filter that eliminates nitrates?

[Reef addict 01]

hey guys I have a 65 gallon reef tank, I'm in a constant battle with the detritus red slime and brown sand. I haven't been running my media reactor in awhile I think that's part of the problem, I recently just ordered some phoslock to take care of the Browns sand and some nuisance algae and red slime that as far as I know feeds off of phosphate. the question I had for you guys was I'm looking for a hang on the back filter that eliminates nitrates. currently all I have is a freshwater dual carbon filter which helps to keep the water clean but doesn't have any way of growing good bacteria or getting rid of nitrates. I also have a sea cyclone protein skimmer.

 

[Reefing Madness]

DeNitrator
tank accessories

Or just Carbon Dose (aka Vodka Dose)
Vodka Dosing by 'Genetics' and 'Stony_Corals' - Reefkeeping.com
Melevsreef.com - Dosing Vodka to Lower Nitrate & Phosphate

 

[Reef addict 01]

Thank you

 

[puffermike]

I'm a fan of the Chemipure Elite and algone pads. They've always worked great in all of my setups. The both reduce nitrates and the Elite removes phosphates as well.

 

[Reef addict 01]

I'm a fan of the Chemipure Elite and algone pads. They've always worked great in all of my setups. The both reduce nitrates and the Elite removes phosphates as well.

I didnt think chemipure did that. Ok nice! yeah I'm looking for a filter that will reduce my nitrates I don't have a sump setup so it has to be a hang on the back filter

 

[puffermike]

If your nitrate levels are high you might want to grab yourself some purigen too. That stuff does wonders for nitrates. Chemipure is a bit slower but lasts about 4 months on a moderate load, algone is pretty steady and lasts about a month. The nice thing about the purigen is how you can replenish it. I use those for my predator tank.

My reef has a canister filter and a HOB filter. I put the algone in the HOB and the two packs of Chemi in the canister. Five is about the highest Ive ever seen my nitrates in a 100G. Thinking about adding the purigen into the reef. We'll see how that works.

 

[Reefing Madness]

If your Nitrate levels are high, just Vodka Dose

 

[puffermike]

If your Nitrate levels are high, just Vodka Dose

As long as he has a skimmer.

 

[Reef addict 01]

As long as he has a skimmer.

+1, I do have a scammer I started vodka dosing a few weeks ago. My zoas didn't like it I don't think or maybe something else was going on with them. A yellow tang of mine died as well I really have no idea how that happened so I can't blame that on vodka either. I started off at the .1 milliliters per 25 gallons and then after 4 days I went up to a point to .1 milliliters per 25 gallons I missed a few days but continued on until I reached a .7 milliliters the following week. after that I stopped because that's when what I mentioned above started happening like I said can't blame it on the vidka but I don't know.

 

[Reef addict 01]

I mean skimmer and .2 after 4 days*

 

[Reefing Madness]

You didn't Dose long enough for the Vodka to have done anything. .7 isn't enough to harm anything.

 

[Reef addict 01]

You didn't Dose long enough for the Vodka to have done anything. .7 isn't enough to harm anything.

Ok well then i guess ill have to try it again lol

 

[Reef addict 01]

meant to ask you madness, do you have corals in your tank? How did they like the vodka dosing?

 

[Reefing Madness]

Yes I have Corals, and I still dose vodka, on a daily basis (12mls in am 12mls in pm). The clarity in the tank is amazing, doesn't bother them one bit.

 

[Reef addict 01]

Yes I have Corals, and I still dose vodka, on a daily basis (12mls in am 12mls in pm). The clarity in the tank is amazing, doesn't bother them one bit.

now that you have been vodka dosing for a while how is the difference in your corals from before you started to now? I guess what I'm asking is do they grow better have more color and just look healthier? do you have soft corals in your tank? Did they like the fact that there are no longer any nitrates? Because I have heard that soft corals may not do well in a really clean water is this true?

 

[Reefing Madness]

I've got Soft Corals in my tank, for the time being. But the bonus about dosing, is that you keep the Nitrates where you want them. Dosing is supposed to help with Phosphates also, but don't take that to the bank, if it does, it does so ever so slowly.
Now as for coloration, well, thats kinda tough to say, as I now have an LED unit, which gives the corals some GREAT color. I also have a 22k 250w halide on the other side, which, doesn't give the color that the LED does. So, that one is tough to answer, but the color that I have now with them is tremendous.
That being said, I have no Phospahtes either, and my Nitrate reading is 0. I don't keep Trates in my water for the Softies, they get used to it. I used to keep it at 10-20, but don't anymore, as Im planning on getting LPS.

 

[Reef addict 01]

I've got Soft Corals in my tank, for the time being. But the bonus about dosing, is that you keep the Nitrates where you want them. Dosing is supposed to help with Phosphates also, but don't take that to the bank, if it does, it does so ever so slowly.
Now as for coloration, well, thats kinda tough to say, as I now have an LED unit, which gives the corals some GREAT color. I also have a 22k 250w halide on the other side, which, doesn't give the color that the LED does. So, that one is tough to answer, but the color that I have now with them is tremendous.
That being said, I have no Phospahtes either, and my Nitrate reading is 0. I don't keep Trates in my water for the Softies, they get used to it. I used to keep it at 10-20, but don't anymore, as Im planning on getting LPS.

Ok that makes sense. What kind of vodka do your recommend. I'm just using cheap $1.50 a pint crystal palace.

 

[Reefing Madness]

Yea, just get the cheapest you can get your hands on, providing it doesn't have any flavoring to it. That will do ya.

 

[Reef addict 01]

Ok perfect