The issue here seams to be the lack or erroneous knowledge about the
Nitrogen Cycle.
Ammonia is the most dangerous form of nitrogen in your tank. It gets
oxidized to NO2-(nitrites) by bacteria. The sole presence of nitrites is a
direct indicator that your bacteria is oxidizing Ammonia since it has no
other substantial way of entering your aquarium.
Nitrites get oxidized even further and converted to NO3-(Nitrates)
If your system is low on Ammonia and Nitrites then your bacteria is
oxidizing it to Nitrates.
A nitrates level of higher than 1000ppm is needed to cause death to your
fish. Nevertheless a high concentration (100ppm) will have a direct effect
on your fish's metabolism.
In other words, the job of your bacteria ends there, for Nitrates to be
reduced again to nitrites requires low levels of Oxygen.
Many aquarists remove Nitrates by means of water changes. I chose to remove
it by harvesting algae and by creating a nutrients sink where Nitrates are
confined to a specific place where they feed my algae to be harvested. Is a
principle learned in a Wetlands Ecology class. Is the same principle
mangroves in nature and drainfields in households use.


"Pszemol" wrote in message
...
"swarvegorilla" wrote in message
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Looking at you chemical measurements it DOES NOT WORK
that good even on your 100gal system.

noticed ya still had a bit of an ammonia and nitrite reading.
Your not cleaning this filter out in chlorinated water are you?
Looks like the bacteria are having a hard time building up
But then thats cycling for ya

Cycling ? For more than a year cycling ?
It supposed to finish in a month... not a year.

I want to put a huge fluidised sand bed filter on the new system.
Can get almost all the bits for free, and if theres
one thing even I can build it's fbf's!!

There is no room in a reef tank for a fluidized sand bed filter.
This kind of filter is good for a swimming pool, but not in
a reef tank, where it quickly become a nitrates factory.