Lowering nitrates

[LukeSivyer45]

Im running a no filter no sump setup and i have roughly 17ppm nitrate and want to get it down to around 7-10. Would things light chemipure blue or maxspect bio spheres or blocks do the trick or would getting more cuc be better? ( i have 2 banded trochus and a sand sifting star ). My tanks is a 20 gallon.

 

[ss30]

If you want lower nitrates the easiest way is more rock or less fish, the nitrate comes from the fish waste as ammonia which is converted to nitrite then nitrate with the bacteria living on the live rock.

More rock would look better than the maxspect ball/blocks.

17ppm of nitrate isn't that bad why do you want it lower? what is your phosphate?

 

[LukeSivyer45]

If you want lower nitrates the easiest way is more rock or less fish, the nitrate comes from the fish waste as ammonia which is converted to nitrite then nitrate with the bacteria living on the live rock.

More rock would look better than the maxspect ball/blocks.

17ppm of nitrate isn't that bad why do you want it lower? what is your phosphate?

I actually dont have a phosphate testing kit . I get there is no right or wrong with that amount of nitrates however alot of people keep them around 5ppm and tell me that mine is pretty high and recommend me lowering them.

 

[ss30]

If your tank is running fine with no problems then leave it.

 

[LukeSivyer45]

If your tank is running fine with no problems then leave it.

Well i mean my clown goby died two days ago and my cleaner shrimp died yesterday. The goby was lethargic and not eating but not sure about the cleaner shrimp.

 

[ss30]

Well i mean my clown goby died two days ago and my cleaner shrimp died yesterday. The goby was lethargic and not eating but not sure about the cleaner shrimp.

17ppm No3 didn't do this.

 

[LukeSivyer45]

17ppm No3 didn't do this.

No clue then because the cleaner shrimp was super healthy and active. No tanks mates picked on him.

 

[legionofdoon]

No clue then because the cleaner shrimp was super healthy and active. No tanks mates picked on him.

Do you ever dose iodine? Crustaceans need it. Also do you have a pistol shrimp? Mine is a serial killer.

 

[Jekyl]

I've had nitrate over 200 and fish were just fine.

 

[LukeSivyer45]

I've had nitrate over 200 and fish were just fine.

Where inverts fine?

 

[NowGlazeIT]

My nitrates are 80 and my inverts are fine. When my phosphate spike, everything suffers in their own way. I’m not sure if adding more rock or media will reduce your nitrates because they are used to process ammonia to nitrate. Other then water changes I know skimmers and algae scrubbers or refugium will do the trick, there are also things like bio pellets or no pox that lower nitrates and phosphates by focusing on feeding the bacteria that feeds on those nutrients.
without a sump tho your options come down to either a, hang on the back protein skimmers or a algae reactor.

 

[lelandmarine]

How old is your tank?