garygonzales
Member
i wish i had nitrates around 30...lol..mine was 160 or so...with dosing nopox i finally got it down to 100...after three weeks ...so maybe 3 weeks more it should be more good results...hoping to get around 30...lol.....
High Nitrates - Immediate Removal?
- Thread starter Xxero
- Start date
Xxero
New member
It's the stubbornness of the deadlocked 30 that drives me crazy. I know that I could be much worse off, but to me, if our aim is to be as near as zero as possible then there's really no difference between 100ppm's and 30.
Have you tried a couple of very large water changes, Gary?
Have you tried a couple of very large water changes, Gary?
garygonzales
Member
yep i did two of them and nothing worked...so thats why doing the nopox..might switch to vinegar since nopox is pretty expensive...but keeping the same schedule going
garygonzales
Member
yep that's why i thought it would work better...since its so high...maybe when i get it down to manageable levels i might change.
Xxero
New member
90-60-30 Days of Nitrates
90-60-30 Days of Nitrates
It's been 90 days since I found out that I had high nitrates. At the time that I first tested, my nitrates read around 50ppm. Over the course of a 3 month war, the nitrates have been reduced down to about 30ppm and I cannot get them to budge. I thought that I would share a few things that I believed would have helped my situation by now, but haven't.
90 DAYS - Deep Sand Bed:
The DSB addition is now 90 days old. Still young, but not a baby. I'm not discounting it by any means, but I also have nothing really positive to say about it either. I'm giving it 90 more days, and then replacing it with a BIG MarinePure Ceramic Block.
Water Changes:
*sigh* Not only have I increased my partial water changes from 10% weekly to 30% weekly over these last 90 days, but I have also done quite a few large water changes in-between those. I can't say that it has had any negative effect, but anything short of large 50%+ water changes will not do anything for nitrate removal. Okay, I guess I will speak for myself and say they do nothing for MY nitrate removal.
Carbon Dosing w/ Vinegar:
I'm only into WEEK 5 on the vinegar dosing chart - about 18ml a day for my system. My water and glass stay crystal clear, but so far it does nothing for MY nitrates.
Algae Turf Scrubber:
Only 2 weeks in with this contraption, so I don't really have anything to report. It's still a little too early to receive any judgments in regards to my nitrate situation. I have to say that I like the ATS a lot though. Out of the many weapons in the nitrate reduction arsenal to choose from, this one has my full attention. I believe in the end that it will rank among the heroes.
Week 2: ATS (Front)
(Back)
(Funk)
I guess that's it. I'm giving things 2 more weeks as they are, and then I'm going to start thinking about more aggressive measures. I believe all of the above implementations to my system will be great in the long run. I believe that as they mature they will help a lot in keeping my nitrates down. But I am truly thinking that none of them even collectively are ever going to gobble up these last 30ppm.
2 more weeks and I plan on doing a major water purge. I plan on going the 20%-40%-20%-40%-20% route as to have the least effect on the tank's inhabitants. While the water is down to 20% I will also probably remove my 3 Pajama Cardinal fish. I like them a lot, but I believe that their removal might help to lighten the load. This will leave me with 4 fish in a 40b which I feel is a little more appropriate for this size of tank. :bigeyes:
90-60-30 Days of Nitrates
It's been 90 days since I found out that I had high nitrates. At the time that I first tested, my nitrates read around 50ppm. Over the course of a 3 month war, the nitrates have been reduced down to about 30ppm and I cannot get them to budge. I thought that I would share a few things that I believed would have helped my situation by now, but haven't.
90 DAYS - Deep Sand Bed:
The DSB addition is now 90 days old. Still young, but not a baby. I'm not discounting it by any means, but I also have nothing really positive to say about it either. I'm giving it 90 more days, and then replacing it with a BIG MarinePure Ceramic Block.
Water Changes:
*sigh* Not only have I increased my partial water changes from 10% weekly to 30% weekly over these last 90 days, but I have also done quite a few large water changes in-between those. I can't say that it has had any negative effect, but anything short of large 50%+ water changes will not do anything for nitrate removal. Okay, I guess I will speak for myself and say they do nothing for MY nitrate removal.
