AZ-NO3 Nitrate Eliminator - Opinions???

[Keith Burns]

I know frequent water changes and not overstocking/feeding tank are key to keeping low nitrate levels. However, I am still getting nitrate readings in the 50 ppm range. I have a 38-gallon reef tank with a HOB bio-wheel filter and an Octopus 1000 HOB protein skimmer.

I am looking for opinions on a few possible chemical product solutions.
AZ-NO3 Nitrate Eliminator
Red Sea NO3O4-X Algae Management Supplement

Thanks.

 

[PDR]

I know frequent water changes and not overstocking/feeding tank are key to keeping low nitrate levels. However, I am still getting nitrate readings in the 50 ppm range. I have a 38-gallon reef tank with a HOB bio-wheel filter and an Octopus 1000 HOB protein skimmer.

I am looking for opinions on a few possible chemical product solutions.
AZ-NO3 Nitrate Eliminator
Red Sea NO3O4-X Algae Management Supplement

Thanks.

I know others have had success with using products like these to lower nitrate but I am not a fan of them. What is your water change schedule? Do you, or could you incorporate a fuge or algae reactor?

 

[Keith Burns]

I know others have had success with using products like these to lower nitrate but I am not a fan of them. What is your water change schedule? Do you, or could you incorporate a fuge or algae reactor?

I do a 25-30% water change every 2-3 weeks. I do not have room for fuge or reactor. Every thing is HOB. I have bio wheel filter, skinner, and up light.

 

[acro-ed]

I also "deal" with high nitrates. I try to keep mine around 25 in my SPS tank, but I was seeing 40ish for awhile and the growth and color were not as good.

I am very resistant to using any of those products for this issue.

You can keep it in check with a change in food/frequency/amount. I also added more live rock to the sump and ran my skimmer a little more wet along with this and I am able to keep it in range. I am still having to do a monthly water change, which suits me fine, but I have been able to shave about 15ppm off the number just with these measures. I would suggest to start there.

Hope that helps,
Ed

 

[Keith Burns]

I also "deal" with high nitrates. I try to keep mine around 25 in my SPS tank, but I was seeing 40ish for awhile and the growth and color were not as good.

I am very resistant to using any of those products for this issue.

You can keep it in check with a change in food/frequency/amount. I also added more live rock to the sump and ran my skimmer a little more wet along with this and I am able to keep it in range. I am still having to do a monthly water change, which suits me fine, but I have been able to shave about 15ppm off the number just with these measures. I would suggest to start there.

Hope that helps,
Ed

I have LPS and softies with the usual inverts and fish, what is an acceptable nitrate level for healthy and colorful corals?

 

[acro-ed]

Acceptable is sort of subjective, but I would shoot to keep it 30ish or less. I haven't noticed any sort of damage up near 50, other than color and growth was not optimal, but corals were still growing and had "decent" color. For my tank it "seems" that things look really fantastic around 25ppm so that's where I've been looking to keep it.

 

[Keith Burns]

Cool.
Thanks.
Guess more water changes and less feeding.