How to balance nitrates

Jake_the_reefer · Aug 2, 2019

So I have had 0 nitrates for as long as I can remember. I turned off my skimmer to let it rise. Within a week it is now up to 15ppm (I did just start dosing phyto so that could be why) but what would be a better way to manage nitrates in my 20g? On off schedule for skimmer? Hob refugium (made from aquaclear 70) I do have a hob filter so that could be acting as a nitrate factory.

Hermie · Aug 2, 2019

Well you did two things that both have an impact on nitrate levels, so the first thing you want to do is identify to what extent each thing is affecting your levels. If you just started dosing phytos, try turning your skimmer back on and measure your nitrate levels for 2 weeks or so.

Also, Nitrate factory is somewhat of a loaded term. A nitrate factory theoretically cannot exist without a source of ammonia/ium, so really you want to find out where your ammonia is coming from (such as increased phyto feedings) if you want to lower your nitrates.

That said, are you noticing something wrong with your corals?

Goodair · Aug 2, 2019

You can try a timer on the skimmer.

Jake_the_reefer · Aug 2, 2019

NotASpammerDude said:
Well you did two things that both have an impact on nitrate levels, so the first thing you want to do is identify to what extent each thing is affecting your levels. If you just started dosing phytos, try turning your skimmer back on and measure your nitrate levels for 2 weeks or so.

Also, Nitrate factory is somewhat of a loaded term. A nitrate factory theoretically cannot exist without a source of ammonia/ium, so really you want to find out where your ammonia is coming from (such as increased phyto feedings) if you want to lower your nitrates.

That said, are you noticing something wrong with your corals?

No stress on corals whatsoever. I do feel that the phyto could impact but I've only dosed for 2 days now.. I'm thinking my best option would be to ditch filter sponge and setup a refugium because dont they act as a nutrient export?

Jake_the_reefer · Aug 2, 2019

This is 5 mins of the skimmer on

Jake_the_reefer · Aug 2, 2019

It might be the hob..

Hermie · Aug 2, 2019

Jake_the_reefer said:
No stress on corals whatsoever. I do feel that the phyto could impact but I've only dosed for 2 days now.. I'm thinking my best option would be to ditch filter sponge and setup a refugium because dont they act as a nutrient export?

well the thing about refugiums is they are harder to "setup" and "tune" since we are dealing with live plants (growth/die off, lighting, etc)
The benefit to using a filter sponge (or filter floss or filter sock etc) is that it's going to generally let you capture and export a set amount of organic material on whatever interval you set (by cleaning it regularly). So if you are "okay" with taking out the sponge on a regular basis and rinsing/cleaning or replacing it, then it's a good solution for nutrient export. Refugium can work as well, it's just not as "plug and play" as is mechanical filtration, which is basically what we are talking about here, mechanical filtration versus macroalgae export.

For what it's worth, I have both on my tank... so do many people...

Hermie · Aug 2, 2019

And I woiuld not run the skimmer and filter sponge WHILE dosing phytos, I would give the tank at least 30 minutes or so (some period of time) to "ingest" the phytos.

Jake_the_reefer · Aug 2, 2019

NotASpammerDude said:
And I woiuld not run the skimmer and filter sponge WHILE dosing phytos, I would give the tank at least 30 minutes or so (some period of time) to "ingest" the phytos.

So kill the skimmer clean sponges more?

Hermie · Aug 2, 2019

Jake_the_reefer said:
So kill the skimmer clean sponges more?

What's your goal?
It wasn't clear in the original post. You want nitrate between 0 and 15ppm?

Jake_the_reefer · Aug 2, 2019

NotASpammerDude said:
What's your goal?
It wasn't clear in the original post. You want nitrate between 0 and 15ppm?

Just detectable and 5 . My original post meant that it jumped from 0 to 15 very quickly. Sorry a bit under the weather

Jake_the_reefer · Aug 2, 2019

I'm very new to reefing it's my understanding if I want to keep sps I should keep low nutrience but still be able to measure it. I want lps dominant with some sps

Hermie · Aug 2, 2019

Jake_the_reefer said:
Just detectable and 5 . My original post meant that it jumped from 0 to 15 very quickly. Sorry a bit under the weather

Like @Goodair said, try putting the skimmer on a timer (supply stores have them for 5 bucks or less) such as 12 hours on 12 off reversed from your light schedule (starting a few hours after you normally dose or feed the tank) and then keep your other processes the same (clean filter sponge at least weekly). See how that gets you and then you can further adjust from there.

Skimmer gas-exchange is probably too valuable for your sized tank to totally remove. It could cause signficant upset to the microbial communities (which is just counter to the goal of stability).

Jake_the_reefer · Aug 2, 2019

NotASpammerDude said:
Like @Goodair said, try putting the skimmer on a timer (supply stores have them for 5 bucks or less) such as 12 hours on 12 off reversed from your light schedule (starting a few hours after you normally dose or feed the tank) and then keep your other processes the same (clean filter sponge at least weekly). See how that gets you and then you can further adjust from there.

Skimmer gas-exchange is probably too valuable for your sized tank to totally remove. It could cause signficant upset to the microbial communities (which is just counter to the goal of stability).

When I kill my skimmer I close the airflow so it only puts out water without producing bubbles so I dont lose the flow. But I can try a timer I have some smart outlets laying around

Jake_the_reefer · Aug 2, 2019

I'll have to manually flip it on and off until I get wifi to use the outlet.

Jake_the_reefer · Aug 2, 2019

Tbh I should invest in a smaller skimmer my skimmer is rated for 50g tanks. It's the seaclone 50 (I know its junk lol it works really well most the time)