NO3 and ALK

[Bsnell]

It's been several months, but I thought I saw a post/discussion detailing how the effects of high nitrates can be reduced by raising ALK. I'll be the first to admit that I cant seem to remember any details, only the general ideas. I'm running between 20 and 30 PPM NO3 and just recently started carbon (vodka) dosing to try and bring them down. No benefits so far, but I'm still ramping up dosing. Another thing worth noting is that my corals all seem to be doing fine, Monti's, Zoa's, Hammer's and Acan. I am concerned NO3 is too high for Acro and would like to move in that direction.

Have any of you had experience with this? Is this true? Any specific guidelines you can follow, for example NO3 = X, ALK = Y?

TIA

 

[PatW]

I have not heard of it and I strongly doubt the validity of the notion.

There are ways to export nitrates. Some are:

1) massive water changes.
2) carbon dosing coupled with lavish skimming.
3) macro algae in a refugium.