Nitrate Reduction 101 with sugar!!!

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8625835#post8625835 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by archie1709

Here it is at 120 ppms Nitrates:

nitrates_too_high_103.jpg


Here it is at 10 ppms Nitrates 15-days later.
after_the_cleanup_177.jpg



I'm sorry, but the only thing that looks the same to me is the background behind the glass.
Did the cleanup include replacing all the rocks?
 
It would be dumb to just throw chemicals and sit back, you know. That's with any treatments. AZ NO3 didn't say no more algae in 30 days. It says zero nitrates in 30 days. You used my photos out of context and failed to look at all three of them to show that the nitrates went away and did not resist.

One possible sign that nitrates remain zero in the long run is when nuicance algae do not resist. That can mean that the nitrates did not resist. And in my own consumer test, nitrates remained zero from then on. The link explained to you why it is not just sugar in water like some claim.

I don't know if you have read any other "How to reduce Nitrate" posts but if you assume that adding chemicals ALONE will solve your problems, you will be frustrated.

I cleaned the rocks because that is what "clean up" is about. I rearranged the rocks so that dead spots are further reduced. Powerheads were repositioned to allow for better gas exchange. And you can see that the third pictures never had nuicance algae after that; NOT EVEN NOW two years later.

You also failed to notice that the equipment remained the same. And they are two Hang On Back powerfilters from Petsmart, powerheads (all of which visible on both before and after pictures if you look closely) and a cheap Prizm skimmer.

Hmmm....no sump, no high tech skimmer, and no refugium....but no nitrates or phosphates? How unfair?! How come this guy only paid no more than $120 in equipment and had the same output parameters as the rest of the folks who spent $12000 in equipment?

AZ NO3 and good husbandry is the answer to that. More expensive and more intricate equipment wasn't the answer. And no, I don't have to deal with sugar or vodka or whatever kitchen stuff you see. There are other ways to cut corners with costs of the hobby. Buying AZ NO3 saves money in the long run, and it doesn't gravely affect my budget too because I only had to buy this product once. I never finished the bottle because my problem was solved after the 30 day treatment.

Sorry if any of you feel unfairly ripped off by intricate systems. I keep it simple and cheap because it ends up in the same place anyways.

Oh, this was taken last July 2006. Zero nitrates, same equipment, and yeah, don't take it literally when I say the same...reefers do move things around. You will soon learn that.
july_4_2006_083.jpg
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8625940#post8625940 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kryppy
I'm sorry, but the only thing that looks the same to me is the background behind the glass.
Did the cleanup include replacing all the rocks?

Replacing of rocks? You mean, removing all of the rocks, then putting new live rocks with no algae on them just to trick people on photograph? Isn't rocks somewhere in the $5.99/pound rate? And the "replacement rocks" that you say aren't base rock looking either.

So your smart assumption is that I took all of those expensive, fully cured, aged, live rocks, and spent more money to put new rocks in just to prove a misleading point?

Ever heard of toothbrush? Hahaha. At least that's what I did because it is at least smarter than replacing the rocks with new ones that have no algae.

The condescending tones live on so they are responded to accordingly in the same approach.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8695001#post8695001 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by thriceanangel
Still holding at 10.....

I have nitrate holding at 5 to 10ppm as well, but such low level of nitrate may just be fine, I don't see nuisance algae anymore and I haven't changed water in the past year.

As far as AZ NO3, the tank Archie you showed above don't represent many of our tanks. We have large number of fish and over feed them and want to find a way to keep the water clean without water change. I don't know if there are testimonials out there with people using AZ NO3 for such tanks? I agree the cost isn't an issue, but until it can be shown AZ NO3 can do wonders your common household sugar can not do, what's the point of spending the money?
 
Yeah you may be right. ALL of my hair algae just vanished! I mean it was gone in like 2 weeks. But I do still have a good bubble algae colony going on.
 
I've had nitrates at 20 to 40 FOREVER and no matter what I did, I could not get them any lower. I tried 1/4 tsp sugar in my 55 every other day for three weeks... No change. Still around 40. So this method didn't work for me, I'll try AZ NO3 next.
 
