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You can buy Reef Crystals for $12/50 gallon bag. (Amazon)
Had the same issues battling nitrates in a tank with big messy puffers. I always maxed out every test kit. Refugium, biopellets, and nopox didn't have any substantial impact on this tank. A Sulfur denitrator (aka biodenitrator) will take care of this and will give you near zero nitrates.
You will then have to spend some time with tuning alk/ph once it kicks in however since its fowlr its less critical.
You mentioned the cost being an issue.
What would be the issue with running biopellets in the dual reactor?
Yes, and I think I mentioned this earlier, but the issue is the sump tank is boxed in by two support braces. So we'd have to cut out two large squares in the side walls and then put a new cabinet door on the far edge of the stand. Then I could potentially slide that one out and a new one in. Possible, but a good deal of effort and $.
I have been interested in the algae reactors such as these (reactors) but I'm not sure how well they work and for what tank size. Since I can't currently fit a fuge, this could be the next best thing. But since nitrates are my only issue, maybe all I really need is a sulfur denitrator...
Do you recommend any brands in particular?Research a chaeto reactor.
I'm leaning heavily towards the sulfur reactor at this point.
Another option not yet mentioned is a remote deep sand bed. A bucket full of sand with flow across the top can also drop your nitrates.
I run a refugium.Do you recommend any brands in particular?
Does it matter if it stops spinning?I have had my eye on that Tunze reactor for a while now actually. I was hoping they'd post a video of the different algae reactors (now that they are becoming available) and how well they work. I've read a lot of reviews that say it stops spinning, and I'm just not sure how much nutrient export / size of tank it is rated for.
..Actually, nevermind. Just found the reactor on Tunze's website. 3181 is rated for up to 169 gal (too small), but they have another model called the 3182 which is rated for up to 423gal. That could work... but it's also 650$, if I can find a site that carries them.
Does it matter if it stops spinning?
My fuge chaeto doesn't spin and grows well.
My rocks (pic at top of thread) do have some purple fuzzy algae that I'm curious as to what it actually is. Not any of the algae I'm familiar with. Anyway , I do think this is a good idea but as they are the primary source of filtration right now I wouldn't want to pull them all out. Maybe small parts at a time, but even that would be a major PITA to put back together (it wasn't easy the first time around, and that was in a fishless system).Before you start adding new equipment etc., as a bandaid, you need to fix the problem. If your tank is 10 years old and your live rock is that old or even 5 years old, it is probably packed with bad !@#$% which is causing your nitrate problem.
My recommendation would be to remove your live rock, rinse it thoroughly and cook it for 30-45 days. All that bad stuff inside the rock will slough off. I’ve got the same issue going and want to cook my rock but still deciding whether to upgrade to a bigger tank.
Good luck.
My rocks (pic at top of thread) do have some purple fuzzy algae that I'm curious as to what it actually is. Not any of the algae I'm familiar with. Anyway , I do think this is a good idea but as they are the primary source of filtration right now I wouldn't want to pull them all out. Maybe small parts at a time, but even that would be a major PITA to put back together (it wasn't easy the first time around, and that was in a fishless system).
Thus my thought process was I'd get my nitrates down first (as that is the only issue I am facing), then get some urchins to clean up the rocks -- if they die, it would be a bummer but not the end of the world as they are easy to hand remove.. unlike the smaller snails and hermits which die and then add to the nitrates.
I am trying to think of more sustainable solutions rather than bandaids, which is why I'm thinking a sulfur reactor and then eventually a chaeto reactor as well. Probably overkill for the nitrates alone, but both have their benefits and I can tune them to fit my need (and allow for more fish / heavier feedings). My end goal is lion fish after all, and they are definitely going to add to the bio load