What should i put inside?

[onizukaa]

Hello All,

Currently in the midst of cycling the tank.

Have added live rocks in the display tank, however... will add more live rock to the most left compartment as seen in the picture below.

Any idea what more can i put to really filter my water?

Will add seachem seagel most likely in the egg crate in the middle compartment, and UV light.

[TayHongSiang]

Hello All,

Currently in the midst of cycling the tank.

Have added live rocks in the display tank, however... will add more live rock to the most left compartment as seen in the picture below.

Any idea what more can i put to really filter my water?

Will add seachem seagel most likely in the egg crate in the middle compartment, and UV light.

An alternative to live rocks is biohome to cultivate beneficial bacteria.

You may want to DIY an algae scrubber to reduce algae in main tank or mangrove refugium for nutrients export or a FR to reduce / control phosphate level or nothing at all is just as good, so long water gets circulated.

[onizukaa]

ic, i dont have any filtering [only cotton wool] currently to filter out the sand and rock dirt..

going to add the bacteria starter.. hope all goes well

[TayHongSiang]

ic, i dont have any filtering [only cotton wool] currently to filter out the sand and rock dirt..

going to add the bacteria starter.. hope all goes well

can pm me how much u spent on yr new set-up?

[onizukaa]

have a quick question.

will it be better to put a 2-3 inch sand bed at the 2nd compartment from the left, meaning, the water from the most left compartment will flow through the sandbed then overflow to the next compartment.

1) is it good filtering like this?

2) will it jam the whole water flow system

attached is the picture

[TayHongSiang]

may i know the reason for the sand bed? to cultivate bacteria or to have a mini refugium system?

i would suggest you use the 2nd compartment to grow macroalgae instead.

try to keep yr sump simple so that it is easier to maintain.

If you have sand bed / a refugium, it will be a permanent fixture.

I read that having a refugium system, the drawback is after 5 years you have to re-setup yr tank again otherwise, it will crash.

[comycus]

bro have you considered using biohomme instead of LR? quite a lot neater and cleaner

[onizukaa]

may i know the reason for the sand bed? to cultivate bacteria or to have a mini refugium system?

i would suggest you use the 2nd compartment to grow macroalgae instead.

try to keep yr sump simple so that it is easier to maintain.

If you have sand bed / a refugium, it will be a permanent fixture.

I read that having a refugium system, the drawback is after 5 years you have to re-setup yr tank again otherwise, it will crash.

trying to bring out the best filtering i can do for the tank, read about people using sandbed as a "biological filter" therefore wanting to try it. tried chaeto however doesn't seems successful and it leaves alot of "hair" around.

bro have you considered using biohomme instead of LR? quite a lot neater and cleaner

biohome is quite expensive for me therefore wanna try other alternatives~

Have a UV installed at the sump.

Currently my filtration.

Water overflow from main tank -> Sump -> Live rock -> UV and skimmer pump in same compartment -> seachem seagel -> clean water compartment -> display tank.

have put a few hermit crab at the live rock compartment currently and therefore seeing what can i do to upgrade the filtration system.

[comycus]

ooh oki... I guess if you're doing DSB, between them and LR, your bio filtration will be sufficient.

Can I ask why you are using Seachem seagel? Think a lot of bros here use carbon and phosphate exclusively. Any good experiences to share?

Also, I don't think your second compartment can be used for DSB. Correct me if I'm wrong, but from what I see, there is only underflow coming in from your 1st compartment (intending to put LR). How will water be able to flow through if your sand is blocking the underflow? Looks to me you have to put it in the last compartment, then no space for return pump le...

[onizukaa]

ooh oki... I guess if you're doing DSB, between them and LR, your bio filtration will be sufficient.

Can I ask why you are using Seachem seagel? Think a lot of bros here use carbon and phosphate exclusively. Any good experiences to share?

