Products

[onevarez]

Hi everyone,

I was wondering what is the best product out there to reduce the phosphate and nitrates out of a reef tank. Yes, I have done water changes (10-15%).

 

[Crabs McJones]

Have you looked into reactors or possibly incorporate a refugium into your system? A refugium would help boost PH, and provide a house for pods to populate, and reduce nitrate and phosphate

 

[onevarez]

I don’t have a reactor but I do have a DIY refugian with copepods, live rock, chaeto.

 

[redfishbluefish]

If you have a skimmer, carbon dose.

 

[Gareth elliott]

How high are the nitrates and phosphates?

Carbon dosing will lower both but will lower nitrate at a faster rate. So if phosphates are very high might be beneficial to lower those first with something like a media bag of phosguard near your return pump. Then when say .15 ppm switch to another method to lower both whether or fuge or carbon dosing. Go slow with whatever method you chose.
Id take a macro algae outbreak of any kind over dinos any day.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

There are many good methods.

I have used and like to use several at once (skimming, vinegar dosing, GAC, water changes, macroalgae growth, lots of rock rubble).

I describe and compare them here:

Phosphate In The Reef Aquarium
https://www.reef2reef.com/blog/?p=3184

Nitrate in the Reef Aquarium - REEFEDITION
https://www.reef2reef.com/blog/nitrate-in-the-reef-aquarium