Noahp
Community Member
The Basics of Nutrient Exporting
Nutrient Export
The ocean contains approximately 346,000,000,000,000,000,000 gallons of water. This expanse of water is where life originated and contains the majority of life found on this earth. There is a constant cycle of nutrients being added and taken away from the water by it’s inhabitants. The fact that an aquarium is a closed system is where nutrient export becomes a challenge for hobbyists.
Background
When thinking of nutrients what comes to mind for most is Nitrate (NO3) and Phosphate (PO4). Nitrate comes from the waste of nitrifying bacteria which colonize everyone’s tank. Nitrate is created in the third and final phase of the Nitrogen cycle which starts with ammonia, is converted into nitrite, and finally becomes nitrate. Nitrate at high levels is never a good thing. Algae uses nitrate as a fertilizer of sorts. This is one reason reducing the levels in your tank is so important. Phosphate is essential to sea life, but is also the primary nutrient source for unwanted and nuisance algae which plague our aquariums. Keeping these nutrient levels down will not only keep your aquarium looking pretty and clean, but the inhabitants happy and healthy.
Water Changes
Let’s start with the simplest way of exporting nutrients. Changing the water of your aquarium is possibly one of the most important aspects of keeping a healthy system. You are simply taking out old water containing waste and replacing it with new water free of excess nutrients. Quality salt and water are both important in this step. The salt being used must not contain high levels of nitrate and phosphate . Be sure to examine the salt thoroughly when purchasing to ensure a good clean water change. The water being used plays a big factor too. If you use tap water and simply dechlorinate it, you are adding all sorts of unwanted dissolved solids and chemical to your reef. Tap water is high in phosphates and silicates which are both things we are trying to eliminate through the water change. Reverse Osmosis water should be used for every water change and top off. A reverse osmosis unit, to keep it simple, removes most dissolved solids from the water. What is left can be polished off by a deionizer, which, as it is named, deionizes the water. Basically the components left are ions. When ions pass through the resin they bond to it. Since all ions want to be is a have full energy levels, this works out for both the resin and the ions passing through them. What does this leave us? Pure zero TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) water! Perfect for your next water change.
Protein skimmers
A protein skimmer is a very effective way of exporting nutrients. It removes dissolved organic compounds from the water by using micro bubbles. These bubbles mix with the water in the skimmer body. This mixing creates surface tension which collects the organic matter and carries it to the collection cup where the bubbles pop leaving behind a nasty gunk which we call skimate! This process removes wastes before they can be broken down into nitrates. There are many forms of skimmers available. They range from co-current to circulating current and down draft to Beckett. This is why it is very important that a buyer research to find the skimmer which best suits them.
Macro algae
Macro algae can be effective at removing nutrients from the water. Just like other algae they use these nutrients as a source of growth. The advantage of macro algae versus micro algae is the macros can out compete the micro algae for the available nutrients. There are many algae to choose from, the most popular of which are Chaeto, Caulerpa, and Mangroves. Caulerpa grows very fast, meaning it takes up a lot of nutrients. This may seem like a good thing. However, it also puts down roots, meaning if it gets into your display and begins to grow, it can be a nightmare to get rid of. Caulerpa also has a tendency to go sexual which releases all of the nutrients and spores back into the water column. This can cause a massive crash and is not something one looks forward to in a reef tank. Chaeto on the other hand grows in a tight knit clump. This makes it a great place to house micro fauna. Chaeto does not go sexual as Caulerpa. Mangroves are a tree which can be found in estuaries and lagoons. Although, not a macro algae but a plant, mangroves are often used for the purpose of nutrient export. The Red Mangrove is the plant most often seen by marine hobbyist , as it can withstand full saline water with little change in growth. It is important to get trees raised in full saltwater or you will have to acclimate the tree to a full saline environment which can take several weeks. The plant must be cared for once introduced to the aquarium. Salt, which is purged through the leaves must be sprayed off daily with fresh water. This will also help with the growth of the plant in a less humid environment.
(Mangrove seedling)
Carbon dosing
A more modern concept of ridding the aquarium of nutrients is carbon dosing. This has shown very dramatic results. Carbon dosing fuels bacteria populations. These bacteria are collected in the skimmer and extracted through skimate. This lowers the amount of nitrate and phosphate in the water. People who decide to carbon dose should do thorough research on the subject. Only attempt carbon dosing if you have proper testing equipment and a powerful skimmer. Carbon dosing can be achieved in several ways, one would be with vodka.
https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/reef-chemistry-forum/72925-lets-talk-about-carbon-dosing.html. Brett (Aquaph8) wrote the steps and procedures needed to usefully carbon dose using vodka and vinegar. Another form of carbon dosing is the use of biopellets. Running biopellets is basically a solid form of carbon dosing. It is known to be a , (set it and forget it ) form of dosing. To dose biopellets one needs a reactor. As with protein skimmers, there are a wide selection of reactors and the consumer should purchase based upon their needs. Once a reactor has been purchased, simply place the appropriate amount of biopellets for your size tank into the reactor. The reactor will tumble the pellets and bacteria will grow upon and consume the pellets. While running biopellets be sure to add pellets as they are consumed by the bacteria. Only add to the original amount introduced to your tank. Although it is harder to overdose with biopellets as opposed to vodka it can happen. Careful measurements should be taken to insure a safe regimen. The output of the reactor should be placed at the skimmers intake for best results.
Conclusion
Our tanks are our responsibility. Each and every organism living inside of them rely on us to keep them healthy and safe. It is our duty to keep our systems as clean and healthy as possible. The creatures in our systems are some of the most delicate on earth. Do them a favor and export the nutrients from your system! This will insure stability and harmony in your reef. Happy Reefing!