Carbon Dosing w/ Vinegar:
I'm only into WEEK 5 on the vinegar dosing chart - about 18ml a day for my system. My water and glass stay crystal clear, but so far it does nothing for MY nitrates.
Algae Turf Scrubber:
Only 2 weeks in with this contraption, so I don't really have anything to report. It's still a little too early to receive any judgments in regards to my nitrate situation. I have to say that I like the ATS a lot though. Out of the many weapons in the nitrate reduction arsenal to choose from, this one has my full attention. I believe in the end that it will rank among the heroes.
Week 2: ATS (Front)
(Back)
(Funk)
I guess that's it. I'm giving things 2 more weeks as they are, and then I'm going to start thinking about more aggressive measures. I believe all of the above implementations to my system will be great in the long run. I believe that as they mature they will help a lot in keeping my nitrates down. But I am truly thinking that none of them even collectively are ever going to gobble up these last 30ppm.
2 more weeks and I plan on doing a major water purge. I plan on going the 20%-40%-20%-40%-20% route as to have the least effect on the tank's inhabitants. While the water is down to 20% I will also probably remove my 3 Pajama Cardinal fish. I like them a lot, but I believe that their removal might help to lighten the load. This will leave me with 4 fish in a 40b which I feel is a little more appropriate for this size of tank. :bigeyes:
garygonzales
Member
looks good so far i guess dont give up it will eventually work....
My nitrates were over 100 around Christmas after several months reduced maintenance from medical issues. I started doing more regular water changes but it didn't help. Levels stayed steady leading me to believe that I am successfully exporting the nitrates added to the tank during the time between water changes but not enough to reduce the level. To lower nitrates I need to remove more nitrates than was being added buy normal tank operation. I started (on my 40b and my 125) doing 20-25 gallon water changes every week. At the time 25 gallons was about as much as I could do. I also have a 125 with the same problem. With the max of 25 gallon water change they did come down but not as fast. As of yesterday my 40 is at about 10 ppm and my 125 is somewhere between 25 and 50. I have also been dosing vinegar. I have a refugium full of rubble but chaeto keeps dying.
Xxero
New member
War!!!
War!!!
Dear Nitrates,
I gave you a chance. I gave you a chance to go away at your own leisure; to take your time; to gather your things; and just go. But you refuse. Not only do you refuse to go, but you also seem to be getting larger! Where you were once a cute yet stubborn 30ppm, you have now grown to 50 maybe even 60ppm!!!
Well no more. I have had enough, and I have been more than patient. I am sorry that we could not work things out peacefully, but I am openly declaring WAR on you and yours. Do as you wish, dear Nitrates, but know that I am coming for you with everything I've got.
Sincerely,
Xxero :bigeyes:
War!!!
Dear Nitrates,
I gave you a chance. I gave you a chance to go away at your own leisure; to take your time; to gather your things; and just go. But you refuse. Not only do you refuse to go, but you also seem to be getting larger! Where you were once a cute yet stubborn 30ppm, you have now grown to 50 maybe even 60ppm!!!
Well no more. I have had enough, and I have been more than patient. I am sorry that we could not work things out peacefully, but I am openly declaring WAR on you and yours. Do as you wish, dear Nitrates, but know that I am coming for you with everything I've got.
Sincerely,
Xxero :bigeyes:
Xxero
New member
It's the underlying source that has me dumbfounded, bertoni.
I've decided to go back to the origin of this thread. I want my nitrates to die. :mad2:
Now that I have my RO/DI unit, I'm going to perform a series of large water changes tomorrow. I'm going to get the nitrate levels as low as I can, and then begin dosing the NoPoX.
It seems that Sk8r, Dkuhlmann, and others are having success with the NoPoX, so I figured that I would give it a try. I stopped vinegar dosing last Sunday. I was about 6 weeks into the vinegar, and somehow my nitrates began to creep up from 30ppm. I'm not blaming the vinegar by any means, but I did find it odd.
