Nitrates

[kadamik]

I have a sample question that I can follow up with an example. If you decrease input of Nitrates will your overall nitrates decrease over time, or would you need to do an export of some kind to get the number down and the reduction of input will keep it at that lower number.

Example
Lets say my Nitrates is at 30 in a 100 Gallon system. I am running a skimmer for export. I was feeding 3 cubes of frozen food each day. If I decrease the food from 3 cubes to 2 cubes, will I see my Nitrate number come down. I know here are a lot of variables in play just want to know if they can decrease without any other action taken. Also if it will decrease over time, do you have a rough estimate of what that is.

1. Would it decrease 1 point in a week
2. Would it decrease 1 point in 2 weeks
3. Would it decrease 1 point in 4 weeks

What number above would be a good rule of thumb.

For the people that can't operate on assumptions details of the example below, I know more questions will be asked, but just need a directional correct answer, no one will hold you to it.

10 fish in the tank all 2 inches big
80 pounds of sand in tank
100 Lbs of rock
Sump has 1 liter of Matrix
Running Filter Mat roller
6 Corals (each size would be 4 frags put together) (3 softies, 3 LPS)

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

I have a sample question that I can follow up with an example. If you decrease input of Nitrates will your overall nitrates decrease over time, or would you need to do an export of some kind to get the number down and the reduction of input will keep it at that lower number.

Example
Lets say my Nitrates is at 30 in a 100 Gallon system. I am running a skimmer for export. I was feeding 3 cubes of frozen food each day. If I decrease the food from 3 cubes to 2 cubes, will I see my Nitrate number come down. I know here are a lot of variables in play just want to know if they can decrease without any other action taken. Also if it will decrease over time, do you have a rough estimate of what that is.

1. Would it decrease 1 point in a week
2. Would it decrease 1 point in 2 weeks
3. Would it decrease 1 point in 4 weeks

What number above would be a good rule of thumb.

For the people that can't operate on assumptions details of the example below, I know more questions will be asked, but just need a directional correct answer, no one will hold you to it.

10 fish in the tank all 2 inches big
80 pounds of sand in tank
100 Lbs of rock
Sump has 1 liter of Matrix
Running Filter Mat roller
6 Corals (each size would be 4 frags put together) (3 softies, 3 LPS)

Nitrate will not go away by itself. Water changes and/or a macro algae refugium will remove it.

 

[mdb_talon]

Maybe

 

[Timfish]

Pretty difficult to quantify what the biology is doing. Keep in mind we can only easily test fro inorganic nitrogen but reef systems are also processing particulate and organic forms which we cannot easily test for. Sponges are playing a role and there are also also there are diazotrophs in the microbiomes in reef systems that are converting free nitrogen into nitrates. This video is pretty informative:

Nitrogen cycling in hte coral holobiont