Not to derail this thread but I built a pretty successful and simple nitrate reactor for high load tanks, its stickied in the filters section. I'm working on a protein skimmer to work with the reactor to make for super low nitrates. I went from a large change every 3 days to 40% weekly changes.
It’s 6ft long and probably 18 wide not sure how tall I can measure when I get home to see and that way I’ll be exact
I do a 30% change every other week with zero filter cleaning then another 75% change with filter cleaning in between so it shakes out to weekly water changes with 2 being large and filter cleaning twice monthly. I run zero carbon in both FX6 filters. One has all 3 trays filled with ceramic rings and sponges on the side the other is same in middle but larger ceramic rings on outside with no sponge filter, this filter has lower flow rate because of external UV filter built into output line back to tank. Sand bed is 4-6 inches deep. I’ve tested nitrates before water changes and it’s near zero every time. The only reason for weekly water changes is I get yellow water because of urine accumulation as I don’t run carbon and I like the clearer water. I have 3 auto feeders with spectrum food each drops food once per day. I use 2mm in one, a mixed 1/2mm in another for clown loaches, and 3mm in the other for my larger frontosa. My tank is drilled so a water change is simply turning a knob and it’s plumbed into the drain then refilling I have a delta shower faucet hooked into return with hot and cold piping with the half inch return mounted above tank making refilling a breeze. Only thing I’m going to change is removing the led strip light and getting dual kessil tuna blue led’s which will Offer much more shimmer in the tank.
Love your tank. I had a 3D background custom built and installed but removed it about a year ago as I had fish getting stuck back there and we thought there was nearly 100 gallons of wasted space back there.
You are absolutely correct however the low oxygen levels in the deep sand bed help cultivate anaerobic bacteria this however can take years to fully develop so adding fish slowly over time is key so your anaerobic bacteria can grow with your load of fish.
I see that, mine was not with some areas nearly 6’’ from the glass and trust me removing it with fish and water in the tank wasn’t fun! I paid $1000 for it, had I known I would have saved that money for sure but oh well I guess. Let me know what you find out on your sand bed I hope you find a good solution. As I mentioned in previous posts and I can’t say 100% but my one FX6 filter has all bio ceramic rings and I only clean it probably every other month when water flow decreases as it’s hooked in line with the uv filter thus I might have some anaerobic bacteria in there was well. Bacteria as you know grow everywhere except the water column and canister filters offer low oxygen inside especially those we don’t open and clean often.
