SRC Member Beagle Posted February 8, 2007 SRC Member Share Posted February 8, 2007 Hey all, Recently just shifted hse, so got a bigger tank this time lol. Had a sump tank last time, but its those refugium kind, so didnt use all these additives before haha. Now change to the biological kind. Anyways, what are coral chips for? Do i have to 1) wash it once in a while 2) Replace them once in a while or 3) Leave it alone? How about denitrate? Cos its a new tank, and denitrate removes ammonia, nitrite and nitrates (says on the packaging), will it affect my cycling? Like no ammonia, then the bacteria which converts ammonia to nitrite will not grow.. etc. Then last one is activated carbon. I poured it into a filter bag, and i washed it. alot of times. but its forever releasing black stuff lol. what to do? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Supporter ReDDeviLs Posted February 9, 2007 SRC Supporter Share Posted February 9, 2007 imo 1) remove the coral chips as it wil build up no3 in long term, 2) what kinda denitrate are u toking about? 3) active carbons u just rinse thru and dump it into the sump with filter bag will be fine,the black stuffs dun bother it will go away soon. Quote [ ] [ ] Reef Reefing Reefed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jervismun Posted February 10, 2007 Share Posted February 10, 2007 Hey all, Recently just shifted hse, so got a bigger tank this time lol. Had a sump tank last time, but its those refugium kind, so didnt use all these additives before haha. Now change to the biological kind. Anyways, what are coral chips for? Do i have to 1) wash it once in a while 2) Replace them once in a while or 3) Leave it alone? How about denitrate? Cos its a new tank, and denitrate removes ammonia, nitrite and nitrates (says on the packaging), will it affect my cycling? Like no ammonia, then the bacteria which converts ammonia to nitrite will not grow.. etc. Then last one is activated carbon. I poured it into a filter bag, and i washed it. alot of times. but its forever releasing black stuff lol. what to do? Thanks! 1) Yes as explained by bro RD, large amount of coral chip will eventually turn into a Nitrate factory. As it will turn your organics into Ammonia, Nitrite too quickly... before your protein skimmer can remove them once and for all. So, high Nitrate is the end-product here. 2A) IMO, Denitrate by Seachem is not a must-have. If you system works, there's no need for such expensive product. Want to consider keeping macroalgae instead? They will help reduce Phosphate and Nitrate. As for product promises in reducing Ammonia and Nitrite... leave those your sand bed, live rock and etc. 2B) Don't worry, there will always be sufficient organic matters in the tank to help keep your aerobic bacterias alive... again usage of such product is not a compulsory. 3) Firstly, make sure your filter bag is not too fine (micro) as some are so fine it restricts water flow. As for the carbon releasing black stuff... well... they do somehow release "black stuff" at the initial stage... but different brands may give different results... therefore it is very hard to advise without knowing the brand you are currently using... but generally it should be save if you buy from a reputable/established manufacturer. Quote Tank 60x40x40 Optiwhite Glass Tank Sump Elos 500 w/ Tunze Overflow Protein Skimmer Skimz Kone SK1 Return Pump Hydor Seltz L30 Wavemaker Hydor K1 Illumination 150W + 2 T5 Chiller Arctica 1/5hp w/ Aquabee 1000 Water Top-up Tunze Osmolator Dosing Pumps Grotech 3-Channels Calcium Reactor Deltec PF 501 Computer Aquatronica Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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