Reducing Nitrates

[djbon]

Nutrient management is very subjective. Some are complex and expensive, a few are simple but effective. I chose the later, and here are my tank and sump. Most mportantly don't do these if you are having nutrient issue:

1) Overfeeding
2) Overcrowding
3) Topping up using other than RODI

 

[Tautoga]

Are there any ways to reduce nitrates other than doing water changes. I've still got 40ppm after a 20% water change. Ammonia and Nitrites are at 0.

I'm afraid that if I change too much water, I could knock the tank back into a mini-cycle.

No one has asked this yet, but do you use tap water or RODI water for water changes and for the original tank set up?

 

[joeybemate]

The only issue that nitrates really cause from what I've seen and heard and IME is algae problems, which high phosphates also cause. So if you can get your phosphate under control 40ppm nitrates are fine anyways. Unless I'm wrong and someone can correct me?

 

[AlSimmons]

No one has asked this yet, but do you use tap water or RODI water for water changes and for the original tank set up?

True, but there are a lot of absolutely stunning tanks out there that do indeed use tap water. What baffles me is the amount of threads I see where an individual is using RO/DI water yet they still have the same problems that tend to accompany bad tap water. Maybe they're just bad at this hobby, because that is what it is, a hobby... We can't all be winners unfortunately.

 

[Mad_Reefer]

Tap water must be considered case by case. And therefore no one should base their own decisions on others, in this regard.

 

[AlSimmons]

What do you mean by "case by case?" The individual? Don't get me wrong it can be poison, but look within first. JMO GL.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2004/1/chemistry

 

[djbon]

Get a TDS meter and test your tap water, if it reads above 10, then do a test for PO4 and NO3, at least these ions are not required in our tank. My tap water reads above 40TDS, been using it for more than 2 years, no issue. Out of sudden, algae everywhere. Turns out that running on low NO3 (close to zero) with 0.5ppm PO4 from tap water is the culprit.

 

[Mad_Reefer]

Some tap water is not too bad. Some is full of junk. I would never use it without having a clear idea of everything upstream and testing regularly. An RO/DI filter is worth buying.