How to lower nitrates?
- Thread starter Sicklid
- Start date
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robbrouse
Well-Known Member
Carbon dosing.. Someone else will jump in and I need a refresher course. Mine are climbing up again. Red Sea Sells a product that does it as well.
[h=1]Red Sea NO3
O4-X Nitrate & Phosphate[/h]
[h=1]Red Sea NO3
O4-X Nitrate & Phosphate[/h]
I actually started carbon dosing, and after doing some more research it may not be the best idea. From what I found out carbon dosing apparently messes with the natural algae growing on the live rocks and causes an imbalance however it seems like that's all 50/50 so.. personally if your nitrates are that high, just go with a water change and make it a decent one that's the real answer. For long term you may want to look into plant life that lives off nitrates to help like Mangroves, also do you have bio balls? Ive found that once your tank is established if you do have bio balls remove them. the reef should be doing what they were initially used for at this point. From my understanding the bio balls can cause nitrates to come back time and time again.. Hope I helped.
dreefman
Community Member
here's what i use and it lower mine from 80 ppm to 30 ppm in one month AquaMaxx BioMaxx BioPellet Reactor they got other ones and i still do my water changes to but i do think it helps
SeahorseKeeper
Where's the mysis?
+1. I also use macroalgae to help with nitrates.
mcarroll
10K Club member
Your live rock is a highly efficient nitrate reducer if used properly. The rock can't be logged with detritus. Hand in hand with that, the rock needs to have excellent circulation through it.
How are your phosphates and do you have much green algae growth?
-Matt
How are your phosphates and do you have much green algae growth?
-Matt
Mike J.
2500 Club Member
A person must be very careful using sulfur to lower nitrates. The KZ denitrator would be safer to use than the sulfur filter because it has a built it method of raising the very low pH water coming out of the reactor. A flow rate that is off or a lack of nitrates to feed the reactor can cause the existing bacteria in the reactor to crash, with disastrous results to your tank.
I'm surprised natural ways to reduce nitrates is not mentioned; lots of live rock, a deep sand bed, a remote deep sand bed.
A remote deep sand bed, (that is kept in the dark so it doesn't require sand bed fauna), that has a slow flow of water over it can be very effective at reducing nitrates. It also has the added benefits of raising your pH and keeping your calcium and alkalinity stable.
There are a lot of tanks out there that would benefit greatly by simply adding more live rock and sand.
OceanDude
Community Member
Wish I saw some of these solutions back when I had my tank. I probably did the wrong thing and did water changes as well as waiting it out. Wish you best of luck!
Tylermacdonald15
Active Member
You could always give bio pellets a try. But I find the best way is to just keep on top of water changes. Once you get them under control, stay on a normal water change routine. Bio pellets work, but I like the idea of totally exporting the waste and adding fresh water.
mcarroll
10K Club member
If flow is strong, then the tank looks like it's in the land of "no problems" - I might question the test kit.
PO4 should be under 0.05 ppm...is that what you meant by "<5"?
Anyway, judging from the pic I might question the test kit. Are things worse in the tank than this pic would suggest?
-Matt
PO4 should be under 0.05 ppm...is that what you meant by "<5"?
Anyway, judging from the pic I might question the test kit. Are things worse in the tank than this pic would suggest?
-Matt
OP
OP
Sicklid
Active Member
@mcarroll I mean less than .05 ppm, but you right about my po4 reading, I have the cheap API test kit. I have been doing water changes and now my nitrates reading shows 5ppm. Thanks for all comments guys!!
