I have two nano tanks. Both have been running for many months (I bought the first one a few months ago and the second one a week ago). The second one has a nitrate issue.
1. The 10 gallon nano has some green hair algae that seems to be coming under control after I implemented Mark Peterson's suggestions for controlling that (pure makeup water and water changes along with snails and crabs, etc.).
This tank has a DSB of sugar size aragonite along with live rock and corals. No fish. It has a protein skimmer in a built in overflow at the back of the tank but I haven't been able to get it to work other than wet bubbles that quickly fill up the cup. It uses a air stone and even with a new air stone, I haven't got it to do anything. I'm moving about 20 times the water capacity per hour and am using 26 W of blue lights and 26 W of white light (power compacts).
2. The 12.5 gallon nano has nitrate readings of about 40ppm or a little more. This tank has an Aquarium Systems Millenium 3000 filter (basically a wet dry filter so maybe that explains the nitrate difference). It has a more coarse substrate and is only about two inches deep. It also has live rock and coral. No fish yet, but a skunk shrimp and a fire shrimp (no Latin spoken here yet). Ammonia and nitrite are undetectable. I'll change the chemical/carbon portion of the filter to see if that helps. I've done two water changes of about 2 gallons each time in the last week, but the nitrate reading seems unchanged. The corals have been open and looking good about two days after I terrorized them by sloshing the tank around when I drove it home.
I'm moving about 20 to 30 times the water capacity per hour and I don't remember the wattage of the power compacts, but I'll figure that out when I go home. Seems like more light than the other tank.
Do you think I should add to the substrate or replace it gradually with sugar size aragonite sand? If so, replace or just add to the existing substrate?
Sorry I don't know enought to ask a concise question yet!
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