Nitrate

[geuymartz]

Hello I’m new on here but been reading your guys info for a long time and have been saved many times so I figured I should join. My question is I have a 15gal nano and the only thing I’m struggling with are my nitrates continue completely honest I guess it’s not really a problem because it’s not causing me any negative issues, but I’m running around 30 on my nitrates, is there anyway to bring that down a little bit without having to do water changes?

 

[fishski13]

The best way to bring down nitrates in a nano tank is a water change. Fastest and most efficient way.

Another way includes decreasing amount of feeding

 

[homer1475]

The best way to bring down nitrates in a nano tank is a water change. Fastest and most efficient way.

Another way includes decreasing amount of feeding

Couldn't agree more. In a nano, WC's are the way to correct everything.

 

[taricha]

Welcome to R2R!
Good advice above. Water changes are the most fool-proof way.
Many others do some carbon dose such as vinegar or vodka. But usually it's paired with skimming, and I would not advise it without a skimmer.

 

[geuymartz]

Thank you guys, my only concern in doing the water changes is that I’m going to have spikes in other levels and like I said everything in the tank is doing great so I don’t know if I should just keep an eye on it or just do a change.

 

[fishski13]

Thank you guys, my only concern in doing the water changes is that I’m going to have spikes in other levels and like I said everything in the tank is doing great so I don’t know if I should just keep an eye on it or just do a change.

If the water change is done correctly, you should have a spike in anything.

 

[geuymartz]

By correct so you mean temp, and RO ?

 

[fishski13]

By correct so you mean temp, and RO ?

temp, pH, salinity should not spike and if you are using the best salt mix for your needs and are keeping levels similar to your out of bucket salt paramters, alk, mag, and calcium should not see major swings. Plus when you do a 10-20% water change you are only changing so little water that it doesnt affect the entire water column.

 

[geuymartz]

Awesome, thank you guys .

 

[olonmv]

I have a nano. I keep my nitrates in check with a DIY denitrifier I built. Brought my ppm from 36 to 5 and I’m able to maintain 5ppm with a vodka dose of .1 ml into the reactor once a day. Water changes in a nano are super easy…..no water changes are easier lol.

 

[Jb2344]

I have a nano. I keep my nitrates in check with a DIY denitrifier I built. Brought my ppm from 36 to 5 and I’m able to maintain 5ppm with a vodka dose of .1 ml into the reactor once a day. Water changes in a nano are super easy…..no water changes are easier lol.

What media is inside the reactor?

 

[olonmv]

What media is inside the reactor?

Aquapapa 5 lbs Bio Ceramic Rings Aquarium Filter Media https://a.co/d/ftwLsIY

I woulda added seachem matrix but ordered seachem matrix carbon by accident so just rolled with the ceramic. Took longer but it worked for sure.

 

[Jb2344]

Aquapapa 5 lbs Bio Ceramic Rings Aquarium Filter Media https://a.co/d/ftwLsIY

I woulda added seachem matrix but ordered seachem matrix carbon by accident so just rolled with the ceramic. Took longer but it worked for sure.

Awesome. What size Nano. I'm kicking around the Idea of setting one up in my office at work.

 

[reef_1]

I recently set up multiple nanos wanted to sort nitrate export with pond matrix, so I have around ~250-300ml pond matrix in each 12G tank.

I feed daily 3 times at least and after 2 months my nitrates are nailed 0, while phosphates are up around ~0.6, having some algae ofc

I just removed some rocks covered with hair algae and reduced lights to try to elevate levels, but only seem to be affecting phosphates, nitrates are still nailed to 0.

I am not sure if this is because of the pond matrix or not, but I dont have any better idea at the moment than starting to remove some pond matrix to try to elevate nitrate and add lot of corals/maybe little GFO/reduce feedings slightly to bring down phosphates to around 0.2-0.3 where I want it to be.