Chemi-pure...

[mikeguerrero]

Hey Reefers,

Anyone ever use chemi-pure in there nanos? I have removed my bio-balls and my ceramic rings in order to bring down my nitrates which are at 20 m/g.

I have also removed the stock carbon that comes with the nano. I figure it's been almost 4 months and I need new carbon.

So I started my quest on which reef safe carbon I should use. Chemi-pure looks great but I have to run it against your views before I make a decision.

I have purchased Nitrate sponge by kent marine in place of the bio-balls and ceramic rings. So I need to add some type of carbon to go along side the nitrate sponge. I have used the nitrate sponge in the past and it does work good.

After reading some info on the net, it says you should really only run carbon for 2-3 days tops, because if left too long, it will begin to remove trace elements.

So most carbon companies say, run carbon when doing a water change to help clear up the water and since I have the HOT magnum this is simple to do. But I'd like to know if you guys leave in the carbon bag longer say 2 or 3 months and then change it if so which one?

thanks,

Mike

 

[incysor]

I haven't run carbon on my nanos. I run small amounts of it all the time in the large system. I've never seen chemi-pure, so I've got no input on this one. Sorry.

B

 

[ExiledInfidel666]

iv used it, amazing stuff I must say, its like magic, some reason theres even less visable waste in my tank when I have it, might help breed some type of bacteria or something i dont know but yea definitly get it, it works wonders and gets rid of everything you dont want in your reef

 

[mikeguerrero]

Thanks exile,

I've ran it for 2 days and it's awesome. It keeps my tank crystal clear, better than regular cheap carbon that comes with the tank.

I've noticed my corals are much larger, could it also be that it's because the bio balls and ceramic rings are gone? Plus I removed the old packet of carbon. My carbon has never been changed since I bought the tank 3 months ago.

I think it was leaking back phosphates into my tank.

Mike

 

[dragon79]

Thanks exile,

I've ran it for 2 days and it's awesome. It keeps my tank crystal clear, better than regular cheap carbon that comes with the tank.

I've noticed my corals are much larger, could it also be that it's because the bio balls and ceramic rings are gone? Plus I removed the old packet of carbon. My carbon has never been changed since I bought the tank 3 months ago.

I think it was leaking back phosphates into my tank.

Mike

What do the makers of the nanocube recommend for care of the tank? Do they say to keep everything as it came or does it say for some point to remove that stuff, as you have?? If so Sandra has to know Mikey, you may want to let her know, so she doesn't encounter problems in the future with her nano tank. Thanks.

 

[Phischy]

I'm confused, what do you have in your tank that would predict the need for carbon or chemi-pure? Is something producing waste, more than the live rock can handle?

 

[mikeguerrero]

Hi Dragon,

Apparently there is this huge controversy on best practices on biological filtration in a nano cube deluxe. Let me try to explain what I've learned in the last 2 weeks.

JBJ says clearly on their instructions that if the tank is to be used as a reef tank only, remove the bio-balls and ceramic rings.

The reason behind this logic is that in a fish only tank, the bio-balls and the ceramic rings serve as a strong biological filtration. The majority of fish only tanks do not have sufficient live rock for natural filtration, so the need to use the balls and rings is crucial for the survival of the fish.

Now here is the problem with these balls and rings in a reef tank. They are extremely well at the nitrification process; that is the break down of Ammonia to Nitrite and then to Nitrate.

Okay so what's the problem you ask I want nitrification in my tank, yes but with the balls and rings you don't grow any anaerobic bacteria that is crucial in helping to break down Nitrate.

Anaerobic bacteria grows really well in deep sand beds and live rock. If you ever have broken a piece of live rock and smelled rotten eggs, that is a bunch of anaerobic bacteria, which has a job of breaking Nitrate down to a harmless gase that exits into our atmosphere.

The bio balls and ceramic rings don't have the pores necessary to grow this anaerobic bacteria and therefore Dragon, produce high amounts of Nitrates into your tank, making your live rocks and live sand work twice as hard and they can't do there job as well.

If you rid yourself of these balls and rings you are directly bringing down your nitrates. In your case since you left them running like me you need to gradually remove them day by day, as to not cause a spike of ammonia to rise in your tank.

Once they are all out, you can rest assure with weekly water changes that your nitrates stay in control.

Phischy, I'm using chem-pure as cleansing period for the removal of my bio balls and rings, it's helping keep the PH stable until my rocks can take over from the sudden loss of bio balls and rings. I have also minimized feedings until the process is complete...

