Nitrate

[OysterGurth]

Has anybody used instant ocean nitrate reducer? or anything i can put where the carbon goes in my protein skimmer where the water returns I have a 10g nano and got a little lazy with my weekly water changes. The last month i have been back on my weekly schedule for water changes but my nitrates are still about 40ppm. i put in a lps coral and the next day was already dead and i am thinking this is why. My zoas and palys are doing great. Any suggestions on what to do?
thanks Ryan

 

[Newsalth2o]

Make it a softies only tank? With that small a volume its better to just change a good amount of water every day until you get it under control. IMO

 

[prickles]

i'm doubting that 40 nitrates would kill a coral that quickly. it's more likely acclimation issues or a dying coral already.

 

[OysterGurth]

maybe i rushed acclimation how do you folks do it

 

[prickles]

I tend to drip acclimate, similar to with fish.

 

[danfeig]

+1 on drip acclimation. I then will dip the corals using the same water, check closely for any pests, and will then observe in my frag tank for a few days before placing in my main display.

 

[brettinteriors]

There is not a quick fix for nitrates other than water changes(usually temporary). Things like io nitrate remover are like dosing vodka, vinegar or running bio pellets. They are all food sources for bacteria that when increased basically eats nitrates. IMHO it takes 3-6 months to get an effective bacteria level making the io costly. Might try good sand vacuuming if your not already.

I ran vinegar for a few years and my nitrates zeroed out. Great for sps but not so for many other corals.

Are you checking phosphates?

 

[danfeig]

Nitrates

Nitrates

Alrighty, let me throw this one at you.

So my Nitrates have always run at 20 - 40 (sometimes 50ppm)! It's been a constant battle as I love to feed and have such a large bio load. I am running a sand reactor and have always had a basketball sized piece of chaeto, under lights, tumbling in my refugium.

Recently my Nitrates have been running 0 - 5ppm. What's changed???? The only thing that I have done different is for the past 6 weeks I have been dosing live copepods, some rotifers and phyto into my system on a weekly basis. Mike seems to think that the copepods are what has lowered my Nitrates.

 

[OysterGurth]

thanks josh good info. How about that algae scrubber you made did that help out any? I think i will try the pods as well Dan is there such thing as over dosing with the copepods? I havent checked phosphates. I will be grabbing that test kit this week

 

[brettinteriors]

Algae scrubber has helped for sure.
If your going to get a po4 test kit only the Hanna colorometers are sensitive enough. The others are completely worthless for phosphate.