High nitrates

[jsker]

I'm assuming the vodka dosing is what's doing it or the high nitrates killing my corals it's depressing to see corals dying and not knowing what's causing it

Vodka is a form of carbon dosing that work for some, but also needs to be incorporated slowly.

 

[Sabellafella]

i have a 300 gallon reef tank and I can't seem to keep my nitrates down been doing water changes around 7o gallons weekly nitrates are around 50 phosphates 1 running Gfo that don't seem to help and that's it tried carbon dosing with vodka but seems to be hurting some of my lps been losing a lot of corals lately thinking about using bio pellets any thoughts

What kind of test kits are you using?

 

[Pcreefer]

Salifert just got them about 2 months ago

 

[Pcreefer]

I do run a reactor with Gfo maybe I need to add more to the reactor

 

[miyags]

Have you ever thought about adding a algae scrubber? I'm going to try and make one,but I need to make a larger sump first. Might be your cheapest option.

 

[tj w]

Well, I'm right there with you with high nitrates. I have a 300g as well. My nitrates are at 150[emoji15], I've done water changes, have a refugium, skimmer and all and it hasn't helped much. That being said I just ordered the sicce biopellet reactor plus also bought a new skimmer. I should have it all in by Monday so hopefully it will help. Good luck man!

 

[hawkinsrgk]

I had high nitrates in my tank around 80 ppm. Tried vacuuming the sandbed, increased water changes,less feeding, etc. Nothing seemed to work. As soon as I removed my sandbed nitrates went to 1 ppm and I am having to dose 250ml of potassium nitrate to keep nitrates at 3 ppm

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Large water chances also strip the bio load of the system and will do more harm.

What do you mean strip the bioload?

It doesn't noticeably impact bacteria that drive the nitrogen cycle, if that's what you mean. Those are not generally suspended in the water.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

There are lots of good ways to reduce nitrate.

I explain and compare them here:

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

 

[jsker]

What do you mean strip the bioload?

It doesn't noticeably impact bacteria that drive the nitrogen cycle, if that's what you mean. Those are not generally suspended in the water.

Let me write something up for discussion that makes since

 

[Jesus]

i have a 300 gallon reef tank and I can't seem to keep my nitrates down been doing water changes around 7o gallons weekly nitrates are around 50 phosphates 1 running Gfo that don't seem to help and that's it tried carbon dosing with vodka but seems to be hurting some of my lps been losing a lot of corals lately thinking about using bio pellets any thoughts

I have a 300 gal also and I had the same problem and I also tried vodka and everything else you are trying with no luck .this is how I fix the problem... I have a 70 gal sump and made 50% as refugium where I put 30 lbs of miracle mud ,some macro algea and some live rock, and I also bought a nitrate reactor and bio pellets I must say they don't work right away but in about 2 months your nitrates will be close to zero

 

[Centerline]

If you decide on a Bio Pellets I would take the caution to keep your ALK at 8-9. Unfortunate personal experience taught that lesson. That being said you will find posts where people keep hi ALK levels and have no problems.

 

[Centerline]

AND if you don't mind spending the money, my experience has been that NoPox will strip nitrates out so fast you may be surprised.

 

[Waterjockey]

AND if you don't mind spending the money, my experience has been that NoPox will strip nitrates out so fast you may be surprised.

You can do that with simple vinegar or vodka.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I have a 300 gal also and I had the same problem and I also tried vodka and everything else you are trying with no luck .this is how I fix the problem... I have a 70 gal sump and made 50% as refugium where I put 30 lbs of miracle mud ,some macro algea and some live rock, and I also bought a nitrate reactor and bio pellets I must say they don't work right away but in about 2 months your nitrates will be close to zero

When you tried vodka, what happened that made you stop and conclude it wasn't working, instead of add more or wait longer?

 

[lauderdalestunner]

I had a bad nitrate problem started vodka at about 3ml bumped up daily till about 20ml 10 morning 10 at night. Excellent results switched to biopellets after the wife was complaining about the Ketel One missing.

 

[Pcreefer]

A lot of my lps corals were dying chalices plates frogspawn birdsnest brains died and it seemed the more vodka I used the more cyno I got I was up to 18 ml on vodka but I wasn't consistent with mb7