Bio media in sump

[Dc1338]

I about about 1000ml of matrix in my sump along with a few boxes of the biomax. Is it going to be okay if I take all the live rock out of my sump? I'm having a high nutrient issue and I believe that the sump is that reason.

 

[Poseidon03]

I about about 1000ml of matrix in my sump along with a few boxes of the biomax. Is it going to be okay if I take all the live rock out of my sump? I'm having a high nutrient issue and I believe that the sump is that reason.

Let's look into stuff before jumping into changes quickly. Any quick changes can cause disruptions in the microbiome.

First off, what's the age and size of the system?

What nutrients are high?

What fish and corals do you have?

Do you have live rock in the display?

Do you have sand in the display?

Do you have a skimmer?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

How much rock is in the sump? What about the display? Why you feel you need something in the sump? What is the nutrient levels and why do you feel its caused by the rocks in the sump?

I agree there is not enough info to make a suggestion

 

[Fish Fan]

I'll make one suggestion: I'd ditch the Matrix and Biomax. These medias (any "white" biomedia) have been known to leach aluminum, and in general "extra" biofiltration is not needed in a saltwater tank. Your rocks, sand and other surfaces grow plenty of beneficial bacteria:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/a...e-frequent-waterchanges.1163945/post-14428908
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/is-it-possible-to-have-too-much-bio-media.1146779/post-14157134
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/aqpet-bio-block.1141034/post-14060271
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/high-aluminum-in-reef-tank.1154530/post-14287237

I hope this helps!

 

[exnisstech]

Live rock is my preferred media in a sump and isn't a cause of high nutrients.
I have to dose to keep N and P above zero in this tank.

I also think people are too fast to blame higher levels of N and P for problems.
Fat hungry fish and my heavy feedings causes high levels but they're not an issue.

 

[Cael Gallery]

I about about 1000ml of matrix in my sump along with a few boxes of the biomax. Is it going to be okay if I take all the live rock out of my sump? I'm having a high nutrient issue and I believe that the sump is that reason.

It will be fine if you take the live rock out. There will already be more than enough surface area for nitrifying bacteria in the rock in the display and in/on the sand bed, so it won't cause an ammonia spike or anything.
That being said, i'm not sure how the liverock would be responsible for high nutrients.

 

[Dc1338]

I about about 1000ml of matrix in my sump along with a few boxes of the biomax. Is it going to be okay if I take all the live rock out of my sump? I'm having a high nutrient issue and I believe that the sump is that reason.

It will be fine if you take the live rock out. There will already be more than enough surface area for nitrifying bacteria in the rock in the display and in/on the sand bed, so it won't cause an ammonia spike or anything.
That being said, i'm not sure how the liverock would be responsible for high nutrients.

I have about 15lbs of live rock on top of all that media. Its trapping detritus in the refugium section. I’m looking into biospheres

 

[Fish Fan]

I’m looking into biospheres

Please see my post above. Any of those fake bio medias can leach heavy metals, and many here at R2R would not use them.

What are your parameters? What do you think is high?