Also, I don't think your second compartment can be used for DSB. Correct me if I'm wrong, but from what I see, there is only underflow coming in from your 1st compartment (intending to put LR). How will water be able to flow through if your sand is blocking the underflow? Looks to me you have to put it in the last compartment, then no space for return pump le...

haha, ya thats the thing, i am doubtful it will work [letting the water seep and force through the sand before entering the next compartment], doing a vote to see any 1 done it before and how's the filtration [if it really works and not blocking the water flow]

SeaGel is a blend of MatrixCarbon and PhosGuard, i poured around 250ml inside, have been using it for my last setup therefore using it here too [it's ok i think], using it because it's cheap haha.

maybe will invest in biohome, any bros know where to get for 1-2kg <-- is it enough? and whats the price you bros get it.

there's C328 nearest to me maybe i can check it out there.

Any particular step i need to do for biohome? just put it inside and let it cultivate?

[comycus]

haha, ya thats the thing, i am doubtful it will work [letting the water seep and force through the sand before entering the next compartment], doing a vote to see any 1 done it before and how's the filtration [if it really works and not blocking the water flow]

SeaGel is a blend of MatrixCarbon and PhosGuard, i poured around 250ml inside, have been using it for my last setup therefore using it here too [it's ok i think], using it because it's cheap haha.

maybe will invest in biohome, any bros know where to get for 1-2kg <-- is it enough? and whats the price you bros get it.

there's C328 nearest to me maybe i can check it out there.

Any particular step i need to do for biohome? just put it inside and let it cultivate?

Water cannot seep through the sand la bro... haha I tried before on my previous tank, eventually had to clear the sand Besides even if you found a way to do it, defeats the purpose of DSB coz you don't want the sand to be disturbed.

Biohome should be v. effective, 1kg is more than enough for 4ft especially when you have LR in your DT already. 2kg is for the extra kiasu. To save $$, just get the normal ones instead of the red ones. They cost almost twice as much as the normal ones! C328 or polyart at Clementi should carry them, the price is not the lowest, px difference prob <$5 if you don't want to scout ard.

[comycus]

SeaGel is a blend of MatrixCarbon and PhosGuard, i poured around 250ml inside, have been using it for my last setup therefore using it here too [it's ok i think], using it because it's cheap haha.

Forgot to ask... how long did your SeaGel last?

Any particular step i need to do for biohome? just put it inside and let it cultivate?

Just put inside and cultivate lor... best is dose some bacteria starter to help you. And they recommend putting biohome in a dark area, so maybe blacktape tt compartment

[onizukaa]

Forgot to ask... how long did your SeaGel last?

my seagel lasted few months and the white beads become yellow, thats the time i change the seagel

Just put inside and cultivate lor... best is dose some bacteria starter to help you. And they recommend putting biohome in a dark area, so maybe blacktape tt compartment

hmm, ok will get it today and dose in the prodibio bacteria started i got.

current phosphate around 0.5 =.=

nitrate around 100+ =.=

but the fishes still fighting fit.

hopefully it will bring down more.

[onizukaa]

hmm, brought 1 kg biohome and 1 kg biohome plus [$66], haven got time to put inside the tank [kinda small and not as big as i thought, think need more T_T]

later will take parameters again of the water, put in biohome/+, after that dose the bacteria.

1 week later will update again.

[comycus]

hmm, brought 1 kg biohome and 1 kg biohome plus [$66], haven got time to put inside the tank [kinda small and not as big as i thought, think need more T_T]

later will take parameters again of the water, put in biohome/+, after that dose the bacteria.

1 week later will update again.

Bro if you check your box will have instructions on how much biohome you need. The recommended amount to use for sw tanks is 1L of biohome for every 1125L water.

you bought 2kg = 2.5L. hehe have enough media for up to almost 600G! Haven't even taken into account your live rocks yet. No need to buy more le... the bacteria in your tank can only grow so much based on your bioload. Doesn't mean having more media = more bacteria, therefore more efficient in nitrifying process, I think...

