how often do you clean your overflow box

[Melt]

I notice I have a nitrate problem for a while now...i did water changes and it would lower and still noticeable and high..I when as far to get a bigger skimmer..the skimmer is working like a devil and I still noticing nitrate..well today I got mad and decide to check everything in the tank. What I discover is the dual overflow boxes full with stuff in the bottom.. I clean them out so I will see if it makes a different..

How often do you clean your overflow boxes?.this is the first time i ever clean mines...

[ March 08, 2005, 08:38 AM: Message edited by: Melt ]

 

[pecan2phat]

I never clean the overflow box, but there was some member on the LIRA website on RC that mentioned the problem that your refering to. He actually had problems with stagnant water in the overflow besides detritus on the bottom. He suggested that a small powerhead be put down in the overflow and that has solved his problem.

 

[jackson6745]

Leon, any settled detritus in your system, no matter where it is, will contributed to your nutrient level.

How big and how often are your water changes?

How much are you feeding, how many fish?

How old is your sandbed?

How long does it take before you get an algae film on the glass?

I can probably stop by next week....I'll fix your nitrate problem

 

[Melt]

thanks a million........aglea on the glass every other day.
every other week..15 galllons.(it's a 120g +20g sump)
i use to feed a two cube of frozen per day..now I feed one cube every other day..

stock..1 hippo, 1 purple tang,3 chromis and i aglea benny (chomis and aglea bewnny just added bout 4 weeks.)

 

[Pedro]

2 cubes of frozen a day?..Wow. Glad you cut back on that. Fish can go 2-3 days without feeding. I would do half a cube every other day. It takes time for things to fall into place. Just keep up on your husbandry. Good luck.

Also do not use the powerhead on the overflow, it will just spread it around. Siphon it out instead.

[ March 10, 2005, 10:00 PM: Message edited by: Pedro ]