Hello fellow reefers. Happy Thanksgiving to all here!
The ask:
I am seeking advice on adding a new equipment (not a refugium) in my filtration arsenal. Based on my small research, a biopellet reactor in sump (just in front of my protein skimmer) would work in my situation to bring down Nitrates (slowly creeping up to 29 ppm) and some Phosphates. I was originally looking at a GFO reactor, but I have a pretty stable Phosphate level (not ideal, but at least stable). Also, I would like an advice if simply changing / rinsing my bio-media would solve my creeping Nitrate problem. Currently, I don't have algae issues and the tank looks stable in my eyes (I seldom clean the aquarium glass -- can go up to 2 weeks). I have attached pictures for this conversation.
Background:
I have been running a mixed reef on a Waterbox 100.3 since January 2023 purchased through my LFS here Ocean's Tropical Fish in Mission Viejo, CA. I decided not to add a refugium like my last aquarium due to the unwanted spilling of light in the sump. I feed twice a day (primarily frozen Hikari Mega-Marine, Nori, and when I go on vacation, Hikari Marine S pellets via Eheim Auto Feeder. Since then, I have mainly been using the following equipment:
Filter cups (filter floss)
Seachem Purigen 100 ml bag
BRS Rox .8 132 ml in a bag
Seachem Phosguard 149 ml in a bag
Red Sea RSK-300 protein skimmer
Repurposed IM UV Aqua Shield Midsize in the first filter sock of the sump (under a filter floss)
Dosing Tropic Marin All-for-Reef 16 ml a day to keep elements stable
Divider made by Octo Aquatics that have a variety of bio-media (Brightwell Aquatics Xport blocks, Seachem Matrix in a bag, and generic bio rings in a bag) as I don't have enough sand bed in my main display tank.
Hydros Controller X4 (PH probe, Temp probe to control Eheim Jager heater)
The issue: Nitrate is starting to creep up. I have been tracking it since January. I am now at 29 ppm compared to when I started at 7.8 back in January 2023.
Other seems stable reading are:
Phosphate .11 ppm -- Appears to be going up and down from .08 to .11 ppm
Alkalinity 9.9 dKH
Salinity is stable at 1.025 ppm
Temperature is stable at 76.4 Fahrenheit
PH is stable at 7.99 (at night) 8.05 to 8.07 (at daytime)
Calcium is slowly increasing from 380 to now 470 ppm
Magnesium is locked at 1200 ppm
Maintenance routine:
Weekly filter floss, skimmate collection, auto-top off RODI refill, and Brightwell Aquatics Brightwell Microbacter7 (capful)
Every 3 weeks will include new media replacement (BRS Rox .8, Seachem Phosguard, and new recharged Purgien bag)
Primary checking with Hanna Salinity checker, Hanna ULR Phosphate checker, Hanna HR Nitrate checker, Hanna Alkalinity checker, Aqua Forest Magnesium test kit, Red Sea Calcium test kit
The ask:
I am seeking advice on adding a new equipment (not a refugium) in my filtration arsenal. Based on my small research, a biopellet reactor in sump (just in front of my protein skimmer) would work in my situation to bring down Nitrates (slowly creeping up to 29 ppm) and some Phosphates. I was originally looking at a GFO reactor, but I have a pretty stable Phosphate level (not ideal, but at least stable). Also, I would like an advice if simply changing / rinsing my bio-media would solve my creeping Nitrate problem. Currently, I don't have algae issues and the tank looks stable in my eyes (I seldom clean the aquarium glass -- can go up to 2 weeks). I have attached pictures for this conversation.
Background:
I have been running a mixed reef on a Waterbox 100.3 since January 2023 purchased through my LFS here Ocean's Tropical Fish in Mission Viejo, CA. I decided not to add a refugium like my last aquarium due to the unwanted spilling of light in the sump. I feed twice a day (primarily frozen Hikari Mega-Marine, Nori, and when I go on vacation, Hikari Marine S pellets via Eheim Auto Feeder. Since then, I have mainly been using the following equipment:
Filter cups (filter floss)
Seachem Purigen 100 ml bag
BRS Rox .8 132 ml in a bag
Seachem Phosguard 149 ml in a bag
Red Sea RSK-300 protein skimmer
Repurposed IM UV Aqua Shield Midsize in the first filter sock of the sump (under a filter floss)
Dosing Tropic Marin All-for-Reef 16 ml a day to keep elements stable
Divider made by Octo Aquatics that have a variety of bio-media (Brightwell Aquatics Xport blocks, Seachem Matrix in a bag, and generic bio rings in a bag) as I don't have enough sand bed in my main display tank.
Hydros Controller X4 (PH probe, Temp probe to control Eheim Jager heater)
The issue: Nitrate is starting to creep up. I have been tracking it since January. I am now at 29 ppm compared to when I started at 7.8 back in January 2023.
Other seems stable reading are:
Phosphate .11 ppm -- Appears to be going up and down from .08 to .11 ppm
Alkalinity 9.9 dKH
Salinity is stable at 1.025 ppm
Temperature is stable at 76.4 Fahrenheit
PH is stable at 7.99 (at night) 8.05 to 8.07 (at daytime)
Calcium is slowly increasing from 380 to now 470 ppm
Magnesium is locked at 1200 ppm
Maintenance routine:
Weekly filter floss, skimmate collection, auto-top off RODI refill, and Brightwell Aquatics Brightwell Microbacter7 (capful)
Every 3 weeks will include new media replacement (BRS Rox .8, Seachem Phosguard, and new recharged Purgien bag)
Primary checking with Hanna Salinity checker, Hanna ULR Phosphate checker, Hanna HR Nitrate checker, Hanna Alkalinity checker, Aqua Forest Magnesium test kit, Red Sea Calcium test kit
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