[oakreef]

I have a 29 gallon Biocube with high nitrates (> 40 ppm) and I've been working for weeks on reducing them. I ditched the Bio Balls 2 weeks ago and put in live rock, some Seachem DeNitrate in a bag and some Kent Marine Reef Carbon in a bag. Plus I'm adding some Seachem Prime daily. Nitrates are still high, despite 15% water changes every other day. All the other tests (Ph, Kh, Calcium, Nitrite, Ammonia) are OK. I also tested my RO and saltwater and both have zero Nitrates. One of my big soft corals died already, as have most of my turbosnails.

I have had the Oceanic skimmer for months and it's useless. I'm assuming step 1 is to get a better skimmer.

I've researched online and people are happy with the Tunze 9002 skimmer. For the Tunze to fit without modifying the hood, you have to replace the collection cup. I found a company on line that makes a media basket for the center chamber that will fit with either skimmer, and a new cup for the Tunze so it fits. See: Home - inTank, LLC I'm considering getting the new skimmer and the basket so I don't have to modify my lid. You do have to punch out the false bottom in the middle section. They also have a You Tube video showing how to set it all up.

So, my question for the forum is: should I just stick with the live rock and put the Tunze skimmer with the live rock in the back center chamber (potentially reducing the amount of live rock), or go with the media basket solution? On their site they recommend using the media basket to hold filter floss, Purigen and Chemi-Pure Elite in the center chamber with the skimmer, so I'd be pulling out the live rock. See Demo Rack with Tunze which shows a BC29 setup.

My heater is in the chamber with my pump, so if I go with the media basket they recommend, should I put the live rock in the first chamber, where the Oceanic skimmer is now? Or don't I need the additional live rock if I do that?

Any opinions? Other suggestions? I only have 3 fish (Yellow Tang, Tomato Clown and a Hawkfish), and am feeding them every other day.

Thanks in advance!

[yvr]

Taking out your bio balls was a very good idea as they become nitrate factories. To reduce your nitrates you will have to do a few large water changes to dilute the NO3. Carbon, chemi pure etc. won't remove nitrate from your water. And make sure you use a good salt that is nitrate free like Tropic Marin or other high quality reef salts .

[oakreef]

Thanks.

I'm going with the media basket, which I've already got in place. The Tunze was DOA when I got it - the lid wasn't glued on. I just got a new pump as well, a Rio 6HF. I didn't realize I might need new tubing to connect it. Have you (or anyone else out there) gotten the RIO 6HF to fit w/o getting new tubing?

[oakreef]

I figured out the 6hf installation, but it's noisy even though it's brand new, much noisier than the stock unit. Is that to be expected?