My Algae Turf Scrubber is about a month old now. It is getting pretty good growth from week to week, but again.....my nitrates have been creeping up.
I'm hoping to knock my nitrates back down to less than 20ppm with the large water change regimen tomorrow. I purchased a new refractometer to replace a used/older one that I had. I will also be matching the water's alkalinity, and keeping an eye on all of the tank inhabitants during the process. Then I will begin dosing the NoPoX. I want the nitrates to get close to zero, and then see if the ATS, DSB, NoPoX, and normal water changes will keep them at bay.
This is my plan anyway. My reef hit its one year anniversary 2 days ago, and I wish to begin year 2 nitrate free. :bigeyes:
I've decided to go back to the origin of this thread. I want my nitrates to die. :mad2:
Now that I have my RO/DI unit, I'm going to perform a series of large water changes tomorrow. I'm going to get the nitrate levels as low as I can, and then begin dosing the NoPoX.
It seems that Sk8r, Dkuhlmann, and others are having success with the NoPoX, so I figured that I would give it a try. I stopped vinegar dosing last Sunday. I was about 6 weeks into the vinegar, and somehow my nitrates began to creep up from 30ppm. I'm not blaming the vinegar by any means, but I did find it odd.
My Algae Turf Scrubber is about a month old now. It is getting pretty good growth from week to week, but again.....my nitrates have been creeping up.
I'm hoping to knock my nitrates back down to less than 20ppm with the large water change regimen tomorrow. I purchased a new refractometer to replace a used/older one that I had. I will also be matching the water's alkalinity, and keeping an eye on all of the tank inhabitants during the process. Then I will begin dosing the NoPoX. I want the nitrates to get close to zero, and then see if the ATS, DSB, NoPoX, and normal water changes will keep them at bay.
This is my plan anyway. My reef hit its one year anniversary 2 days ago, and I wish to begin year 2 nitrate free. :bigeyes:
djbon
New member
Built one of this and nitrate is less tham 5, mostly hovering around 2. Have tried coil denitrator, cheato, dsb, ats and resin products bit none solve my nitrate problem (80ppm at one time). Feed 5ml vodka everyday. No water changes except when i upgrade to 75g. No refuge, only small 10g sump.
Xxero
New member
Nice set-up! :bigeyes:
djbon
New member
thanks man. This is what i called poorest man sump. You must be amazed by my "detritus's strainer" :fun2:
Xxero
New member
BoO0m!
BoO0m!
SoOo, DAY 1 of Nitrategeddon went well. Very well indeed.
Yesterday, I mixed up 50 gallons of new saltwater and let it circulate overnight. And today went like this:
1. I blew off/out all of my rocks with a turkey baster. To my surprise, there wasn't as much detritus settlement as I expected.
2. I tumble siphoned 1/3 of the DT sandbed. Again, not much funk at all.
3. Then I siphoned 20g of water out of the display tank. Roughly 50%.
4. Next I added 10g of new saltwater back in.
5. Then I siphoned out another 10g.
6. Added 10g of new back in.
7. Removed another 10g.
8. And then I filled the tank back to the top with 20g of new saltwater.
9. I siphoned 10g of water out of the sump, and then added 10g of new water back in.
A total of 50g of new saltwater added, so basically a 100% water change over the course of about an hour. All inhabitants are fine and dandy!
I tested the water about 20 minutes after, and my Nitrates are now at 10ppm!!!
Red Sea and API tests give me a result of 10ppm. Even if it's temporary, it is so nice to see. I haven't seen a Nitrate reading less than 30ppm since last Christmas!
Now for the NoPoX! :bigeyes:
BoO0m!
SoOo, DAY 1 of Nitrategeddon went well. Very well indeed.
Yesterday, I mixed up 50 gallons of new saltwater and let it circulate overnight. And today went like this:
1. I blew off/out all of my rocks with a turkey baster. To my surprise, there wasn't as much detritus settlement as I expected.
