I just can't win with Nitrates

[kissman]

Kissman I had such huge nitrate issues in my tank until I started running biopellets. Literally within 2 weeks they were down from 50 to 5 (more like 3) now. Couldnt recommend them more!

Before I tore the tank down and started over. I had decided to switch from FOWLR to Reef my PO4 was 5.0 and my NO3 was 140+. I worked my tail off and got Nitrates down steady to 20ppm but never could get them any lower. I tried Pellets in a Phosban Reactor for a few months and didn't have any luck. Once I went to Vodka dosing and didn't have any luck decided to drink teh vodka and try vinegar worked like charm got NO3 to zero. PO4 to zero then my tank was to clean and coral started dying. Got ****ed off took everything to LFS and got credit. I am really trying to do this without adding anything other than rock or macro to sump.

 

[kissman]

Cyano is still gone except for the one corner near window. I have put a piece of construction paper on that side

 

[kissman]

Just got home and the Cyano is still gone! Between the three days lights out, water change, and leaving the side that might have been getting sunlight during the day it is gone. Now I will say that my Aiptasia has doubled this weekend. I have got to catch this wrasse and get some Peppermint shrimp. I will post test results later.

 

[kissman]

Aquarium Reef Tank parameters are:

Temperature: 78
Salinity: 1.0264
Nitrate, NO3: 12
pH: 8.3
Alkalinity,KH: 155ppm 8.6dKH
Calcium, Ca: 425
Phosphate, PO4: 0.1 or 33ppb


for date: April 12, 2015

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[kissman]

I am gonna run PO4 and NO3 again tomorrow night. The RO/DI I used in the NO3 High range test had been sitting around for a few days plus I had just feed half a cube about 15 minutes before running my tests. My Sun Coral was extended so I had to feed while it was open some

 

[CStrickland]

Sorry if you mentioned it before, but what is your feeding / maintenance routine for when you go out of town?

I think you said you are away a lot, so I was wondering if there's some instability there. Like if you were cleaning a lot, and then an auto feeder was overdoing it, that would be sort of a one step forward two step back type of deal and maybe the cyano is just clever enough to use the advantage? I've heard bad things about some pellets, and tank sitters...

 

[kissman]

I do have an auto feeder thats feeding flake food once a day when i am gone. But its not feeding much its set on the first notch. I was thinking about that tonight and i think i am going to empty it out and fill it with pellet food and see if the nutrients go up over the weekend.

 

[kissman]

Ran 2 tests tonight NO3 is 8ppm and PO4 is .055 or 18ppb

 

[Swope2bc]

I've read your thread Kissman if for nothing else to read the advice others give so that I myself can learn. I did notice one person suggesting an ATS, is there a reason no interest has been put into that option?

 

[Clowny88]

Just got home and the Cyano is still gone! Between the three days lights out, water change, and leaving the side that might have been getting sunlight during the day it is gone. Now I will say that my Aiptasia has doubled this weekend. I have got to catch this wrasse and get some Peppermint shrimp. I will post test results later.

I know some say its hit or miss... But my peppermint shrimp gobbled up all the aiptasia in my tank. I didnt think he was doing anything but one day I came home and a giant aiptasia was shriveled up and the shrimp was gobbling down a giant tentacle in the corner. Aiptasia free tank.

 

[kissman]

I've read your thread Kissman if for nothing else to read the advice others give so that I myself can learn. I did notice one person suggesting an ATS, is there a reason no interest has been put into that option?

Don't know if i can incorporate it into my sump really not much room. I do admit i need to read up on them more. Hope this thread helps you. I have learned more from this site than any other.

I know some say its hit or miss... But my peppermint shrimp gobbled up all the aiptasia in my tank. I didnt think he was doing anything but one day I came home and a giant aiptasia was shriveled up and the shrimp was gobbling down a giant tentacle in the corner. Aiptasia free tank.

I have had luck with Peppermints and Aiptasia Eating File Fish. But, i need my Sixline Wrasse and Royal Gramma out first. Just have to find the time. I am hoping to make a trap tonight out of a bottle and atleast get into the tank so they will start getting use to it and start going inside it

 

[Swope2bc]

Don't know if i can incorporate it into my sump really not much room. I do admit i need to read up on them more.

Well from what I understand they take up much less room than a 5g bucket, can be plummed directly from your overflow as long as there is sufficient flow and can be built in a variety of different sizes... Basically if you have 8/10" above your sump you should be able to fit one. I just like the idea of naturally removing the excess nutrients. You still have to take care of them by harvesting the algae but it seems to work great. I would provide a link but I'm not sure how lol... Good luck though, I'll keep watching your progress.

 

[kissman]

Well from what I understand they take up much less room than a 5g bucket, can be plummed directly from your overflow as long as there is sufficient flow and can be built in a variety of different sizes... Basically if you have 8/10" above your sump you should be able to fit one. I just like the idea of naturally removing the excess nutrients. You still have to take care of them by harvesting the algae but it seems to work great. I would provide a link but I'm not sure how lol... Good luck though, I'll keep watching your progress.

Thanks, I will look into them more. With my light that I have over the middle chamber of my sump and the 2 Phosban Reactors and a fan hanging over the third chamber would be tough to put one in. I will research them though. I am also researching MarinePure Block 8x8x4 to add to my sump for more surface area and denitrification. As you watch the progress if you find anything else you might want to add please add to the thread. I try and make any thread I start as detailed as I can so that other Aquarists can find it useful. I could and do spend hours a day on sometimes on ReefCentral. I have tried other Forums but to be honest they suck! LOL:beer:

 

[Swope2bc]

I will watch and add as I find new information. If you can squeeze the ATS in you may be able to do away with one of your reactors at some point.

 

[kissman]

I will watch and add as I find new information. If you can squeeze the ATS in you may be able to do away with one of your reactors at some point.

I hope I wont be using one reactor much longer anyway. I have Filter Floss in and cut it on when I blast rocks and do a water change to help catch detritus. But I am also happy to say I ordered 2 Vortech MP10's today and will get rid of the Hydor's on the Wavemaker! One has carbon in it

 

[Swope2bc]

Sweet!! Are you still winning against the cyno?

 

[kissman]

Sweet!! Are you still winning against the cyno?

YES so far!

 

[Swope2bc]

Nice! Keep us posted, perhaps some tank shots?

 

[coralsnaked]

The guys already hit on it. You do not have enough bio filter You are short on de-nitrifying bacteria. You need MORE rock whether base rock or not. My choice is deep water tongha.

 

[kissman]

The guys already hit on it. You do not have enough bio filter You are short on de-nitrifying bacteria. You need MORE rock whether base rock or not. My choice is deep water tongha.

Yeah thinking hard about MarinePure Block 8x8x4 lots of surface area