Would filter bag such as mesh or felt bring down nitrate?

[orionduck]

Would filter bag such as mesh or felt place on drain reduce nitrate?

OR should I just place alot of live rock at the drain area?

Or both.. live rock and filter bag to reduce nitrate?

 

[nitr8]

100/+ micron poly filter bags work very well. LFS usually carry these. although I don't believe the filter bag will decrease nitrates, only help to prevent them. I suggest big frequent water changes and maybe run some carbon.

 

[nichols]

Filter bags work well at nitrate reduction. The key is to clean the bags often removing uneaten food, detritus etc. before it has a chance break down.

 

[delta]

Would filter bag such as mesh or felt place on drain reduce nitrate?

OR should I just place alot of live rock at the drain area?

Or both.. live rock and filter bag to reduce nitrate?

You have a few threads on Nitrates might help if we start with how your system is setup and
what your base parameters are. It will be much easier to give you advice.

 

[orionduck]

The system .. about 5 salt water fish tank .. 120g + 90g + 75g + 35g +16g +55gallon barrel + 55g sump and 1 cheato tank all drain and supply to 55gallon sump - Running no carbon or canister filter- phos ban and 1 skimmer.. I think rated for like under 150gallon .. it look small .. I got 250gallon skimmer but impeller die last night ...

Total volume of water is close to 400gallon I never did any water change since last year when I set it up and was trying to figure out how all of this work but I did add alot of tank since then..

stock -- 120g 1 hippo 1 yellow tang 2 clown
95g 1 small hippo tang and 1 yellow 7 chromis 2 clown 3 black damsel
75g 1 small hippo tang and 1 yellow 5 clown fish
35g 2 clown fish and 2 tiny damsel
16g 2 clown
55g barrel nothing .. some rock
20g cheato tank.. nothing but cheato but might add 1 damsel

I did the testing myself but wanted 2nd option so i went to skipton and here is the result

salinity 1.022 (1.019-1.026)
PH ok
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 40 (0-20ppm)

Alkalinity 7 1/2 (7-10)
Calcium 330 (400-450 ppm)

Thanks for the help

Now that the system is all up and running and some of them have coral such as hard and soft bta etc.. my concern is water

I know water change is the next thing BUT just wanted a better solution before I waste ton of money on salt and water change!

 

[gregsreef26]

In my opinion it would just work to Increase nitrates.It will trap debris and harbor aerobic bacterias which work to create nitrate. Efficient skimming,frequent water changes,minimal nutrient import,and an abundance of rock and sand(surface for anaerobic bacteria) will all help to prevent or reduce nitrate

 

[gregsreef26]

No substitute for a good old water change.

 

[delta]

The system .. about 5 salt water fish tank .. 120g + 90g + 75g + 35g +16g +55gallon barrel + 55g sump and 1 cheato tank all drain and supply to 55gallon sump - Running no carbon or canister filter- phos ban and 1 skimmer.. I think rated for like under 150gallon .. it look small .. I got 250gallon skimmer but impeller die last night ...

Total volume of water is close to 400gallon I never did any water change since last year when I set it up and was trying to figure out how all of this work but I did add alot of tank since then..

stock -- 120g 1 hippo 1 yellow tang 2 clown
95g 1 small hippo tang and 1 yellow 7 chromis 2 clown 3 black damsel
75g 1 small hippo tang and 1 yellow 5 clown fish
35g 2 clown fish and 2 tiny damsel
16g 2 clown
55g barrel nothing .. some rock
20g cheato tank.. nothing but cheato but might add 1 damsel

I did the testing myself but wanted 2nd option so i went to skipton and here is the result

salinity 1.022 (1.019-1.026)
PH ok
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 40 (0-20ppm)

Alkalinity 7 1/2 (7-10)
Calcium 330 (400-450 ppm)

Thanks for the help

Now that the system is all up and running and some of them have coral such as hard and soft bta etc.. my concern is water

I know water change is the next thing BUT just wanted a better solution before I waste ton of money on salt and water change!

These are all tied together and you have never done a water change? If so water changes are your friend. Spend your money on making good water 0tds and a good salt mix
then I would do water changes 25% 2x week until the nitrates drop.

Calcium and Alk are little low as well as your Salinity. Water changes will straighten that out if you adjust before you add the saltwater mix

 

[orionduck]

Water change solve it.. it is O for nitrate ... 20% water change

 

[JohnK]

Water changes will help to correct the levels for now.

You also need to find and fix what is allowing the nitrate to accumulate.