Nitrate help!

[DustyXB9Reefer]

My buddy has a 150 with a 50 breeder refugium sump and is getting crazy high nitrates. after 2 30 gallon water changes and a nitrate filter pad still gets readings of 160. he can't find anything dead or decaying. he doesn't feed super heavy but what he does feed is eating by his fish or cleaned up by his cuc. any help is appreciated

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It surprises most people, but it doesn't matter if food is eaten or just decays. Most of the N and P in it ends up as nitrate and phosphate in the water.

There are many good ways to control nitrate, and I discuss them here:

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

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

How is the sump and refugium set up?
bio balls crushed coral? All great detritus traps.

 

[DustyXB9Reefer]

Thanks for the reply guys but turns out he was using an outdated test kit. I should've known better but completely overlooked it. The old kit was showing 160ppm and the new kit was down to 40ppm. Still high but not nearly as bad.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Hopefully the new one is more accurate that the old one. lol

 

[FlyinBryan]

I added several marine-pure plates to my sump and nitrates dropped to zero. I use them in all of my tanks, same results.

 

[DustyXB9Reefer]

I've seen lots of good things about the marine pure. been wanting to try some in my tank

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I've seen lots of good things about the marine pure. been wanting to try some in my tank

It certainly works to lower nitrate. Some find it goes too far, and some are concerned about aluminum release from that product.