Dropping nitrates

[reefndude]

I was able to see a color difference with red sea kit. Before it was dead on the 2ppm on color wheel...did I range test. Now it's definitely a shade in between 1 and 2 ppm.

I just did another 25g change. I will test again in a couple hours

 

[scardall]

I use NO3/PO4-X by red sea to reduce both at the same time. dose daily. Works well over time. Done. NO3 from 40ppm to <5ppm and PO4 from .14 to .o7ppm in under 2 months. No water changes either.

 

[bobman]

Yeah you got a point there but he has already done 3 x 15-20% in changes from what I read in the last couple days. It should have done something I would think.

 

[reefndude]

After todays 20g water change.

Color results is definitely closer to the 1 ppm range on red sea kit. Again doin the high range test. Before I started with the water changes color was dead on the 2ppm color. Was like that for over a month.

Salifert test kit shows no change on color chart

 

[reefndude]

I use NO3/PO4-X by red sea to reduce both at the same time. dose daily. Works well over time. Done. NO3 from 40ppm to <5ppm and PO4 from .14 to .o7ppm in under 2 months. No water changes either.

That would be an easier way for me to do it...if it worked for. I believe in order for carbon dosing to work you need an efficient skimmer to pull excess bacteria. My skimmer is still on the thinking about it shelf.

 

[bobman]

Yes carbon dosing you would need a good skimmer.

 

[JDP]

Have you considered the power of an anaerobic process? Should not need a skimmer?

 

[NeverlosT]

I have high nitrates, like 40ppm, and just did a 75g change on 140g water volume and it didn't budge them. I have a decent skimmer and will be trying the biopellet route next. Then it is that red sea nitrate dropper. Frustrating going through all that trouble for a large water change to have it no help.

I'd really suggest a skimmer for your system. If not for the nutrient removal then for the aeration and higher O2 content in the water.

good luck!

 

[Reefing Madness]

Vodka Dose. I can get your Nitrates down in a matter of weeks, and keep them where you want them kept.

 

[reefndude]

Have you considered the power of an anaerobic process? Should not need a skimmer?

I have not...can you explain some

 

[reefndude]

I have high nitrates, like 40ppm, and just did a 75g change on 140g water volume and it didn't budge them. I have a decent skimmer and will be trying the biopellet route next. Then it is that red sea nitrate dropper. Frustrating going through all that trouble for a large water change to have it no help.

I'd really suggest a skimmer for your system. If not for the nutrient removal then for the aeration and higher O2 content in the water.

good luck!

Thanks you

 

[reefndude]

Vodka Dose. I can get your Nitrates down in a matter of weeks, and keep them where you want them kept.

I'm listening

 

[Reefing Madness]

Start dosing 1ml vodka for 3 days, after 3 days jump it to 5mls. After 7 days jump it to 10mls a day, split up the dosing to 5mls in am and 5mls in the pm. Every 5 days jump it another 5mls. Split the dosing in half on every dose. Watch your Nitrate numbers, test once a week, the day of the next jump. When they have started to come down, then that daily dosage will be your maintenance dose until they come all the way down, at that point you won't jump it up anymore but maintain what your dosing. Once your numbers have come down to where you want them, then cut the dose in half, and that will be your daily dose to maintain that number.

 

[Oscaror]

I dropped my nitrates to fast and my zoas all nearly died

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

That would be an easier way for me to do it...if it worked for. I believe in order for carbon dosing to work you need an efficient skimmer to pull excess bacteria. My skimmer is still on the thinking about it shelf.

IMO, it is experimental without a skimmer, but may work OK. A few people are doing it.

 

[JDP]

I have not...can you explain some

Deep sand bed of some sort?
Nitrate reactor?

Review this information. I do not run this on my system, but may work for your design? Some would say, given the cost and maintenance in this regard, you would be best served with a quality Skimmer?

Do well!

http://www.theaquariumsolution.us/feeding-nitrate-reactor

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

FWIW, I desctibe how all the major ways of reducing nitrate work here, including anaerobic denitrators and sand beds:

Nitrate in the Reef Aquarium - REEFEDITION
https://www.reef2reef.com/blog/nitrate-in-the-reef-aquarium

 

[reefndude]

I dropped my nitrates to fast and my zoas all nearly died

I'm sorry to here to that. Hoe did you drop nitrates?

 

[reefndude]

My goal is drop nitrates to the 5ppm range and maintain with the way I've been running my system. I need to buy more chaeto because what I have left is now insufficient. No where to buy locally. If I am not able to control nitrates I will add a skimmer to the system. Then next step I will try carbon dosing if needed.

Mixing another 25g of saltwater now. May do another water change tonight or tomorrow depending on time.

 

[Oceansize]

The two most effective things I've done for nitrate export/control are buying a Diamond Goby and a Sulphur Denitrator, the Korallin s-1520.

The Diamond Goby is very efficient at stirring sand; once he made himself at home, stirring my sand bed myself now produces very little "fluff" or "snow." My sand is now always white instead of various shades of brown.

The sulphur denitrator is very good at keeping your nitrates wherever you want, including near-zero. It returns de-nitrated water back to your tank via a drip hose; you simply set the drip rate to maintain your preferred nitrate level. The negatives are it's a tad expensive ($300 I think?) and it can take about two months to get running at peak efficiency, so admittedly it does not meet your criteria for quick reduction of nitrates. It just means that you won't have this problem again.