Nitrate Reduction Methods

[this is me]

What is your methods of reducing nitrate?
I think I might have to take extra step to reduce my nitrate level. It's around 5-10ppm.
Thinking about the Vodka method with wet skimming. Or more frequent waterchange.

 

[Joel A]

Nick, all of the above for me... only zeovit dosing instead of vodka.. carbon dosing combined withg wet skimming will really drive nitrates down, that's why they call it ULNS after all... but you need to do more water changes if you do that, in order to maintain trace elements... which is why i said all of the above =)

 

[this is me]

Thanks Joel,
I'm attempting to fix my nutrient problem and go back to keeping SPS. This time I will put all my effort into it.

 

[afboundguy]

Before I had a nice skimmer I had a DIY in tank fuge that lowered my nitrates from 5-10 to zero. Now I have a real fuge with an overpowered skimmer...

 

[stingythingy45]

Have to say it,but 5-10 ppm is really nothing to worry about.

 

[ReeferMedic]

Have to say it,but 5-10 ppm is really nothing to worry about.

I have to agree. 5-10 isn't high enough to harm anything imo/ime. I'd be willing to bet most people would be very surprised at the results of a nitrate test in their system. With the fish load in mine, I'm happy to get a reading that is within the color chart.

 

[Joel A]

not really harmful IMO, but lower is desireable as always.. i'd say for an SPS system it' good to shoot for <5 ppm nitrate..

 

[this is me]

A lot of people say that 10ppm of nitrate is fine. And I would not worry about it if I don't have a problem with keeping stuff, but I do.

I don't know what's in the water but seems like a hell of a battle ever since the tank crash in the early January power outage.

Will do waterchange more often. Maybe look into Vodka dosing.

 

[ReeferMedic]

Nick, have you check phosphate? It is much more harmful at elevated levels then nitrate.

 

[this is me]

It was a problem. Don't remember the number but the color definitely had a blue tint to it.

I've been running GFO since the weekend and tested the PO4 this morning and it's pretty clear now. I need to get myself one of those po4 meter that actually give you a number instead of getting the number by matching the color chart.

I just want to get my nutrient parameter right before I put anything else in the tank. ALK, CA, and MG is always in check(10dkh, 420ppm, 1200ppm). I'm not sure wtf is going on with my tank. I don't check my nitrate level often. In fact, I was surprised at the level tested to be honest with you. And it's the first thing that come to my mind that can cause the issue. It Makes me want to just change out the sand completely and start a new sand bed. My patience is running out.

I also notice my chaeto is slowly dying or not growing.

 

[ReeferMedic]

If the chaeto is dying, that may be your source of excess nutrients right there.

I've heard of a few people having good success lowering nitrates with plumbing a deep sand bed(a Brute trash can 1/2-3/4 full)to their system. Wet skimming should help with phosphates also.


Nick, I tried to send a pm but your box is full. ::

 

[this is me]

what cause the chaeto to die or not growing. I will change out my less than one year old T5 bulb but I don't know if that 's the problem.

 

[ReeferMedic]

You could have driven nutrients low enough that it isn't enough to sustain the chaeto.

 

[this is me]

Then why I can't keep sps color with these parameters.
alk: 10dkh
ca: 420ppm
mg: 1200ppm

light: 250wDE w/ 4x24w T5
Circulation: 2x nano stream plus return pump

I just don't get it. Sps would brown out within a week.

 

[Joel A]

how often do you feed? How many fish?

When was the last time you tried SPS?

Any chance you have pests?

 

[stingythingy45]

I've been running GFO since the weekend and tested the PO4 this morning and it's pretty clear now. I need to get myself one of those po4 meter that actually give you a number instead of getting the number by matching the color chart.

What was the PO4 before you started running GFO?
Is there any way you can get your water tested at the meeting?The Hanna tester will give you a really accurate reading.

 

[stingythingy45]

Maybe this will help you.

http://www.reefbuilders.com/2008/09/03/guide-of-sps-coral-coloration-make-them-more-vivid-bright/

 

[this is me]

Once a day.
4 clowns
5 anthias
5 chromis

I'm not aware of any pest. Have gave frag to member and they dip the frag in front of my face and we didn't see anything alarming.

how often do you feed? How many fish?

When was the last time you tried SPS?

Any chance you have pests?

 

[afboundguy]

You could have driven nutrients low enough that it isn't enough to sustain the chaeto.

I thought of this as well. I've noticed a huge drop off in growth after I put in my Octo Extreme skimmer and actually thought it totally stopped growing and was dying... It has since kept growing but really slow...

 

[this is me]

I'm not sure how to read the color chart. Lol, but it's defintely some blue tint in the test tube.

It is now clear with the GFO running.

I haven't added any sps since running GFO. The last sps I tried was a millepora from a neighbor reefer. It browned out and died within two weeks or so. I gave up on it since but I want to get my water right this time and probably the last time. If I can't figure this out one last time, I'm throwing in the towel.

What was the PO4 before you started running GFO?
Is there any way you can get your water tested at the meeting?The Hanna tester will give you a really accurate reading.

Maybe this will help you.

http://www.reefbuilders.com/2008/09/03/guide-of-sps-coral-coloration-make-them-more-vivid-bright/