Denitrator effluent at 0, Tank nitrates at 5

AcroporAddict

AcroporAddict

There is no substitute.
465 SPS tank. Just started testing for nitrates. Sulfur denitrator effluent is reading 0 at about 6 drops a second flow rate. Tank nitrate level is at 5 (or near that) via A Salifert Nitrate Test Kit. Sulfur denitrator flow rate has been that way for a long time. I don't usually test for nitrates or phosphates, and I also use GFO.

I can up the denitrator effluent rate if I need lower nitrate levels in the tank, or vice versa.

So am I good for nitrates, or should I go for more or less in the tank?

What say ye nitrate experts? Is zero the best or a little in the water? FWIW, I am quite happy with the colors, etc. It is just I read about you must have 0 nitrates and then I read 10 is best, 5 is best, etc. Not sure what to think?

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Mine are around 5 and my corals are happy, gorgeous tank. I wouldnt worry about it IMO stability is more important than 0. I am sure others will chime in who have better tanks than me but yours is better than most I have seen and I have seen a LOT.
 
Tank looks great and sounds like you're happy with color, growth etc so if it ain't broke don't fix it :-)
 
how much sulfur are you using and how long has your DeNO3 been running?

i always say lower is better, with NO3. zero reading with a Salifert test kit is far from 0.00. i use NSW and the water i get has never had any readable NO3 with a Salifert tester.
 
Sorry i was not clear, what kind of pump are you using to get the water into the reactor, I tried a aqua lifter and that only worked for a short time.
 
moondoggy4 said:
Sorry i was not clear, what kind of pump are you using to get the water into the reactor, I tried a aqua lifter and that only worked for a short time.
Click to expand...

Oh, sorry about that. I used a manifold feed off the main pump originally, but it was a PIA to regulate, so I bought a used Cole Parmer Masterflex peristaltic pump to feed it. No worries since. Rock steady flow rate. Pic of pump and denitrator. I use a Masterflex to feed my GEO 818 calcium reactor as well.

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Denitritifier

Denitritifier

Thanks for the thread. I have the same GEO denitrifier and I am using the aqua lifter. My denitrifier looks a little different. Can you send pictures from the front.

As for your original question nitrate levels between 2 and 5 are perfect IMO

Your tank looks incredible not sure you would see a lot of difference if the nitrate was lower.

How is the polyp extension?
 
RxMike said:
Thanks for the thread. I have the same GEO denitrifier and I am using the aqua lifter. My denitrifier looks a little different. Can you send pictures from the front.

As for your original question nitrate levels between 2 and 5 are perfect IMO

Your tank looks incredible not sure you would see a lot of difference if the nitrate was lower.

How is the polyp extension?
Click to expand...

The Denitrator is by Midwest Aquatics, which is a knockoff of the Korallin model. The calcium reactor is by GEO.

I thought I might try to lower nitrates to 2 or so and stay there.

Polyp extension is OK. I have a Goldflake and Blue Line Angel in the tank, and they nip at them every once in a while.

I have never tested for phosphate before, but have always used GFO. I have a Hanna ULR Checker coming in in a couple days, so I thought I might get some real numbers about phosphates as well.
 
I like to see "clear" through the top of Salifert with just a bit of tint when looking through the side - like maybe .1 or .2. Other than that, a little film algae, or macro, is good with me since that makes me sure that I am not starving the corals. This gives me the best colors and growth for all types of coral, except maybe clams which still grow just fine, just not as fast as I have seen them grow in other tanks. That being said, I would not sweat 5.
 
JDA how do you get your nitrate levels so low? do you run anything? Has anyone done research on natures reef.com? A friend of mine is running it and he swears it is amazing easy and economical way to control phosphate and nitrates.
 
Maintained sand bed and real live rock (not dead, dried or quarried dense stuff). This will effectively keep N and P near zero naturally through denitrification and phosphate binding/swapping with bacteria. I skim quite heavily with both a ETSS 800 and a old ER 12-2.

I don't use any carbon or GFO. I will sometimes use 1/2 cub of GAC if I want to take some pictures and really polish the water.
 
Thanks, you answered my first and second question, so I guess i have one more, I have a calcium reactor and a nitrate reactor both off line due to the feed pump PIA, so which head do you use to feed two separate reactors at the same time? Thanks again
 
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