mhampton27
New member
Does anyone have a quicker way of getting nitrates down besides just doing water changes?
High Nitrate
- Thread starter mhampton27
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Underwaterparadise
New member
Denitrate media from sea chem, but don't rely on it as a solution to the problem. Just use it to get by in a pinch.
mhampton27
New member
Nitrates
Nitrates
Im just trying to get them down I was testing my water all the time and it was really low so I cut back then I just tested it because my snails were dying and I lost a fish and my nitrates were 80 before they were under 10
Nitrates
Im just trying to get them down I was testing my water all the time and it was really low so I cut back then I just tested it because my snails were dying and I lost a fish and my nitrates were 80 before they were under 10
kevin95695
Member of the Registry
Rock bottom solution: Water change.
Solving underlying problem: Feed less. If that's not your issue define what variables are generating nitrates like a neglected filter sock etc.
Other ways: Deep sand bed, or remote deep sand bed. Macroalgae like chaeto. Keep critters that eat nitrates like clams.
Solving underlying problem: Feed less. If that's not your issue define what variables are generating nitrates like a neglected filter sock etc.
Other ways: Deep sand bed, or remote deep sand bed. Macroalgae like chaeto. Keep critters that eat nitrates like clams.
robertloop
Member
I've got lots of nitrate experience. The posts above are correct. Huge water change...... then you'll need to do a few more as the nitrate leaches from the LR, and algae dies off ect..... There is not "one" solution to keeping the trates down. It will take a few adjustments. The solution in my 120 was deep sand bed, cutting back on feeding, huge skimmer upgrade, phosphate reactor.
If you have a large bio load, getting the organics out of the water via skimmer and/or fuge before they break down is key. The cheato didnt really work in my case because the diatoms would grow on the cheato so fast and snuff it out. funman is the official cheato pro. I hear cheato like flow to keep it clean.
If you have a large bio load, getting the organics out of the water via skimmer and/or fuge before they break down is key. The cheato didnt really work in my case because the diatoms would grow on the cheato so fast and snuff it out. funman is the official cheato pro. I hear cheato like flow to keep it clean.
SoundsFishy2me2
New member
Water changes alone is a tough way to reduce and keep the nitrate down, it will come back up (as you've likely seen) try ALSO changing filter socks daily. If you have sand blow the rocks and sand a little to freeup some of the debris from the tank and if you have a good skimmer you can get a product sold thru marinedepot called AZ-N03 (reef safe) that binds the nitrate and in a short time allows them to be filtered out. Vodka can also be used as a 'sugar' source and slowly added then slowly reduced once the nitrate is reduced to zero.
kevin95695
Member of the Registry
Do some research before you dose vodka. It works, but it has it's dangers.
dots
Premium Member
I've sugar dosed quite a bit, even crashed my nano on purpose a couple of times so I could push the limit of it, and find ways to recover.
Go to the Chem forum and there is some information there, and do plenty of homework before trying it. You can loose your tank very fast.
Its not for fixing any problems, is not a magic bullet, and there is some/alot of risk in doing so.
It does work and I recommend using it for cases when you add some live rock and get a massive spike........you know......the once in the while thing.
I still use it occasionaly, but Carbon drives bacterial growth which I believe over time can disrupt the natural balances in the tank.
I think it helps drive the growth of cyano, and quite possibly could have been a contributer to my problems over the summer.
Its a tool, and a good one to be familliar with, but not a crutch nor excuse for poor husbandry.
Which is the reason I didn't suggest it as an alternative for this thread.
High Nitrate are caused from feeding too much and not doing large enough/frequent enough WC's. Cut back on the feeding, and up your WC's, but first by starting with larger ones. With a few weeks-month you should have it at a more managable point, that is when you should have a reguim started if you so desire. WC's and feeding sparsly helps control it the best.
Those are more prone to Nitrate problems have: Smaller tanks, no skimmer, lots of fish (or big ones), who feed too much because, and still follow a more "conservative" WC schedule.
Last edited:
saltycreefer
New member
Re: High Nitrate
2 back to back 50% water changes. Problem solved
2 back to back 50% water changes. Problem solved
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