I've had nitrates at 20 to 40 FOREVER and no matter what I did, I could not get them any lower. I tried 1/4 tsp sugar in my 55 every other day for three weeks... No change. Still around 40. So this method didn't work for me, I'll try AZ NO3 next.
 
Angel Fish your PM box is full :)
Bifferwine,3 weeks may not be long enough.Also if your still importing the nitrates it may not come down as quickly.Do some serious cleaning of filter sponges or filter socks, anything that may trap crud.Skim wet and dose everyday until you start seeing a drop in nitrates.Thats what worked for me.A 1/4 teaspoon everyother day may not drive them down,you may have to up the dose a bit.I use a 1/4 teaspoon daily to keep nitrates and PO4 at 0.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8763732#post8763732 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Cosmo^Kramer
Angel Fish your PM box is full :)

Not anymore - I'm so embarrassed -- I didn't think that would ever happen to me ;)

Cosmo, what Prodibio product(s) do you use? I was thinking of trying some.
 
Hi,

I was wondering if it's actually possible to limit P. I've heard before that P would always be available. My test kit does not show any P but we know it doen't test for organic phosphate.

And... If you have measurable phosphate and no N would you dose N to help balance the ration to remove even more P?

Just an item of interest after searching for information on the redfield ratio is that N:P can vary from 6:1 to 60:1. 16:1 is just an average.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8762986#post8762986 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Bifferwine
I've had nitrates at 20 to 40 FOREVER and no matter what I did, I could not get them any lower. I tried 1/4 tsp sugar in my 55 every other day for three weeks... No change. Still around 40. So this method didn't work for me, I'll try AZ NO3 next.

AzNo# is just sugar water.


What are you keeping for fish? What do you have for a skimmer? How much flow?
 
Okay so i a 130 gallon tank that i would like to get the nitrates down in as i feed fairly heavy. After reading through this thread i am still scared actually...lol
How much would i start with on this tank? And i am waiting for a new skimmer so all i have is the remora pro is that enough to oxygenate with my sump? As i would prefer not to let my tank die...:)

Just though i would get the imput before i go for the plunge.

Thanks
Lisa
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8843299#post8843299 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hansonfam
Okay so i a 130 gallon tank that i would like to get the nitrates down in as i feed fairly heavy. After reading through this thread i am still scared actually...lol
How much would i start with on this tank? And i am waiting for a new skimmer so all i have is the remora pro is that enough to oxygenate with my sump? As i would prefer not to let my tank die...:)

Just though i would get the imput before i go for the plunge.

Thanks
Lisa
Start with 1/2 of a teaspoon of sugar every other day, this is s super low dose, but increase when needed when you get your new skimmer. Again I have never lost a thing doing this, ont thing I do advise though, is that if you have any fish in the tank, with an infection, ich, etc. Don;t use the sugar because the sugar doesn't just grow the helpful bacteria, it makes everything grow. I'm not doing this to scare anyone, this is what someone told me and I have never had a problem, good luck
 
bacteria blooms

bacteria blooms

Anyone think about what bacteria is really blooming in the tank? It does not seem likely that ammonia/nitrite fixing bacteria would find extra sources of food. Ammonia and nitrate are consumed almost immediatley. Denitrifying bacteria live deep in the sand bed and in rocks, it also does not seem likely that they are escaping.

This leads to other types of bacteria that break down organics. They could bloom and spur ammonia/nitrite spikes and that fuels the process. With the processing of organics during a bloom would tend to leave the water clearer... IMO This process would possibly remove organics from suspended particles to bacteria themselves. Removing these organics may help remove nitrates/phosphates in the long run. Although we don't probally see the denitrifying bacteria as a bloom they still can benefit from the carbon source.

It also seems likely that certain trace elements are being removed during this process at a excellerated rate with the addition of a carbon source. More frequent water changes may be needed?

Anyone seen a bloom in a BB tank?
 
wow, thats alot of reading and testimonials. I will try tomorrow and mine will be a small dose I am not in any hurry since my tank has been at this level for a long time. I will be adding mine to the tank with my kalk dosing (top-off).
 
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