canister remodel - Nitrates

If you have been reading some of these posts you know I have 2 marine reef
aquariums. One 30 and one 45 gal.

The 30 is very simple. Filled w/LR - PS - fiber filter. And that's all. It
can go months w/o a water change and I feed the fish 2 times a day.

The 45 has always been more of a challenge. Water changes usually at least
once a week. Although it has improved significantly with the addition of the
LR.

I've already added LR to almost the top of tank and added a 3 - 4" DSB

The 45 has a canister and hang-on PS.

Today I decided to take the plunge and gut the 45's canister leaving only
the 2 fiber pads in place and replacing the bio ball media with a milk
carton.

http://www.safaricabs.com/can.jpg

I'll have to clean the canister much more often (like the 30).

So now the filtering system is LR - DSB - PS and a gutted canister with only
fiber disks.

Jim

jthread wrote:
If you have been reading some of these posts you know I have 2 marine reef
aquariums. One 30 and one 45 gal.

The 30 is very simple. Filled w/LR - PS - fiber filter. And that's all. It
can go months w/o a water change and I feed the fish 2 times a day.

The 45 has always been more of a challenge. Water changes usually at least
once a week. Although it has improved significantly with the addition of the
LR.

I've already added LR to almost the top of tank and added a 3 - 4" DSB

The 45 has a canister and hang-on PS.

Today I decided to take the plunge and gut the 45's canister leaving only
the 2 fiber pads in place and replacing the bio ball media with a milk
carton.

http://www.safaricabs.com/can.jpg

I'll have to clean the canister much more often (like the 30).

So now the filtering system is LR - DSB - PS and a gutted canister with only
fiber disks.

Jim



your LR will act as the bio-filter, no need to use Bio or anything else
like that. Using extra bio media is why you're having problems with the
Nitrates. I finally took out my bio media, that and more frequent
partials, I've got my nitrates under control.

"Peter Pan" wrote in message
. ..
jthread wrote:
If you have been reading some of these posts you know I have 2 marine
reef aquariums. One 30 and one 45 gal.

The 30 is very simple. Filled w/LR - PS - fiber filter. And that's all.
It can go months w/o a water change and I feed the fish 2 times a day.

The 45 has always been more of a challenge. Water changes usually at
least once a week. Although it has improved significantly with the
addition of the LR.

I've already added LR to almost the top of tank and added a 3 - 4" DSB

The 45 has a canister and hang-on PS.

Today I decided to take the plunge and gut the 45's canister leaving only
the 2 fiber pads in place and replacing the bio ball media with a milk
carton.

http://www.safaricabs.com/can.jpg

I'll have to clean the canister much more often (like the 30).

So now the filtering system is LR - DSB - PS and a gutted canister with
only fiber disks.

Jim



your LR will act as the bio-filter, no need to use Bio or anything else
like that. Using extra bio media is why you're having problems with the
Nitrates. I finally took out my bio media, that and more frequent
partials, I've got my nitrates under control.

i'm hoping someone is benefiting from my experiences but this group is so
f%^kE6 i doubt it.

anyway it makes a good diary for me.

:-)