cpr hob refugium worth it?

alfieferenzo84 · #1 10/29/2007, 04:47 AM

I got a 75 gallon and will be adding a skimmer and maybe a fuge to help my nitrate problem

i want to know if i get the hob fuge witch will be like 24x12x4 will it really help the tank? If so how much are we talking?

I already have sand and cheato along with a 6k light so im set but i dont want to spend 100 bucks if it aint going to do anything for me so let me know what you all think!

Also cant have a sump period!!! Floor cant hold it!

demonsp · #2 10/29/2007, 04:51 AM

Well skimmer more important for sure. Whats your readings ?
Is tank really 5 yrs old?

And a refugium is best but if cant get then the fuge is fine. I would say its only an asset and in many cases depending on your stock mandetory.

alfieferenzo84 · #3 10/29/2007, 05:03 AM

nitrates around 10-50ppm depends on how much water i change

this current setup has been up for about 1 1/2 now but i started about 5 yrs ago

i want to get both skimmer/fuge but if the fuge aint going to do much i will skip it and just make a diy one but the skimmer is getting ordered this week!!!

And no i cant have a sump sorry!

mg426 · #4 10/29/2007, 05:08 AM

A skimmer does not remove nitrates,it removes organics that decay into nitrates. A fuge will help with nitrates but the best thing is to try and figure out the source. Are you using RO/DI water/??

alfieferenzo84 · #5 10/29/2007, 05:10 AM

I use ro/di water tested zero tds nitrates,ammonia,nitries so i am good there!

I have a puffer fish that is about 5-6 inches

i have cut back on feeding and ect i guess i just need a good skimmer and maybe a fuge that is why i am asking

I have been going at this for a year now!!!

demonsp · #6 10/29/2007, 05:17 AM

Is this a reef tank or a FOWLR. What is the substrate and how many powerheads ?Fuge really not needed for FO tank. How often do you do water change and how much ?

alfieferenzo84 · #7 10/29/2007, 05:24 AM

75 gallon fowlr sand the kind for dsb not cc nor sugar fine, water flow is 1630gph=21x hr

if i change 24 gallons a week my nitrates stay under 15ppm

if i change 24 gallons a mo. then they go over 100ppm

but im tried of changing all this water so i need a skimmer and maybe a fuge to help out!

demonsp · #8 10/29/2007, 05:43 AM

A skimmer wont help with nitrates. Water source , SB condition , overfeeding , low flow , uncleaned filter pads or pumps or any eqiupment in contact with the water.

Dont understand flow , is this like 1 return jet or powerhead ?

alfieferenzo84 · #9 10/29/2007, 05:49 AM

No filters of any kind!

Flow is from 6 power heads and 2 hob filters with nothing in them just used for water movement! There is too much flow in the tank!

Water source is zero everything so that is out of the question!

over feedind i havent feed for 5 days as a test and the nitrates still flew up!

demonsp · #10 10/29/2007, 05:54 AM

By water source i mean do you use unfiltered tap water? And yes i think you have to much flow but this would only help keep nitrates down.
Skimmer wont help. Were do you get your water from and dont lie cause the reef gods will hear you.

demonsp · #11 10/29/2007, 05:57 AM

I think i can help but i need info.

alfieferenzo84 · #12 10/29/2007, 06:04 AM

tap water to a RO/DI unit to a trash can then to my room to top off tank and or for water changes i said this 5 times now and it testes zero tds,nitrates,ammonia,nitries

I was told by a member you just want to know what the tap water has and if that is what you want to know before my ro/di unit my tap is 130-150tds with .50 ammonia, .20nitrates, .15 nitires

but dont think that is what is going into the tank! I have clean ro/di water going into the tank for top off and water changes!!!

demonsp · #13 10/29/2007, 06:07 AM

No i just want to rule it out. And i did see finally. Gawd. I just want to help. Dont believe everything you hear . Good rule.IMO

95accord · #14 10/29/2007, 06:28 AM

might be your sand bad.....might have absorbed a bunch of detrius and slowly releasing it as nitrates.

and puffers are dirty eaters to begin with. makes for a big bio-load for a small fish.....(comparitively)

a HOB fuge would wont hurt. but probably wont solve the problem 100% tho

my 0.02

alfieferenzo84 · #15 10/29/2007, 03:52 PM

What will solve my problem?

How do i test the sand bed?

Do you all think it makes a big difference from using a 5gallon fuge verses a hob filter .2 gallon fuge? Is it worth 140 bucks? Or as the hob filter mod will be free for me!

ledford1 · #16 10/29/2007, 05:10 PM

If you have the cash, sure, why not. If you have room for a sump/fuge in the stand or elsewhere, that would be better probably because it would surely give you more volume, but the AquaFuge is good otherwise. Being able to throw a small ball of chaeto in the fuge (and perhaps so LR rubble) and allowing it to soak up nutrients would be good for the tank.

I have the large AquaFuge on my 90, and I trim my chaeto every 1-2 weeks.

I'm not sure what the source of your nitrates is. But a skimmer is good. And a fuge is good.

That's my 2 cents.

Piscator · #17 10/29/2007, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by alfieferenzo84
What will solve my problem?

The skimmer will help. As said above, it doesn't remove the Nitrates directly, but does so indirectly. It will be a big help.

Do several 20% water changes over the course of a few weeks.

If this is going to be a long-term tank for you, I would invest in the HOB fuge. Chaeto is a great way to export nutrients IMO.

Finally, just watch that you don't overfeed.

Best wishes,

alfieferenzo84 · #18 10/29/2007, 08:25 PM

sounds good but i dont think i should have to do 24 gallons of water changes a week to maintain my tank

serum153 · #19 10/29/2007, 09:35 PM

24 is way too much. You probably have about 70 gallons of water in there and that is close to almost 50%. You should be changing out 7 - 15 gallons a week.

alfieferenzo84 · #20 10/29/2007, 09:41 PM

there is 55 gallons of water about and if i dont change 24 gallon a week then my nitrates will be over 200 by the end of the mo.

so as i said i need to figure out what is wrong!

serum153 · #21 10/29/2007, 10:33 PM

Do you currently have cheato in the dt? Cheato does consume nutrients/nitrates, but it does nothing if it is not trimmed. Trimming it actually exports the nutrients from your system. What salt are you currently using and have you ever tested it? Are you sure your test kit isn't bad?

alfieferenzo84 · #22 10/29/2007, 11:10 PM

just bought the cheato yesterday and its in a hob filter sense my fuge on top of the tank make too many bubbles when water is returned to main tank for some reason but thats a hole different subject!

Test is good i have check with 3 different ones now

instant ocean sea salt

i am removing all my sand to make sure that the problem wasent the sand bed then i will go with a sallow bed like 1 inch, Should i wash the sand before putting it back into the tank after my test goes on for a wk with no sand at all?

95accord · #23 10/30/2007, 06:23 AM

larger particles of sand will leave larger gaps between sand grains which can trap dead or dying particles/waste which can cause nutrient spikes. i wouldnt wash the sand since you may wash away the good bacteris thats imbeded in the sand. i would let the sand cycle in a second tank or something....that way it would eat up all remaining nutrients without affecting your main tank.
besides that you should be fine.
but im no expert by any means.

give it a couple weeks with the chaeto and see how it grows/affects the tank. make sure to keep a light over it as well. this will help its grow/absorb more nutrients.

my0.02