Getting a jump start on nutrient reduction

[Reef_Hobbyist]

I have my new tank up and running (first week). I am curious and want to experiment with exporting nutrients during the first 2 months of a new tank and see if I can actually avoid algae getting a foothold before the more natural processes begin to take over as the tank ages.

Phosphate export options like GFO and Lanthanum Chloride are quick and effective. I am going to use them.

Nitrate export options seem a bit more challenging to deploy in the first 2 months of a new tank. I think it is too soon to grow macro algae and even so would require more real estate than I am willing to commit to. Bacteria options via carbon dosing and biopellets seem to take 4-8 weeks to become effective even in a seasoned tank. The water change volume necessary to export nitrate would be cost prohibitive given my 900 gallon system. There doesn't seem to be a quick and effective option to export nitrate specifically in a new tank in the first 8 weeks.

I am leaning towards bio pellets at this point and perhaps seeding with bacteria.

Algae come, algae go - no big deal. All part of the fun. Just curious to see if there is a way to get a jump start especially on nitrate export (without massive water changes). What are your thoughts?

 

[Lenny_S]

IMHO, bio pellets work great if you get the effluent into or very close to the intake of a high quality protein skimmer. Fire it up when the ammonia and nitrite bottom out and the nitrates rise. Keep all lights off and don't stock until the nitrates drop.

 

[Reef_Hobbyist]

IMHO, bio pellets work great if you get the effluent into or very close to the intake of a high quality protein skimmer. Fire it up when the ammonia and nitrite bottom out and the nitrates rise. Keep all lights off and don't stock until the nitrates drop.

Thanks Lenny.

Although my tank is new, the rock was cycled for 3 months prior to going in. After putting it in the tank, I tested it a few days later with ammonium chloride solution and it was quickly converted into nitrate so I know its still ready to go.

Nitrate = 20
Phosphate = 0.2

With my setup I can easily align the bio pellet effluent close to the skimmer intake. What is the timeline for a new bio pellet reactor to get up to speed and reach the point where it can begin to reduce nitrates? Did you seed it with bacteria? Is it 4-8 weeks as I have read elsewhere?

 

[Lenny_S]

Getting the right amount of flow and tumbling will make it pretty fast. I've had it start reducing nitrates in 2-3 weeks, but I've not had it take more than 5. From that point it took another 3-4 weeks to build up and get the nitrates down to undetectable levels.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

. Bacteria options via carbon dosing and biopellets seem to take 4-8 weeks to become effective even in a seasoned tank. The water change volume necessary to export nitrate would be cost prohibitive given my 900 gallon system. There doesn't seem to be a quick and effective option to export nitrate specifically in a new tank in the first 8 weeks.

I am leaning towards bio pellets at this point and perhaps seeding with bacteria.

Algae come, algae go - no big deal. All part of the fun. Just curious to see if there is a way to get a jump start especially on nitrate export (without massive water changes). What are your thoughts?

FWIW, soluble organic carbon dosing only takes 4-8 weeks when you ramp the dose very slowly. Ramp it faster and the results will come faster.

 

[Lenny_S]

FWIW, soluble organic carbon dosing only takes 4-8 weeks when you ramp the dose very slowly. Ramp it faster and the results will come faster.

I never tried ramping bio pellets faster, but I have a feeling it wouldn't make a big difference since the carbon source in this case is confined and the bacteria need to find their way to the source and multiply there.

 

[Reef_Hobbyist]

I never tried ramping bio pellets faster, but I have a feeling it wouldn't make a big difference since the carbon source in this case is confined and the bacteria need to find their way to the source and multiply there.

I saw a suggestion to put a live bacteria solution into the reactor and just let it tumble gently with little or no effluent (didn't say how long). That makes some sense to me although I wouldn't leave it that way too long.

 

[Lenny_S]

I saw a suggestion to put a live bacteria solution into the reactor and just let it tumble gently with little or no effluent (didn't say how long). That makes some sense to me although I wouldn't leave it that way too long.

Never tried that myself. I've actually never really worried about trying to accelerate things. Every tank I've done I've probably had it initially cycle for 3-4 months before I added any kind of livestock. Just ghost feeding once or twice a week during that time.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I never tried ramping bio pellets faster, but I have a feeling it wouldn't make a big difference since the carbon source in this case is confined and the bacteria need to find their way to the source and multiply there.

I meant liquid organic carbon dosing going faster.

 

[Reef_Hobbyist]

Never tried that myself. I've actually never really worried about trying to accelerate things. Every tank I've done I've probably had it initially cycle for 3-4 months before I added any kind of livestock. Just ghost feeding once or twice a week during that time.

This is definitely going to be an experiment since it is a new tank. But at least I don't have to worry about upsetting a balanced ecosystem by going to far and lowering nutrients too low because I don't have any corals in there yet.

 

[Lenny_S]

I meant liquid organic carbon dosing going faster.

I knew what you meant, I was just saying I never tried similar with solid carbon. I'm sure it would work with liquid since it would distribute throughout the system. And guessing not if it's isolated in a reactor.