Anyway the best way to reduce nitrates quickly is water change

[mopiko]

biohome which colour to buy? if i'm not wrong there is 2 different colours available.

[onizukaa]

biohome which colour to buy? if i'm not wrong there is 2 different colours available.

plus is more expensive which is red in colour [$38], the normal one is grey [$28]

not sure whether it will reduce the nitrate after putting the bacteria [bioclean].

just want to let my livestock have a better environment instead of living in a 100+ nitrate and 0.5phosphate water [tested with salifert]

Think it's because mainly i use tap water to top up the evaporated water [have brought seachem prime recently]

so hope all helps [cross finger!]

[comycus]

They recommend new tanks to buy the more expensive one (red) coz have trace elements to help seed bacteria faster. I think it's prob more mkting than anything, I personally just bought the normal one to save $$. Besides, if you are dosing bacteria, shouldn't have any problems.

Bro onizuka, don't think any biological filtration will bring down your phosphate levels, prob have to run either rowaphos or sorb 4. You can test your tap water for nitrates to see if it is indeed contributing to your high nitrates. I highly doubt so, my tap water tested only 5ppm, so 30-50% WC should bring it down somewhat. but if you are in a rush to bring down nitrates, can either buy AZ-NO3 (more $$) or dose vodka. I have no experience in dosing vodka, but can easily find information online.

[onizukaa]

They recommend new tanks to buy the more expensive one (red) coz have trace elements to help seed bacteria faster. I think it's prob more mkting than anything, I personally just bought the normal one to save $$. Besides, if you are dosing bacteria, shouldn't have any problems.

Bro onizuka, don't think any biological filtration will bring down your phosphate levels, prob have to run either rowaphos or sorb 4. You can test your tap water for nitrates to see if it is indeed contributing to your high nitrates. I highly doubt so, my tap water tested only 5ppm, so 30-50% WC should bring it down somewhat. but if you are in a rush to bring down nitrates, can either buy AZ-NO3 (more $$) or dose vodka. I have no experience in dosing vodka, but can easily find information online.

ic,brought the biohome as alot of bros are using.therefore should be good in the long run.

didn't buy the az-no3, maybe it's time to buy it haha.

any 1 knows, does wet skim bring down the nitrate / phosphate? <-- this is a question that is puzzling me

[onizukaa]

need to wash biohome before using it?

[comycus]

need to wash biohome before using it?

just follow instructions on the box. Can't really remember, think I rinsed with RO water.

[onizukaa]

nothing written on the instruction about how's its use, went to the web and googled it, no results x_x

[weesy74]

plus is more expensive which is red in colour [$38], the normal one is grey [$28]

not sure whether it will reduce the nitrate after putting the bacteria [bioclean].

just want to let my livestock have a better environment instead of living in a 100+ nitrate and 0.5phosphate water [tested with salifert]

Think it's because mainly i use tap water to top up the evaporated water [have brought seachem prime recently]

so hope all helps [cross finger!]

i have 2 kg of biohome plus for my 3ft tank but nitrate is still 140ppm. however my fish and corals are okay. no sps

BTW my water is all from crystal pro.

[onizukaa]

i have 2 kg of biohome plus for my 3ft tank but nitrate is still 140ppm. however my fish and corals are okay. no sps

BTW my water is all from crystal pro.

ahhh...lol you should tell me earlier ma haha. bite the bullet and brought it. hmm i tested out the salt mix with tap water, nitrate is around 10.. so i think i will also do more freq water changes.

thx bro

[weesy74]

ahhh...lol you should tell me earlier ma haha. bite the bullet and brought it. hmm i tested out the salt mix with tap water, nitrate is around 10.. so i think i will also do more freq water changes.

thx bro

Sorry just check it is 3kg of bio home plus. haha. As my tank is only 5mth, hopefully it will better once the tank is more established