Skimmer setting to reduce nitrates

[Mikro]

I have the remora pro skimmer. My nitrates are 25ppm. Would it help to skim more wet in order to reduce the nitrates?

 

[jeffbrig]

Yes....anything you can remove from the water before it breaks down is that much less organic material getting converted to nitrate over time.

 

[Mikro]

So what happens to the gunk the filter used to catch?

 

[musty baby]

If you have a mechanical filter then the stuff sitting in the filter media is only helping raise the nitrate level in your tank. Wet skim and keep the filter media clean.

 

[Mikro]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6523595#post6523595 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ryansholl
If you have a mechanical filter then the stuff sitting in the filter media is only helping raise the nitrate level in your tank. Wet skim and keep the filter media clean.

Well maybe I used the wrong term "mechanical". What I mean is a floss type filter media. Could that retain nitrates?
What I have is a wet/dry converted to a fuge, but still have been using the prefilter and floss-like stuff.

 

[jeffbrig]

Any filter media that catches "stuff" is not helping with your nitrate problem. If you leave the "stuff" in the water, it will continue to break down, and will do so quickly in high flow areas). This organic matter becomes ammonia->nitrite->nitrate. The best solution is to remove as much as possible before it breaks down. This is best accomplished through skimming. If you choose to run any mechanical filter media (filter floss, sponge, bag, etc.) you should clean it daily to remove the "stuff" that is collected.

 

[grim]

A skimmer can not reduce existing nitrate in your tank. It can prevent your nitrate levels from rising further however (by skimming out matter that has not yet broken down).

You'll need to do some water changes to reduce your nitrate once you get the skimmer up and running. While you may still see nitrate build, it should take significantly longer to do so.

jb

 

[Mikro]

Would siponing the substrate help (when I do water changes)?