2. I tumble siphoned 1/3 of the DT sandbed. Again, not much funk at all.
3. Then I siphoned 20g of water out of the display tank. Roughly 50%.
4. Next I added 10g of new saltwater back in.
5. Then I siphoned out another 10g.
6. Added 10g of new back in.
7. Removed another 10g.
8. And then I filled the tank back to the top with 20g of new saltwater.
9. I siphoned 10g of water out of the sump, and then added 10g of new water back in.
A total of 50g of new saltwater added, so basically a 100% water change over the course of about an hour. All inhabitants are fine and dandy!
I tested the water about 20 minutes after, and my Nitrates are now at 10ppm!!!
Red Sea and API tests give me a result of 10ppm. Even if it's temporary, it is so nice to see. I haven't seen a Nitrate reading less than 30ppm since last Christmas!Now for the NoPoX! :bigeyes:
Xxero
New member
I just performed 2 more tests, and so far the Nitrates are holding at 10ppm! Sorry, I'm just really happy about this. :bounce2:
In the meantime, here are some 1 year tank pics:
I hope things keep going the way that they are. I can't wait to get back to coral purchases. :bigeyes:
In the meantime, here are some 1 year tank pics:
I hope things keep going the way that they are. I can't wait to get back to coral purchases. :bigeyes:
Xxero
New member
Nitrate Update!
Nitrate Update!
Well, my Nitrates held at 10ppm all last week, and I'm on DAY 8 with the NoPoX dosing.
I did a 20% water change yesterday, and my parameters after were:
Temp: 78 f
SG: 1.025
pH: 8.2
alk: 11 dkh
cal: 350
mag: 1120
NITRATE: 5ppm !!!
Phos: 0
I couldn't be happier. :crazy1:
Nitrate Update!
Well, my Nitrates held at 10ppm all last week, and I'm on DAY 8 with the NoPoX dosing.
I did a 20% water change yesterday, and my parameters after were:
Temp: 78 f
SG: 1.025
pH: 8.2
alk: 11 dkh
cal: 350
mag: 1120
NITRATE: 5ppm !!!
Phos: 0
I couldn't be happier. :crazy1:
Xxero
New member
Questions
Questions
I have been dosing NoPoX for the last 2 weeks. Between the big water change and the NoPoX (I'm assuming), my Nitrates are down to 5ppm. Following the Red Sea instructions for my collective gallons, it states that the end result (goal) of NoPoX is to reduce your Nitrates to a stable between 1 and 2.5ppm.
So I have a couple of questions, even if the answers are based on opinion:
1. If the Nitrates do reduce and stabilize between 1 and 2.5ppm because of the NoPoX, do I continue to dose that stabilizing amount forever and ever or can I at some point just stop dosing and see if my system now takes care of itself?
2. Has the NoPoX created a certain type of bacteria that is now dependent on NoPoX only, or can I at some point carbon dose with vodka or vinegar to keep the bacteria fed?
3. OoOr, if I stop dosing anything at all and my Nitrates stay below 5ppm is everything okay now or will the newly established bacteria eventually die off only to repeat this whole thing all over again?
Thanks for any input! :bigeyes:
Questions
I have been dosing NoPoX for the last 2 weeks. Between the big water change and the NoPoX (I'm assuming), my Nitrates are down to 5ppm. Following the Red Sea instructions for my collective gallons, it states that the end result (goal) of NoPoX is to reduce your Nitrates to a stable between 1 and 2.5ppm.
So I have a couple of questions, even if the answers are based on opinion:
1. If the Nitrates do reduce and stabilize between 1 and 2.5ppm because of the NoPoX, do I continue to dose that stabilizing amount forever and ever or can I at some point just stop dosing and see if my system now takes care of itself?
2. Has the NoPoX created a certain type of bacteria that is now dependent on NoPoX only, or can I at some point carbon dose with vodka or vinegar to keep the bacteria fed?
3. OoOr, if I stop dosing anything at all and my Nitrates stay below 5ppm is everything okay now or will the newly established bacteria eventually die off only to repeat this whole thing all over again?
Thanks for any input! :bigeyes:
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