the rock work when you do water changes?
what media do you have in the filter section, as that may need periodic cleaning?

not that 10ppm is a problem as stated before - its fine
but you dont want to be doing 20% water changes forever to keep on top of that level or stop it rising

so ascertaining where they are building up is ideal

Steve

 

Thanks for the compliments.

All i use as filter medium is corse sponge that came with the RSM 250, and i add a bag of Siliphos by Dupla (i use Dupla salt) and a bag of Chemipure which i change both every 5 weeks. I also have a chiller.

 

do you remove the course sponge and rinse it in old tank water when you do the water changes Jodie?

as that sponge may be accumulating wastes/ detrius and thus maybe the reason for the nitrates ( which at 10ppm is not a problem but you dont want it increasing)

try doing a 10% water change next time and cleaning that sponge in the tank water you remove into the bucket and see if that helps any

Steve

 

love the new tank! and the pink hammer looks awesome!

 

I remove all sponges weekly but wash them in tap water. Could this be the issue? I use RO water with my salt and top ups - never really do top ups as i water change weekly. I dont think i am over stocked - 2 clowns, one angel, one tang, 2 coral gobbies and a manderine oh and my starfish and a few crabs.

 

Thank, i have about 4 baby hammers around the tank from this one.