Mike

 

[dragon79]

Hi Dragon,

Apparently there is this huge controversy on best practices on biological filtration in a nano cube deluxe. Let me try to explain what I've learned in the last 2 weeks.

JBJ says clearly on their instructions that if the tank is to be used as a reef tank only, remove the bio-balls and ceramic rings.

The reason behind this logic is that in a fish only tank, the bio-balls and the ceramic rings serve as a strong biological filtration. The majority of fish only tanks do not have sufficient live rock for natural filtration, so the need to use the balls and rings is crucial for the survival of the fish.

Now here is the problem with these balls and rings in a reef tank. They are extremely well at the nitrification process; that is the break down of Ammonia to Nitrite and then to Nitrate.

Okay so what's the problem you ask I want nitrification in my tank, yes but with the balls and rings you don't grow any anaerobic bacteria that is crucial in helping to break down Nitrate.

Anaerobic bacteria grows really well in deep sand beds and live rock. If you ever have broken a piece of live rock and smelled rotten eggs, that is a bunch of anaerobic bacteria, which has a job of breaking Nitrate down to a harmless gase that exits into our atmosphere.

The bio balls and ceramic rings don't have the pores necessary to grow this anaerobic bacteria and therefore Dragon, produce high amounts of Nitrates into your tank, making your live rocks and live sand work twice as hard and they can't do there job as well.

If you rid yourself of these balls and rings you are directly bringing down your nitrates. In your case since you left them running like me you need to gradually remove them day by day, as to not cause a spike of ammonia to rise in your tank.

Once they are all out, you can rest assure with weekly water changes that your nitrates stay in control.

Phischy, I'm using chem-pure as cleansing period for the removal of my bio balls and rings, it's helping keep the PH stable until my rocks can take over from the sudden loss of bio balls and rings. I have also minimized feedings until the process is complete...

Mike

Cool, so how long is this process until it's complete? (I'm going off your last sentence here)

 

[mikeguerrero]

The chemi pure needs to be replaced about every 3 months. That is what goes in place of the bio balls in my opinion. I also placed in there a sack of Nitrate Sponge.

Mike

 

[n3m3ss1s]

I use chemi-pure and I rotate it every three months. It keeps my tank sparkling clear. It is just a high grade of charcoal filter. The owner of the store says its better then regular charcoal he buys in bulk. He has to replace the charcoal he gets every two to three weeks. Chemipure says 1-6 months. I just do three cause thats when I notice lots of junk and my water has a yellow tint(hard to see btw).

 

[Phischy]

Ok, I see what's going on now. I was confused just scratching my head trying to figure out where the pollution was coming from. Thanks!

 

[dragon79]

The chemi pure needs to be replaced about every 3 months. That is what goes in place of the bio balls in my opinion. I also placed in there a sack of Nitrate Sponge.

Mike

I'm glad my friend Nemesis was able to help back a great product. Of course I coudn't resist and picked it up today. I've taken out the ceramic rings, and left the stock carbon, put in the chemi-pure next, and by your instructions mike, I've left the bio-balls in temporarily. Day by day I'll remove one until all 5 are out. I was also thinking of picking up some live rock bits to fill up the second compartment. If and when I do that, I'll move the chemi-pure to the first compartment as did larnie from nano-reef.com. I think instead of leaving one sponge (like larnie), I may leave two. Correct me if I'm wrong mike...would the chemipure go in first, followed by the two sponges? Or the other way around? Does it matter? Reason I like the idea of the live rock in 2nd compartment is how beneficial live rock is and how it helps filter and also provide a shelter for copepods to breed. What do you think of all of this Mikey?

 

[Sharptooth+]

New User

Hello?

 

[mikeguerrero]

I'm glad to hear that you added chemi-pure to your nano Dragon. Have you noticed anything different in your tank? Water clarity, more response with your frags?

Mike

 

[dragon79]

water

I'm glad to hear that you added chemi-pure to your nano Dragon. Have you noticed anything different in your tank? Water clarity, more response with your frags?

Mike

Water is very clear, all corals expanded looking very nice and big as well as healthy. I couldn't resist and took pictures of the tank last night. I'll have Sandra post up soon to give you a nice visual of how healthy everything is, and how the new aquascapping looks like. She'll also be picking up some more LR soon too. Catch you laterz.