Looking for advice on New setup

[SmithSalt09]

Hi everyone, we are a relatively new reefer family.

We have a 75 gallon aquarium, this is our setup:

main filtration: FX4 main filtration, REACTOR(w/ cotton only) a skimmer for the surface, that pumps directly into a (diy) refugium(full of pads from phos, to nitrates, to cotton, bio balls, filter socks.
Power heads: one on back wall, one on side wall, (Fluvals) Substrate: Caribsea

Fan: just a normal clipped on tank fan to keep water cool. Live rock(purple) Levels: ph 8.1 - 8.2 ,, Salinity 1.025 - 26 ,, Calcium 470 ,, Alkalinity 10.5 - 11 ,,

Lighting: one Red Sea 50. on one side of the tank only. Heater: Fluval (300w)

I try to keep everything spot on daily, but nitrates and nitrite get high always,certain corals don't seem to happy or open up. Recently, fish have passed, and anemones have died.
Can anyone get in touch with us, and guide us some at all? It would be much appreciated.

Best Regards
SmithFam

 

[Spare time]

The FX4 if not cleaned frequently will end up being a recirculating trash can.

The lighting is very weak. That size tank would better need two of the strong red sea 90s or 3-4 red sea 50s

 

[Troylee]

Pads, cotton, bio balls, filter socks are all nitrate factories.. they can work but you have to stay very diligent in cleaning and or replacing them regularly..

 

[Spare time]

What is the nitrate and phosphate level and what test kit are you using?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

agree it is all the pads and cotton and filter socks causing your nitrate problem. Thats what we call "a nitrate factory". I'm not a big fan of mechanical filtration, just don't overfeed and you won't need all those pads.

I notice you have a surface skimmer, which I don't know if its the same as a protein skimmer? But a protein skimmer would help also.

I don't know much about fluval powerheads, but more flow always help to get more water into the filters to be cleaned.

 

[SmithSalt09]

The FX4 if not cleaned frequently will end up being a recirculating trash can.

The lighting is very weak. That size tank would better need two of the strong red sea 90s or 3-4 red sea 50s

Thanks fellow reefer for the advice.

 

[SmithSalt09]

What is the nitrate and phosphate level and what test kit are you using?

nitrates have been thru the roof..... and i do not have a way to check phos yet. and the test kits are all sea chem.

 

[SmithSalt09]

agree it is all the pads and cotton and filter socks causing your nitrate problem. Thats what we call "a nitrate factory". I'm not a big fan of mechanical filtration, just don't overfeed and you won't need all those pads.

I notice you have a surface skimmer, which I don't know if its the same as a protein skimmer? But a protein skimmer would help also.

I don't know much about fluval powerheads, but more flow always help to get more water into the filters to be cleaned.

so all true.

 

[Rtaylor]

Also make sure tank is stable (at least 6-12 months old) with very good lighting before adding anemones or they will continue to die.

 

[SmithSalt09]

Also make sure tank is stable (at least 6-12 months old) with very good lighting before adding anemones or they will continue to die.

yea we had it for 7 months, all was fine then it crashed hard. Lost a l ot of corals and poor fish. Tried one ane and it died within 4 days.

trying get best advice on what all need for healthiness.

 

[Spare time]

nitrates have been thru the roof..... and i do not have a way to check phos yet. and the test kits are all sea chem.

You said you have a refugium? What light do you have in it?


For filter pads, rinsing then at least every other day helps. I don't like canisters as they make this difficult

 

[Spare time]

The idea of a nitrate factory isnt really helpful. The pads and socks don't add nitrate, but rather give you a chance to remove things before they become nitrate. If you didn't have the pads, the stuff would just rot somewhere where you couldn't easily remove it.

 

[SmithSalt09]

Thank you all awesome Reefers