What would you do?

[joaovieira]

Hi everyone !

I have a 200 G reeftank mosty with sps. Basics are OK (Ca 430 Mg 1350 Kh 7.5), Phosphate 0 and nitrate 1 ppm.

To decrease nitrates i am using carbon source (zeostart 3 0.6ml day) and 2 liters of siporax (ceramics from Sera). Siporax is in nylon bags at sump and i am running 1 liter activates carbon and 200 gr GFO in the same reactor.

Since phosphates are 0 i was considering stopping running GFO. everyone agrees?

Since i have only one reactor and no space for another i would like to know what is better. To run siporax in reactor and activated carbon in sump or maintain activated carbon in reactor and siporax in sump ?

Thanks :beer:

 

[Pittsburgh]

Siporax is just ceramics, if you have enough LR in your tank I don't think you need it, it won't help with nitrates I don't think. What worked for me is carbon dosing of biopellets plus one course of zeobak to kick start the process. I suspect that a course of zeobak + vodka/vinegar dosing will do the same, perhaps with a bit more of a hassle of every day measuring and dosing.

I take off my GFO reactor when PO4 reaches 0.03 on hanna checker. Reintroduce it again when phosphates start going up. Typically I run activated carbon in the mean time to polish the water.

Once again, I do not believe that siporax will help you in any way with your nitrates. If you don't have room for another reactor, start vodka/vinegar dosing (I wonder if zeostart includes that already), run a course of zeobak and keep at it for a couple of months until you start seeing an improvement.

 

[ptreef]

nitrates of 1ppm is nothing to worry about. were they high before and just now at 1?

Look at what you are feeding and how? That alone can do the trick.

Use good frozen foods like rodgers, larry's or rods. if using the mass produced frozen foods (rinse and drain the thawed water)

Good skimmer?

i'd toss the spiporax and

 

[ptreef]

nitrates of 1ppm is nothing to worry about. were they high before and just now at 1?

Look at what you are feeding and how? That alone can do the trick.

Use good frozen foods like rodgers, larry's or rods. if using the mass produced frozen foods (rinse and drain the thawed water)

Good skimmer?

i'd toss the spiporax and