Reducing nitrates and phosphates

[Brittany Marie]

I use the Red Sea nitrate pro test kit and Red Sea algae management (NO3O4-X) and it worked amazing. Not instant of course, but got the job done. Only thing with the algae management is it contains methanol, so go low and slow. Start with the smallest dose for your tank and I worked my way up (depending on my NO3 level) only increasing by 0.2ml weekly. Then once NO3 dropped, worked back down to the lowest dose. Again low and slow, so you don’t shock your tank and kill everything

 

[Ron Reefman]

Jen, I think you are doing the right thing by taking your time and let your refugium and chaeto start to do it's job. If you need to do a few water chages down the road, go ahead. Buying reactors or other chemicals you may never need again is just wasting money.

It's just a personal opinion with me, but I try to use as few chemicals or chemistry related filtration systems as I can. All I use is a filter sock, chaeto in a refugium and a skimmer. And I can't fit any more coral in my tank!

 

[Ubergroover]

Add more rock. it takes a while. but in the long run your tank will be bullet proof...so to speak. Established rock is the natural filter.

 

[Amoo]

i personally wouldn't touch anything for a month while your Fuge starts doing it's thing. In that time you can start doing research and reading on the multiple ways to lower nitrates and phosphates and see what method you think would work best for you.

There really are a number of different ways to do so, the best one for your tank is one that you find easy to understand and follow. I would recommend spending time figuring out what you think that might be and develop a plan. Next thing you know a month will have gone by and your fuge will be doing well and your numbers may already have started to come down on their own.

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

the only way to rapidly reduce nitrates is with large water changes. 50%+. all that other junk people spend their money on is really only useful at controlling nitrates once they are already low. the caveat is that large water changes can have adverse effects if you’re not careful.