Planted tank ( sump ) question

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burbon44s

Candiru
MFK Member
May 13, 2012
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milwaukee
I've got a 150 gal. sump, loaded with plants, that's been up and running for about 2 1/2 years.
The only fish in there is a pea puffer and about 100 or so bristlenose plecos. ( fry )
I've noticed lately that there's a lot of real fine brown sandy substance down under the substrate on the glass.
I think it's dirt and crap.
But I understood, with a planted tank, I shouldn't stir up the substrate.
Is this true?
Should I leave it alone or should I suck it out?
I've also noticed with this brownish sand, there's a white looking mold growing.
Is this a problem too?
What do u guys think?
Thanks for any help

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Your water parameters should determine if this is a problem. If your reading ammonia, nitrites or high nitrates (<40ppm) then yes but otherwise if its ugly siphon it out.




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Cheap way to decrease nitrates and keep your fish healthy: http://monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=504763
 
My guess is the white mold is really just minerals.

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Water parameters are fair. 60 to 80 on nitrate. 0 ammonia.
But I have lost fry before and a couple months ago I lost my adult breeders.
This sump filters my ray tank and they've had no problems
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60-80 PPM nitrate? I think that's high. Nitrate in my tank is from 5-20 PPM. 20 is the highest it's ever been. And I have 20 fish in there.
 
That's been the norm in my tanks for years.
And that's with a planted sump and a 3 gal per hr drip.
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This is what the substrate looks like.
If it's here along the glass, it's got to be everywhere.
Should I really try get get it out of the tank?
you think this is why the nitrates are high?

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uploadfromtaptalk1382622921650.jpg
 
Do you ever upkeep the planted tank, trim etc? That could be poop, algae, or it could be decomposing leaves. Do you ever trim or clean up the plants? If you don't physically remove dead leaves all of the nitrates they sucked up just go right back into the water as they decompose.


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That's an insanely high percentage of nitrates. Are you sure your test kits are good? As said above, they should be as close to 0 as possible.

60-80ppm you should be seeing bad effects on the fish, and I don't think most puffers like your pea would survive long in it, so I feel like something has to be up with the kit.
 
Nitrates not too bad for having 3 medium size rays in the tank with 3 monster bala sharks. Plus the sump is also full of pleco fry. Around 250.
I do pick through the plants pulling out all the dead leafs.
I just don't stir up the substrate.
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