Nitrate and phosphate control

[EDJFA]

Looking for some opinions from the group.

About a month ago I added a GFO reactor to my system. I did some testing today and found that my Phosphates are at 0 according to the API test I used. They were in 1-2 range before I added the GFO, so I guess I'll call that a victory and I feel like I can control that going forward.

My nitrates, on the other hand, are sitting somewhere between 10 and 20ppm with the API test. I've done quite a bit of reading on the subject of nitrate reduction and there doesn't seem to be a consensus as to which way is best.

What has been your most effective tool for reducing nitrates?

 

[chucklez]

I'm in the same boat, but my nitrate level is higher. Three or four weeks back I started vodka dosing. While I have seen some reduction in nitrates they are still high. Of course I have not really given it a lot of time to work. I also recently began skimming a lot more wet. Was getting nasty super dark sludge. Now I am getting tea.

I have also recently began looking at all-in-one bio pellets. For nitrates and phosphates. Tired of the brown powder coating gfo leaves in my sump.

 

[dweber618]

Following as well. About to purchase a GFO/Carbon reactor, but was wondering about running another reactor with bio-pellets as well to try to help with the nitrates.

 

[South City]

I used to have nitrates in the 20 to 30 ppm range. I began vodka dosing and it worked very well for me. After about 6 to 8 weeks of following the process of starting small and slowly increasing the dosage on a weekly basis, I finally had my first zero nitrates reading on my API test kit this past weekend. On my Red Sea test kit, I'm showing somewhere between 0 and .25 ppm.

For me, that's a little too low and probably explains why my softies and Zoas have been angry the past few weeks. I've cut back on my dosing and am hoping to maintain nitrates in the 2 to 5 ppm range.

 

[DudeDah]

Same boat...lost some SPS a couple of weeks ago so had to figure out what was going on. Alk=good, Ca=Good, Mag=Good. So starting looking into PO4 and Nitrate. Had to buy the ULR Hanna Phosphorus test since the Hanna PO4 test wasn't helping. Also bought the Red Sea Nitrate kit. PO4 tested out at .018=Good. NO3...not so good at 10. After chatting with a trusted reefer friend, I decided to go with Red Sea NOPOX and just LITERALLY implemented it into my dosing schedule a couple hours ago. Looks like I will know in about a week what the effect is...

 

[EDJFA]

I'm in the same boat, but my nitrate level is higher. Three or four weeks back I started vodka dosing. While I have seen some reduction in nitrates they are still high. Of course I have not really given it a lot of time to work. I also recently began skimming a lot more wet. Was getting nasty super dark sludge. Now I am getting tea.

I have also recently began looking at all-in-one bio pellets. For nitrates and phosphates. Tired of the brown powder coating gfo leaves in my sump.

What's the benefit of skimming more wet? I skim that same sludge, but have read others like you skim more wet, but they don't ever say why.

I found the NOPOX stuff from Red Sea to be interesting. I've only read the product description from their website and other retailers, but it sounds like it would work. And if it controls phosphates too, maybe I can repurpose my GFO reactor for something else.

 

[DudeDah]

I found the NOPOX stuff from Red Sea to be interesting. I've only read the product description from their website and other retailers, but it sounds like it would work. And if it controls phosphates too, maybe I can repurpose my GFO reactor for something else.

I'm pretty excited about all of the reviews I've read, of course...we are all looking for that Silver Bullet.

 

[Pife]

No pox is just carbon dosing. I used vinegar and vodka to reduce them and get them balanced. Haven't had an issue since.

 

[btweymouth1s]

If you have that miracle mud stuff I recommend pulling it out and replacing. My old tank had it and nitrates were about 60-70. After pulling it out they dropped to around 5-10 b/c of all the junk it trapped.