Post cycle nitrate reduction

[KJoFan]

My tank has completed it's cycle as of probably two weeks ago. I started it with cured rock and used plain ammonia to cycle it. Once the cycle was complete I put my clown pair from another tank in there and they've been doing well for the past couple weeks. Just toward the latter half of this week I'm starting the diatom bloom.

I've been using some Probidio Biodigest for the past few weeks to help get some beneficial bacteria going.

I tested nitrates today and they are at 25. So, I have started with NP Pro and Pro Bio S as of today. I also need to get my refugium online. Will the refugium along with the NP Pro and Pro Bio S and continuation of Biodigest be enough to bring nitrates down?

The tank is all Aquaforest Reef Salt and I tested alk today just for fun (no corals yet) and it tested at 5.3...not sure why it's so low.

 

[Anirban]

You don't need refugium and they don't go well with AF based or any other probiotic based system. Its a overkill. Just dose Pro bio S and NP Pro and the NO3 will slowly decrease over time. You can add some AF Life bio fil as ready made bacterial source too. Also you can add some siporax to to build up stable surface bacteria.

Alk 5.3 is not normal and I doubt your testing kit. If possible get it checked by another kit? How are you measuring it? You can see your batch parameter at AF site with the batch number they provided.

 

[KJoFan]

I also wondered about the test result, and I will likely re-test tomorrow, though when I used the same kit (Red Sea) on my coral QT tank, it seemed inline. Could have just been testing error on my part as well.

I do have a Hanna egg I could test against, but reagent is running low and it seems nearly impossible to find reagent lately so I haven't been using it.

I considered siporax, but I feel like that ends up just being a detritus trap and another thing to have to maintain that I haven't been keen on going that route. I will look more at the Life bio fil though.

Another question, I have an ICP test from ATI, should I get a test done once parameters are more in line for a base line or is that a waste at this point?

 

[Anirban]

You can test with Hanna and the reagent is now available with BRS.

Siporax is not exactly a detritus trap if you clean it after every 3-4 months. Once established it will run your tank nutrient balance on almost automode and very effective to reduce NO3. Refugium is just wastage with probiotics.

You will possibly need that ICP test after 5-6 months from now when your system is up running and growing.

 

[KJoFan]

I have the 755 checker and don't even see that reagent listed on BRS. But, I'll figure it out.

Wouldn't it be possible, once the tank is matured and stocked to discontinue the AF probiotics and switch to a refugium while using AF balling?

 

[Anirban]

They have only one reagent for all salt water. You can switch to refugium but it will suck up few elements and cause imbalance for those elements. You don't need a refugium and you don't need to daily dose probiotics. Just weekly dosing is enough to maintain the bacteria pool.

 

[KJoFan]

So, I should only be using NP-Pro and Pro Bio S on a weekly basis vs the daily AF recommends?

 

[Anirban]

So, I should only be using NP-Pro and Pro Bio S on a weekly basis vs the daily AF recommends?

You can once its established in your tank and that process generally take 3-4 months at least in a new tank.

 

[KJoFan]

You can once its established in your tank and that process generally take 3-4 months at least in a new tank.

So, until that time, dose daily as recommended? Sorry for being so slow on the uptake.

 

[Anirban]

Yup correct.

 

[kennedpa]

Hey buddy. Depending how you manage your testing vials you can get a low alk. If you use a test that also uses acid as part of the test (nitrate pro kit from Red Sea) and there’s any residual low pH in the vial that will make an artificially low Alk reading. I get this fro time to time and just wash the vial well and test again.

 

[kennedpa]

Is this your main reef tank or did you setup another?

 

[Luno]

There are many many ways to reduce nitrate, water changes, bio pellets, addictives, Refugium, carbon dosing. Some are not the best idea in a new tank. But it's really upto you try something and see how it goes. For me large refugium and carbon dosing but I like to keep a low nutrient system and have my nitrate <1 and and phos <0.03. I personally wouldn't recommend carbon dosing till your tank matures a little others may disagree my personal preference.

Either way what ever method you choose couple of simple things for this hobby assuming this is your first tank if not you can ignore or it always doesn't hurt as a reminder. "NOTHING GOOD HAPPENS FAST" don't expect to alter any parameter quickly it will not do well for your system. And secondly "MAKE ONE CHANGE AT A TIME" seems simple enough, but if you say add this and that nutrient reduction system at the same time not only are they competing most likely but if one isn't working out which one is it? You won't know so always easy to make one change and see how it goes for a while. If you need to make another then do it but at least you will know better what is doing and causing what.

 

[KJoFan]

Hey buddy. Depending how you manage your testing vials you can get a low alk. If you use a test that also uses acid as part of the test (nitrate pro kit from Red Sea) and there’s any residual low pH in the vial that will make an artificially low Alk reading. I get this fro time to time and just wash the vial well and test again.

It very well could have just been a testing error. I'll test it again today and see where it's at. I'm not that concerned as there's nothing in the tank but the clownfish pair and I don't think they care what the alk level is.

But, I will soon be moving my easier stuff over like the softies and lps so want to start getting parameters in line for the move.

Is this your main reef tank or did you setup another?

This is a new setup. After the 66 took a hit from AEFW I decided it was a good time to upgrade. So this is a 150 two weeks post cycle.

 

[KJoFan]

Re-checked alk with my Hanna checker and main tank is 5.7. Checked the coral QT and it's 7.1 which is what the Red Sea tested it at yesterday so I'd say it's accurate.

 

[Anirban]

You can check the icp result for your batch of salt here...https://aquaforest.eu/en/icp-oes-results/
If it wrong you can contact them

Also check the salinity too. Generally I have not seen any issue with alkalinity of this salt.

 

[Anirban]

Can you check the fresh made saltwater not in the tank.

 

[KJoFan]

Can you check the fresh made saltwater not in the tank.

I don't have any fresh made saltwater, but the same is being used in my coral QT and I'm not really doing much dosing in that tank and it's sitting at 7.1.

I'll look for the batch number. Salinity of the tank is 1.026. Though not all the salt/water came from the same batch so might not give definite reason for low alk.

 

[KJoFan]

I wasn't able to locate a batch number on the bucket of salt. But, suppose it's neither here nor there.

I have a Triton style sump currently but considering not running macroalgae. I suppose I would use that area of the sump for biomedia. Is it better to run it in a reactor or is it fine to just run it passively? Thinking of some Seachem Matrix and possibly the AF Life Bio-fil.

I have a regular sump without a refugium I could swap out to but that's a lot of work to re-plumb for a different sump.

 

[kennedpa]

I wasn't able to locate a batch number on the bucket of salt. But, suppose it's neither here nor there.

I have a Triton style sump currently but considering not running macroalgae. I suppose I would use that area of the sump for biomedia. Is it better to run it in a reactor or is it fine to just run it passively? Thinking of some Seachem Matrix and possibly the AF Life Bio-fil.

I have a regular sump without a refugium I could swap out to but that's a lot of work to re-plumb for a different sump.

Always better with a reactor.

You don’t have enough rock for filtration? I forget how olds the tank again? Isn’t it a few years old?