Nitrate Reduction

My tank is completing its cycle, ammonia is at 0, and nitrites are falling from 1 down to .25 as of last Sunday. My question is regarding the nitrates, which are currently at 20ppm. I am running a FOWLR and I know nitrates aren't as harmful in this setup, but I'd like to keep them as close to 0 as possible to prevent algea and maintain general fish health. Should I expect the nitrates to fall from 20 as part of the cycle with FOWLR once I get the skimmer running? I don't think so, and planned on doing a 25% WC this weekend to reduce, before adding my 1st fish/cleanup crew.

My question is on what my options for Nitrate control are. As I understand it, the LR will not significantly reduce nitrates, and my skimmer will help remove the organics that become nitrates, but in general there is no biological "nitrate removal" mechanism in my system currently. I don't have a DSB, or sump, I am running a canister with bio-balls which help ammonia-trites-trates but not remove nitrates.

I am not looking for a replacement to water changes, but perhaps just a method to help reduce the number (closer to monthly rather than weekly) and minimize algea growth since I travel frequently and don't want my fiance doing water changes while I am away.

Any thoughts on adding one of the nitrate sponges or pads to my canister, and if so which are best? Kent Marine nitrate sponge seems to imply that it is a bacteria control substance, but not sure I believe this. Any ill effects of using these permanently in my canister as a long term solution?

Am I overthinking this and will the LR along with a skimmer and ~monthly water changes/substrate cleaning help keep my nitrates at a minimum and minimize algea growth? I know a denitrator is another option, though I'm not sure how to integrate one of these without a sump.

Thanks for your help!

 

well those bio-balls are well noted to be a nitrate factory in a wet/dry style sump/system

 

Well not to get off the nitrate subject and get the post leading off to somthing else.
Our mutual friend i think ( weve been having sevral conversations and think basicly changing his style of maintanance and other things are having a small part to play in it all )

I think it will be easily corrected though as he doe's

 

I've also heard the same from some ppl, but at the same time, I've heard the opposite. I know someone that has had BB for over 15 yrs Without cleaning them and with no issues. Who really knows???? Luna

 

Correct. I've never had a problem using bio-balls. The trick is to not overfeed your tank and to keep the bio-balls clean. If you're willing to keep the maintenance up on them, they work better than most nitrate reducing methods on the market.

 

How do you properly clean BB's? Luna

 

Rinse them in saltwater every 6 months or so (assuming you're not overfeeding which would cause you to need to rinse them more often). If you're using them in a wet/dry system, you only want to remove and rinse one half of the bio-balls at a time to reduce the risk of killing off too much bacteria at one time (you will kill off a little but not all of the bacteria by pulling them out and cleaning them). When used in a canister filter, I would guess that they would collect alot more detritus than they would in a wet dry so you'd have to clean them more often.