GFO is used for phosphates, correct? What does one use to remove nitrates? Just water changes or some sort of de-nitrator like the one seachem makes or is the cheato enough?
btw I just use bio-balls and a skimmer. That's what my system came with, though I make replace the bio-balls if it is counterproductive.
GFO is used for phosphates, yes. For nitrates, the best option is biological conversion of it to nitrogen, through liverock, plants (cheato/caulerpa) a denitrator, or removing waste before it breaks down to nitrates through high flow, excellent skimming, and possibly using frequently changed filter socks. Light stocking is usually important towards this goal as well.
I wouldn't recommend a seachem denitrator, unless they've really changed their products in the last few years, which I have my doubts about. I'd stick with the tried and true for denitrators... Either sulfur or ethanol (vodka) denitrators from long-lasting brands like midwest, deltec, korallin, etc. That being said, I'd still always prefer thorough skimming and/or cheato.
I'd get rid of the bio balls, as they can trap too much waste, and since they're very efficient aerobic facilities, they create a lot of nitrate, raising nitrate levels once they capture waste in them. I say pitch them, but only remove 10-25% at a time (like once a week or something) to not "shock" your system.
ive looked into making a fuge but my homework tells me that you need a very large fuge for the algae to keep up with the additions of nitrates and even more for phosphates.
biopellets have been doing the job for nitrates i have not been able to detect nitrates in two different test kits. bio bellets kick the vodka out the window
Fuge size depends on what you're asking from it. If you've got a pretty light fish load and/or are skimming, then it's not a problem to have a small one. If it's your primary filtration method and you've got a lot of fish, you'll need a lot of room for cheato growth.
I've got to look into these new biopellets... Sounds like more of the same that we've seen over a long time.. I really liked vodka when I was running it, but I also had a medium/low fish load, and a very very effective skimmer. If/when I do it again, I'll have another efficient skimmer and probably a fuge too, just to stabilize ph and provide some food for corals other than fish waste.
