Tswifty
New member
Over the last few weeks I noticed the Nitrate level in the 20 Long tank that is currently holding all my livestock was beginning to rise. So when it hit 10ppm (not all that bad) I decided that I no longer wanted to wait and see how high they were going to get.
Anyway, I decided to use the Back to Back to Back Water Changes outlined on Marc's site.
I mixed up 15 gallons of salt water overnight, attempting to match all of the water parameters of the 20 long tank. Then I changed the water in 3 gallon intervals, allowing 5 minutes between each change for the freshly added saltwater to mix throughout the tank.
Then that night I mixed up 15 more gallons in the same fashion, and repeated the process the following day.
Below are the results:
<table align=center><tr><td valign=top></td><td valign=top><p align=center style='text-align:center'>Start  </p></td><td valign=top><p align=center style='text-align:center'> 1st Round   </p></td><td valign=top><p align=center style='text-align:center'>2nd Round</p></td></tr> <tr ><td valign=top ><p>Temperature</p></td><td valign=top ><p>   80.1</p></td><td valign=top ><p>   80.2</p></td><td valign=top ><p>   79.8</p></td></tr> <tr ><td valign=top ><p >Specific Gravity</p></td><td valign=top ><p>   1.0265</p></td><td valign=top sp 9><p>   1.0260</p></td><td valign=top ><p>   1.0255</p></td></tr> <tr><td valign=top ><p>pH   </p></td><td valign=top ><p>   7.7</p></td><td valign=top ><p >   7.7</p></td><td valign=top ><p>   8.0</p></td></tr> <tr><td valign=top ><p>Calcium   </p></td><td valign=top ><p>   470</p></td><td valign=top ><p >   460</p></td><td valign=top ><p>   450</p></td></tr><tr><td valign=top ><p>Magnesium   </p></td><td valign=top ><p>   1260</p></td><td valign=top ><p >   n/a</p></td><td valign=top ><p>   1200</p></td></tr> <tr><td valign=top ><p>Alkalinity (dKH)   </p></td><td valign=top ><p>   7.7</p></td><td valign=top ><p >   9.3</p></td><td valign=top ><p>   9.3</p></td></tr> <tr><td valign=top ><p>Nitrate   </p></td><td valign=top ><p>   10</p></td><td valign=top ><p >   5</p></td><td valign=top ><p>   2.5</p></td></tr> <tr ><td valign=top > </table>
Using Marc's Article I was able to post a 50% reduction both times. I can't really say I would've seen a larger impact on the second round, had a performed it the same day or not. Regardless, I am pleased with the results.
Quick wrap up... The tank was a 20 gallon long, and I ended up swapping in and out 30 gallons of fresh saltwater in order to achieve a reduction in Nitrate from 10ppm to 2.5ppm... with no noticeable harm to any of the tank's inhabitants.
Anyway, just wanted to share the info. Although, I couldn't imagine attempting this on a larger system... and thanks goes out to Marc for the "How to Guide."
Anyway, I decided to use the Back to Back to Back Water Changes outlined on Marc's site.
I mixed up 15 gallons of salt water overnight, attempting to match all of the water parameters of the 20 long tank. Then I changed the water in 3 gallon intervals, allowing 5 minutes between each change for the freshly added saltwater to mix throughout the tank.
Then that night I mixed up 15 more gallons in the same fashion, and repeated the process the following day.
Below are the results:
<table align=center><tr><td valign=top></td><td valign=top><p align=center style='text-align:center'>Start  </p></td><td valign=top><p align=center style='text-align:center'> 1st Round   </p></td><td valign=top><p align=center style='text-align:center'>2nd Round</p></td></tr> <tr ><td valign=top ><p>Temperature</p></td><td valign=top ><p>   80.1</p></td><td valign=top ><p>   80.2</p></td><td valign=top ><p>   79.8</p></td></tr> <tr ><td valign=top ><p >Specific Gravity</p></td><td valign=top ><p>   1.0265</p></td><td valign=top sp 9><p>   1.0260</p></td><td valign=top ><p>   1.0255</p></td></tr> <tr><td valign=top ><p>pH   </p></td><td valign=top ><p>   7.7</p></td><td valign=top ><p >   7.7</p></td><td valign=top ><p>   8.0</p></td></tr> <tr><td valign=top ><p>Calcium   </p></td><td valign=top ><p>   470</p></td><td valign=top ><p >   460</p></td><td valign=top ><p>   450</p></td></tr><tr><td valign=top ><p>Magnesium   </p></td><td valign=top ><p>   1260</p></td><td valign=top ><p >   n/a</p></td><td valign=top ><p>   1200</p></td></tr> <tr><td valign=top ><p>Alkalinity (dKH)   </p></td><td valign=top ><p>   7.7</p></td><td valign=top ><p >   9.3</p></td><td valign=top ><p>   9.3</p></td></tr> <tr><td valign=top ><p>Nitrate   </p></td><td valign=top ><p>   10</p></td><td valign=top ><p >   5</p></td><td valign=top ><p>   2.5</p></td></tr> <tr ><td valign=top > </table>
Using Marc's Article I was able to post a 50% reduction both times. I can't really say I would've seen a larger impact on the second round, had a performed it the same day or not. Regardless, I am pleased with the results.
Quick wrap up... The tank was a 20 gallon long, and I ended up swapping in and out 30 gallons of fresh saltwater in order to achieve a reduction in Nitrate from 10ppm to 2.5ppm... with no noticeable harm to any of the tank's inhabitants.
Anyway, just wanted to share the info. Although, I couldn't imagine attempting this on a larger system... and thanks goes out to Marc for the "How to Guide."
