High nitrate problem

merlberg · Jul 4, 2016

Ive been fighting high nitrates for about a month and its not getting better. It is now 80 ppm and I do a w/c every week... Idk what else to do. What am i not soing properly or what should i be doing more often?

merlberg · Jul 4, 2016

@twilliard ur always helping out lol so i at u lol. Can i add nitrate reducer to my tank with corals in it?

twilliard · Jul 4, 2016

Macro algaes in a refugium (diverse)
Carbon dosing is also an option

twilliard · Jul 4, 2016

merlberg said:
@twilliard ur always helping out lol so i at u lol. Can i add nitrate reducer to my tank with corals in it?

Yes I treat this as a job

6am to 5pm

merlberg · Jul 4, 2016

twilliard said:
Macro algaes in a refugium (diverse)
Carbon dosing is also an option

I always put carbon in my filter sock... About a cup for my tank but it seems not to help. This week I also started bio pellets in hopes that it would help but nothing... What am i not doing right?

So i shouldnt use any reducers should I?

merlberg · Jul 4, 2016

twilliard said:
Yes I treat this as a job
6am to 5pm

Yes I see

twilliard · Jul 4, 2016

Well more like this is what carbon dosing is
https://mecoral.com/understanding-carbon-dosing-with-vinegar-or-vodka/

greg 45 · Jul 4, 2016

Nitrates don't go down overnight. Try using a sulfur reactor, they all take time to kick in. Also slow down on feeding fish this will help.

ludnix · Jul 4, 2016

What's your tank stocked with in terms of fish? How much and how often do you feed?

Ontheway · Jul 4, 2016

Try siporax. 2-3 months to fully establish.

twilliard · Jul 4, 2016

There are 2 ways to reduce nitrate
Export methods
Increased bacterial population

jsker · Jul 4, 2016

merlberg said:
I always put carbon in my filter sock... About a cup for my tank but it seems not to help. This week I also started bio pellets in hopes that it would help but nothing... What am i not doing right?

So i shouldnt use any reducers should I?

It is going to take about 2 to three week for the bactria to kick in with the bio pellets, I have been running a 1/8 dose from what the manufacture recommends and I am noticing a difference in my nitrates and the way the tank looks.
You can dose Nopox, vodka, vinegar are types of carbon dosing

Gary Wilkinson · Jul 4, 2016

You might like to add bacteria, personally I have had good results with Aquaforest Pro Bio S and AIO Pearls, you could use Zeo Bak as an alternative, as said above it takes time for the Pearls to kick in the nitrates didn't go up over night nor will they come down that fast either

Piranhapat · Jul 4, 2016

Slowly adds some vodka. It worked great for me.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-08/nftt/index.php

Breakthecycle2 · Jul 4, 2016

Biopellets are great. Which ones are you using?

Side Note: I would not be running carbon in your filter socks are high flow area. It has been known to cause HLLE.

twilliard · Jul 4, 2016

Breakthecycle2 said:
Biopellets are great. Which ones are you using?

Side Note: I would not be running carbon in your filter socks are high flow area. It has been known to cause HLLE.

Isn't that caused by the release of carbon dust?

Fudsey · Jul 4, 2016

My nitrates were much higher than yours so I bought a Aquamaxx sulfur denitrator. It took approximately 6 weeks to seed and now is lowering my nitrates. I tested yesterday and they are down to 10-20 ppm from well over 160. I was told the fastest way to lower nitrates is multiple large volume water changes, 50% or better close together. I did a couple, a week apart as to not stress anyone out, and it helped but the denitrator is really doing it's job. Now I don't have to do the large water changes as frequently.

Link to my thread https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/aquamaxx-sulfur-denitrator-ts-1.248281/

merlberg · Jul 4, 2016

twilliard said:
Well more like this is what carbon dosing is
https://mecoral.com/understanding-carbon-dosing-with-vinegar-or-vodka/

Ive never heard of tht but its an interesting clip. Im going to do more research to see about the vinegar dosing. Have you ever done it before?

twilliard · Jul 4, 2016

merlberg said:
Ive never heard of tht but its an interesting clip. Im going to do more research to see about the vinegar dosing. Have you ever done it before?

Yes I have done carbon dosing in the past and am currently dosing vinegar

Ontheway · Jul 4, 2016

I insist on more natural way. Try siporax or similar media which houses a lot of bacteria and contains no risk. Of course, if you have some space in sump.