Project Zero nitrate.

Ok hear is the delema we are are faced with. I have had tolerable nitrate levels most of the time in the tank 10-20 ppm but never reached 0 totally. I am making it a point through a bunch of water changes to get it there. I guess what I am wondering is am I over looking something. I first went away to florida for a few weeks and the guy that stays at our house when we go over fed them as he did not want me to lose anything lol. So here I am 50ppm and the corals obviously look brownish. So here it is any feed back if im overlooking anything would be great. I first have been changing the filter media 2 times weekly, I just before doing so blow off the rocks (approx 30 min before) to get the detritis and then let filters catch it. I then clean the skimmer and while everything is down and starting yester day will be doing every other day 50 percent water changes until we hit zero. I assume this is ok and at 100 gallons a wack certainly is not cheap going through 2/3rds of a bucket of reef crystals every other day but I want to reach 0 once and for all and keep it there. I do have mangroves and a very small ammount of cheato. Any imput? I was thinking about bio pellets but am thinking it just seems to be a bandaid. Thanks.

 

how are biopellets a band aid and refugiums not, or even protein skimmer for that matter?

nitrates have to go somewhere don't they? Bacteria are naturally in your tank and use nitrates, why not just by increasing the natural bacteria level in your tank?


I mean seriously think about the points I brought up because biopellets could help you significantly. Nitrates will never stop being produced, none of the equipment will stop the production of nitrates only remove it.

 

I would also recommend going with the Bio pellets. Also fifty percent water changes are very extreme. IMO. I would take it slow and steady with the water changes

 

I think getting to 0 and maintainning it is going to be difficult for you because of the bio-load you have. You have some very nice fish (tangs) that need the food to stay healthy. I would think 10 would be a more realistic goal. Yes carbon dosing or bio-pellets will probably do the job, but is it worth it to stay at 0? JM2C

 

I think that you are cleaning your skimmer to much. The cup maybe once a week and the skimmer every 3 - 6 months. Cleaning it that much is working against you to help absorb the nitrates. I use Microbacter7 in my setup and it has worked wonders. I agree doing 50% water changes is a lot. Don't forget the 3reef logo.

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I'm not opposed to them I just have only just started hearing about them. And I'm not opposed just don't have any real knowledge about them and thought they were a tempoary fix.10 ppm is fine I just would like it more constant at 10 or easily managed. I also am only cleaning my skimmer cup not the whole thing and I'm doing so when full so it does not make sence that is hurting the tank? I'm cleaning the debris out of the filter media 1-2 times weekly but only since the nitrates got so high. I was just starting to look into bio pellets but had not seen to much about them.

 

They are pellets that go in a media reactor, they should have some movement(from the water flow) atleast when you first set it up. they are topped off yearly.

 

I just looked at them for the first time with a thought I might try these. I looked at the reactor and media on bulf reef supplys web site as I have ordered with them a ton of times. If there is one that works better then another or whatnot I am open to ideas. It says takes 6-8 to start a reduction in nitrates.

 

it took 2 weeks for me to notice a difference, probably 4 to hit less then 1 ppm.(it was hanging around 5 for a while).

I just use the two little fishes reactor with a maxijet, I use the 600 but really recommend the 1200 for you since the 600 is barely doing the job with the canister half full


also i recommend you get a low range test kit because midrange are unreliable at low levels

 

are you mixing your own using RO water? And if so, are you testing for 0 TDS? Are you using a DI?