Changing Coral Chips to Coral Sand ?

[Marine_Tank]

Hi Fellow Marine Enthusiasts,

Attached is my current 1 year old customised built-in tank.

Currently, I am still facing with high nitrates in my tank which I think could be due to my high bioload and tank design limitations as there is no sump or refugium which acts as NNRs (natural nitrate reductions). Only using live rocks and DSB / grade 4 sand (in main tank) and coral chips (in biological chamber) as NNRs.

Recently, I am relying more on chemical filtration i.e. filter wool, SeaChem Purigen, Chemipure and poly-filter to keep the nitrates from going to high. Besides this, I always try to do a monthly water change i.e. around 30 % - 50 % (next water change) using NSW from LFS.

Have read from the many threads here that coral chips are the main cause of high nitrates.

A few questions whether I can change the coral chips to grade #0 0r #1 coral sands :-

1. Can someone advise whether it is feasible to replace all the coral chips with grade #0 or #1 coral sand inside the biological chamber.

2. Will this sudden change to coral sand cause any stress to the livestocks i.e. Regal Angel, reef lobsters, snails etc. ?

3. Will this change help to act like a sump in a wet/dry filter system and help to control nitrate ? How much difference will that be ?

4. Will the grade # 0 or # 1 sand stops the water from flowing downwards as they are very fine sand ? Where is the best place to get this sand and how much do I need in order for it to work like a sump ?

5. What kind of filter bag material can I use to hold all the coral sand together so that the sand will not be carried away by the water current or get stuck ? Where to get this filter bag if there is ?

Hope my this drastic and unorthodox idea will work and I can achieve a lower nitrate of below 25 PPM (currently abv 50 ppm after water change and abv 100 ppm 1 month after water change).

Appreciate all yr great opinions and advice again.

custm_tank_1.xls

[Bob]

Do you have any pics of your tank & sump?

I was like you before using coral chip until lately discard them away.

[Marine_Tank]

Hi Bob,

You mean u have a similar tank like mine ?

So, has the nitrate dropped drastically after you have changed all the coral chips to coral sand ?

Btw, a point to clarify. As you can see from the sketched diagram of my tank (created using Excel file), my tank is a very simply one with no sump or something close to that at all.

Can you tell me more abt yr experience when you have made the switch to coral sand ?

I will take a picture of my tank and send it another day if possible.

Thanks : )

[Bob]

I'm using a sump tank.Will post a pics tonite.

Maybe you can have an idea after seeing it.

[clowntrigger]

you mention you have DSB in the main tank, what size of sand are you using? How many inches deep?

If you have a correct DSB setup in your main tank, those coral chip can be remove a bit at a time over time. These are not really needed in my opinion.

My aadvised to you is do not change the coral chip to size 0 or 1 as this will slow down the water following to the return pump and you will also been trapping more detrius now since your sand is so fine.

In short, check if you have a proper DSB in main tank, if yes, then remove the coral chip bit by bit over time... Hope this help..

[Bob]

Hope this will help you.

Take me 2 months(break into 2 phase) to take all coral chip out.

the pics shown is actually temporary & portable DSB cause need to transfer whole tank in 2 months time.

[Bob]

Sorry for the BIG pics.

Need to resize it.Pls help

[SBS_Transit]

ok i resize for u already

[Bob]

SBS_Transit

[Marine_Tank]

Hi Bob,

Sori for my later reply.

Still can't get a digital camera to take a picture of my tank.

Anyway, after much consideration, I guess I have to drop this idea of changing coral chips to coral sand. Agreed fully with advice from "Clowntrigger", this switch of material will restrict the water flow to the pump chamber so it is not very feasible.

One question here is how do you know whether yr DSB is effective or working at all ? I guess using grade 4 or 5 sand should be able to work as NNR right ? Or only grade 0 or 1 sand can work effectively as NNR ? My DSB is about 3 - 4 inch thick.

Pls advise ?[/b[COLOR=red]] Need to decide whether I should proceed to remove all my coral chips without causing any stress or disease to the livestocks later.

After much consideration, I think I will take out the coral chips instead over time and leave the space empty as coral chips will aggravate the nitrate problem of my tank right ? (as advise by the threads here).

Nice having yr advice and reply on this matter guys : )

[mun333]

Thats what i did

Is your setup like a divider in the house ???

[Achilles Tang]

Frankly, I don't think that container of coral chips will contribute much towards the reduction of NO3 via NNR. Neither will a container of fine sand.

For effective NNR to work, the DSB should be equal or larger in terms of surface area as your main tank... so that's why you should have your DSB in your main tank and you cannot expect that just a little compartment or tub with a DSB is gonna work. Still, its better than nothing.

Too bad you can't change out your #4 sandbed for a #0 or #1 DSB. If you could, you will see better nitrate reduction, naturally.

Finally, I don't think your sump has that high a current flow that your proposed #1 sand will fly out... get a fibreglass netting to hold it down then.

Hope this helps.

AT

Since your coral chips are in a tub... it's simple enough to bin everything by taking it out.

Your statement 'coral chips produce nitrates' can be highly misinterpreted by newbies. They do not, by themselves, produce nitrates. Coral chips WILL trap detritus, leading to higher nitrates when they decompose.