Nitrate removal in 220 gallon FOWLR bare bottom .

[ajiisss]

What's the best and cost effective way to remove nitrates in long term . I reach 20-30ppm nitrates every 2 weeks . Then I do a water change. I tried chaeto in sump it keeps dying and making a mess in my sump. What else every one tries

 

[Miami Reef]

Do you have algae problems? I don’t see anything wrong with having a little higher nitrates, especially not for a FOWLR.

Anyway, besides for water changes and feeding less, you can add a little vodka to the tank. It provides food for the denitrifying bacteria which turn nitrates into a gas that will precipitate out of the water. You need a protein skimmer to dose vodka and please do research on proper vodka dosing for your tank size.

 

[Thespammailaccount]

A surfer denitrator will take your nitrates to zero and fine for fish only tank however they require a solid understanding of how they work in order to prevent problems

 

[Thespammailaccount]

Another option would be vodka dosing but you have to monitor nitrate/phosphate ratio if one drops to zero the system would become limited and would have to correct accordingly

 

[ajiisss]

Do you have algae problems? I don’t see anything wrong with having a little higher nitrates, especially not for a FOWLR.

Anyway, besides for water changes and feeding less, you can add a little vodka to the tank. It provides food for the denitrifying bacteria which turn nitrates into a gas that will precipitate out of the water. You need a protein skimmer to dose vodka and please do research on proper vodka dosing for your tank size.

I dont have algae problems yet tank is 3-4 months old . Feeding less is what I feel guilty. My fish is very hungry all the times I feed 3-4 times daily

 

[Azedenkae]

What's the best and cost effective way to remove nitrates in long term . I reach 20-30ppm nitrates every 2 weeks . Then I do a water change. I tried chaeto in sump it keeps dying and making a mess in my sump. What else every one tries

Long term? Algae scrubber. Same concept as chaeto, but algae is much easier to keep alive. You can get a cheap submersible light and then whatever mesh-like product to hold algae and tada. Cheap, reliable, long-term.

 

[ajiisss]

A surfer denitrator will take your nitrates to zero and fine for fish only tank however they require a solid understanding of how they work in order to prevent problems

Any recommendations? I have a brightwell no3 brick in sump.

 

[ajiisss]

Long term? Algae scrubber. Same concept as chaeto, but algae is much easier to keep alive. You can get a cheap submersible light and then whatever mesh-like product to hold algae and tada. Cheap, reliable, long-term.

You mean just a submersible light and a net like media around it ? that sounds an easy way.. some of teh algae scrubbers in market I see is 500 +

 

[Thespammailaccount]

Any recommendations? I have a brightwell no3 brick in sump.
I would only recommend a sulfur denitrator to an advanced reefer and/or someone who knows someone to help them learn how to do it correctly and even when done correctly issues can arise I know of one reefer who’s tank was nuked because the reactor malfunctioned

 

[Thespammailaccount]

You mean just a submersible light and a net like media around it ? that sounds an easy way.. some of teh algae scrubbers in market I see is 500 +

You can build a diy algae scrubber pretty cheap with a kit like this some extra pvc and a pump

Algae Turf Scrubber 3/4in. PVC DIY Slot Pipe w/ knitting mesh | eBay

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[Thespammailaccount]

I have read about remote deep sand beds but have not used one or seen one in action

 

[Azedenkae]

You mean just a submersible light and a net like media around it ? that sounds an easy way.. some of teh algae scrubbers in market I see is 500 +

Yeap!

I just use one of this: and tada!

 

[Siberwulf]

MicroBacter 7 was pretty good at removing NO3 from my setup. Almost too good...

 

[ajiisss]

MicroBacter 7 was pretty good at removing NO3 from my setup. Almost too good...

I added Biopellets and added microbacter7 and the nitrates is zero now. Now people say I could get a dino outbreak would like to keep it in 5ppm range ... jeez what all things are in this hobby.

 

[Siberwulf]

I added Biopellets and added microbacter7 and the nitrates is zero now. Now people say I could get a dino outbreak would like to keep it in 5ppm range ... jeez what all things are in this hobby.

It's a balancing act. Also, there's tons of opinions out there and every setup is dfferent. Did you need to add both Biopellets and MB7? Maybe, maybe not.

Ideally you're looking to control about two things in this main convo: Nitrates and Phosphates. Chaeto can be a good way to do this, but if it's dying in the sump, then you probably don't have adequate lighting in there. Its very photosynthetic (which makes sense). And mind you, Chaeto doesn't remove those from the system, just from the water. Pruning your Chaeto back removes it from the system.

My gut says you may be over feeding. Maybe cut back a feeding a day and see if you can stretch out the ramp up in NO3 more gradually. And once you have a good understanding in the daily change in NO3. Then once you get that down, you can figure out how much MB7 to keep it measurable, but not too high. (I'd say aim between 2-5ppm)

 

[ajiisss]

It's a balancing act. Also, there's tons of opinions out there and every setup is dfferent. Did you need to add both Biopellets and MB7? Maybe, maybe not.

Ideally you're looking to control about two things in this main convo: Nitrates and Phosphates. Chaeto can be a good way to do this, but if it's dying in the sump, then you probably don't have adequate lighting in there. Its very photosynthetic (which makes sense). And mind you, Chaeto doesn't remove those from the system, just from the water. Pruning your Chaeto back removes it from the system.

My gut says you may be over feeding. Maybe cut back a feeding a day and see if you can stretch out the ramp up in NO3 more gradually. And once you have a good understanding in the daily change in NO3. Then once you get that down, you can figure out how much MB7 to keep it measurable, but not too high. (I'd say aim between 2-5ppm)

Yes I added both MB7 and Biopellets ..I was told higher nitrates are not good for angels they require pristine water quality... Thats why added bioplettes and here it goes now its zero.. I don't have a dino problem it its only 1 week since my nitrates went to zero... So shall I take the biopellets out? yes I overfeed as I have lot of fishes ..