OK to run nitrate reactor intermittently?

[tbone28]

I run biopellets in a reactor, and my nitrates are zero (Hanna). I'd like to get my nitrates up a bit. Is it OK to run the reactor intermittently, on a timer? Any concerns with the media sitting?

 

[Dan_P]

I run biopellets in a reactor, and my nitrates are zero (Hanna). I'd like to get my nitrates up a bit. Is it OK to run the reactor intermittently, on a timer? Any concerns with the media sitting?

Typically, closing off or stopping the flow in any reactor might lead to the development of anaerobic conditions and the formation hydrogen sulfide. You might try removing some of the biopellets to convert your reactor to a less effective one.

 

[ShepherdReefer]

I run biopellets in a reactor, and my nitrates are zero (Hanna). I'd like to get my nitrates up a bit. Is it OK to run the reactor intermittently, on a timer? Any concerns with the media sitting?

When did you set up the tank?

 

[tbone28]

Typically, closing off or stopping the flow in any reactor might lead to the development of anaerobic conditions and the formation hydrogen sulfide. You might try removing some of the biopellets to convert your reactor to a less effective one.

That's what I was thinking, thanks!

 

[tbone28]

When did you set up the tank?

Many moons ago...2007. 180g. Had a mature reef, but got lazy and introduced a few new frags about 6 years ago without dipping and introduced pests that I could not eradicate. Got depressed and tossed out all my coral and stopped dosing my tank to kill off anything encrusting. Kept the tank going as a FOWLR and the reefing itch is back

My nitrates pre-frag re-introduction were in the 30s so I hung the reactor. It's been running for about a year now. It's undersized (supposed to be for a 75g tank), but apparently overperforming.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

You could remove some of the pellets or possibly reduce the flow rate as long as it isn't too slow to possibly allow O2 to drop too much.

 

[tbone28]

An update. Removing most of the pellets didn't help so I took my reactor offline 2 weeks ago. A week after that, nitrates were up to 0.2 (Hanna), still too low but moving in the right direction. Fast forward to today, 2 weeks post taking the reactor offline, and my nitrates are at Zero again.

Any ideas on how to get my nitrates up?

Alk 8.3-8.5
Ca 450
Mg 1350
PO4 0.08-0.1

 

[Dan_P]

An update. Removing most of the pellets didn't help so I took my reactor offline 2 weeks ago. A week after that, nitrates were up to 0.2 (Hanna), still too low but moving in the right direction. Fast forward to today, 2 weeks post taking the reactor offline, and my nitrates are at Zero again.

Any ideas on how to get my nitrates up?

Alk 8.3-8.5
Ca 450
Mg 1350
PO4 0.08-0.1

If you have removed all the nitrate exporting devices, you can feed more (make more waste and nitrate) or just dose nitrate.

 

[tbone28]

If you have removed all the nitrate exporting devices, you can feed more (make more waste and nitrate) or just dose nitrate.

I already feed heavy. Any recommendations on dosing nitrate?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I already feed heavy. Any recommendations on dosing nitrate?

Feed even more, or dose food grade sodium nitrate from Amazon. Calcium nitrate is another good choice.

 

[tbone28]

on the feeding more front, what are your thoughts on introducing BRS reef chili. Would that be a source of nitrates?

 

[tbone28]

Feed even more, or dose food grade sodium nitrate from Amazon. Calcium nitrate is another good choice.

I bought the NaNO3 from amazon and dosed it 4 days to get my nitrate up to 7.5. I stopped to see if there would be any consumption. Checked 1 week later, and nitrates still around 7.5.

In summary, no matter how much I fed the tank, nitrates stayed at zero. After dosing to get up to a desired nitrate level and stopping, it maintained at 7.5 over the course of a week. Is it normal to not have to continue to dose?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I bought the NaNO3 from amazon and dosed it 4 days to get my nitrate up to 7.5. I stopped to see if there would be any consumption. Checked 1 week later, and nitrates still around 7.5.

In summary, no matter how much I fed the tank, nitrates stayed at zero. After dosing to get up to a desired nitrate level and stopping, it maintained at 7.5 over the course of a week. Is it normal to not have to continue to dose?

Yes, continued dosing is normal, but if excess demand beyond what is supplied by foods is low, the daily amount needed may be very low compared to what it too to get the level to your target just now. Just like a correction to the calcium concentration may require much more than the daily maintenance dose.

 

[tbone28]

Yes, continued dosing is normal, but if excess demand beyond what is supplied by foods is low, the daily amount needed may be very low compared to what it too to get the level to your target just now. Just like a correction to the calcium concentration may require much more than the daily maintenance dose.

Sorry, I was not clear with my question. I'll ask again.

I was able to get m nitrates up to 7.5 via sodium nitrate dosing, and have not needed to dose any since. It's been 2 weeks and 2 water changes. Nitrates still around 7.5.

Is this normal?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Sorry, I was not clear with my question. I'll ask again.

I was able to get m nitrates up to 7.5 via sodium nitrate dosing, and have not needed to dose any since. It's been 2 weeks and 2 water changes. Nitrates still around 7.5.

Is this normal?

Yes, I understood that and the answer is the same, but I'll clarify it.

It is normal to need ongoing dosing of some sort, so it is not typical to not need any more, but if the imbalance that got you to zero was just barely consuming a little nitrate each day, then that same imbalance might be continuing to consume just a little nitrate each day, and it may take a considerable time for nitrate to decline again. It is also possible that the added nitrate boosts growth enough that some other element is not limiting growth (a trace metal, etc.) and so consumption may not even be as high as before.

I'd just keep watching it.

 

[tbone28]

Yes, I understood that and the answer is the same, but I'll clarify it.

It is normal to need ongoing dosing of some sort, so it is not typical to not need any more, but if the imbalance that got you to zero was just barely consuming a little nitrate each day, then that same imbalance might be continuing to consume just a little nitrate each day, and it may take a considerable time for nitrate to decline again. It is also possible that the added nitrate boosts growth enough that some other element is not limiting growth (a trace metal, etc.) and so consumption may not even be as high as before.

I'd just keep watching it.

Gotcha! I just find it odd because nothing else in my feeding or husbandry has changed, so I would have thought that continued nitrate dosing would be needed. Don't get me wrong, though. I'd prefer to not have to dose

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Gotcha! I just find it odd because nothing else in my feeding or husbandry has changed, so I would have thought that continued nitrate dosing would be needed. Don't get me wrong, though. I'd prefer to not have to dose

Well, we'll find out long term what happens.