Nitrate Reduction Suggestions
- Thread starter jwreffner
- Start date
Jerry W
Active member
Determine the factors contributing to the problem; high bioload, overfeeding, frequency/volume of water changes, water source.
Changing any of these can help. Increased frequency of water changes is a quick fix. Long term, look to some form of nutrient export such as a refugium, anda combination of the above factors.
Changing any of these can help. Increased frequency of water changes is a quick fix. Long term, look to some form of nutrient export such as a refugium, anda combination of the above factors.
Billybeau1
Premium Member
Gotta tell ya buddy...... My nitrates in my FO have been 50+ for years..... Unless you want to start reefing, not to worry 
Mad Scientist
Premium Member
Big skimmer, lots of LR, carbon, good water movement, and water changes (20% a week is actually probably too much since you want stability unless you are over compensating for overstocking or weak filtration).
Jerry W
Active member
Describe your system; fish load, do you use a skimmer, tap water or RO, filtration, feeding schedule, etc... Depending on some of these factors, maintaining a nitrate level of 0 may not be practical. While fish can tolerate higher concentrations of nitrates, keeping them in the low range is beneficial for the long term health of the tank.
Billybeau1
Premium Member
Well I'm not crazy about 50+ either but I guess I'm not as obsessed as you. If you really want to get them down, growing macroalgea in you fuge is a fine way to eat'em up. That and a good working skimmer are the best ways to combat this problem from what I'm told.
Billybeau1
Premium Member
Well that was constructive. I dont know if you noticed but they have a place called the lounge for people like you. I suggest you check it out.
Billybeau1
Premium Member
JW, what are your trates now. If no room under, hows about running a canister filter outside the tank with de-nitrate ?
If your trates are not too high, it should work.
If your trates are not too high, it should work.
Lrgclasper
New member
My nitrates are below 5 ppm... lots of light, macro algae, careful feeding, and a protein skimmer.
I dont even check my parameters weekly anymore.
60g tank. around 25kg live rock, no skimmer, 2 canister filters and a powerhead make my tank. Plus i feed small amounts each day and i havent seen my Trates pop above 20ppm.
Fairly basic equipment as far SW goes and very little effort. its not that im lazy but $ doesnt always mean the best
60g tank. around 25kg live rock, no skimmer, 2 canister filters and a powerhead make my tank. Plus i feed small amounts each day and i havent seen my Trates pop above 20ppm.
Fairly basic equipment as far SW goes and very little effort. its not that im lazy but $ doesnt always mean the best
you might want to consider a sand bed in a bucket. If you look thru the anything salty forum, you'll find info on how to implement this very simple concept.
Otherways to reduce nitrates.
1) reduce feeding /reduc ebioload
2) larger, more frequent, water changes
3) more aggressive skimming -collect wetfoam, not dry.
4) carbon or nitrate reducing substrates
5) bioreactors
6) mud/plant sumps
7) AZ-NO3
even w/ all this you may still see small amts of nitrates and as mentioned above, in SW nitrates are not a terrible thing, esp w/ fish.
Otherways to reduce nitrates.
1) reduce feeding /reduc ebioload
2) larger, more frequent, water changes
3) more aggressive skimming -collect wetfoam, not dry.
4) carbon or nitrate reducing substrates
5) bioreactors
6) mud/plant sumps
7) AZ-NO3
even w/ all this you may still see small amts of nitrates and as mentioned above, in SW nitrates are not a terrible thing, esp w/ fish.
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6993681#post6993681 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Billybeau1
Well that was constructive. I dont know if you noticed but they have a place called the lounge for people like you. I suggest you check it out.
Gee, I hope you weren't talking to me with this comment.
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