Are water changes the only way to keep nitrates down?

[Anonymous]

FWIW I am extremely leary of any additive to reduce things in our tanks that are easily taken care of through biological processes. Ammonia and nitrates are at the top of the list of the easiest thing to be taken care of biologically.

For instance, the anaerobic bacteria to reduce nitrates can not live in aerobic conditions when added to our tanks. So adding them to the water column does no good.

If any of those produces change the nitrates to something else than what are they changed to and how long will that last?

If it is a filtering the nitrates then what else is being filtered out also?

If it is an ionic exchange then what ions are being released into our tanks? Aluminum? iron?

If ammonia and nitrates are being lowered then what else is being lowered? One post on another board indicated on product was pulled from the market when it was discovered it removed oxygen along with the nitrates.

To me it is extremely easy to control ammonia and only a little harder to control nitrates. So additives for those things are the least unnecessary and at worse detrimental.

JMHO

 

[Anonymous]

I think I agree, Bob. ...would really like to know what they are changing the NoX's into.
~wings~

 

[DK]

If you have cronic elevated nitrates, get a denitrator. In 4 to 5 weeks you can go from 40 to under 2. I am not talking about a coil denitrator although they can have a positive impact but rather something like the nitrobactor, it really does work.

 

[DK]

I should look up the correct name...........

 

[DK]

Nitrateductor from aqua-medic. Can get it from Champion Lighting

 

[Anonymous]

Well I use Amquel+ for maintance purposes not to "control" nitrates, nitrites etc...Relying on Macros has its draw back too..as previously stated, Halimeda sucking up Ca and the problems with C. Racemosa going sexual...Its not recommended to pump chemicals in your tank as a form of control..LR and the whole cycling process does the job...I didnt see how long the tank has been up and running...That is going to effect your nitrates with the nitrogen cycle...

 

[ChrisRD]

By far the best and most reliable way is to remove the material before it breaks down. Skim wet to remove particulates and organic materials that would form nitrates. Live rock also has plenty of denitrification ability.

I agree. I've yet to have a detectable nitrate level in a well run tank with a good skimmer, strong circulation, live rock and pure source water whether it has a macro fuge, no fuge, DSB, a little sand, no sand. etc. JME of course...

 

[DK]

So, lets say you have been running a fowlr tank for 5 years. Nitrate levels are probably 40 to 80 and you decide to make it a reef. You can do water changes every day for a month and not get the nitrate level below 15 due the rock having to release what has been stored in it. Then, a nitrate reduction system would be appropriate. If a system never had high nitrate levels, then this would not be needed.

 

[jango]

Heavy skimming and scheduled water change's will keep you at zero unless you have a very very large bioload..

By far the best and most reliable way is to remove the material before it breaks down. Skim wet to remove particulates and organic materials that would form nitrates.

 

[jango]

A nitrate reduction system is not needed here either you would just need to clean the rock. If you do not clean it even with something to reduce nitrate's it will be a never ending battle....

So, lets say you have been running a fowlr tank for 5 years. Nitrate levels are probably 40 to 80 and you decide to make it a reef. You can do water changes every day for a month and not get the nitrate level below 15 due the rock having to release what has been stored in it. Then, a nitrate reduction system would be appropriate. If a system never had high nitrate levels, then this would not be needed.

 

[DK]

You could clean the outside of the rock but not the inside. I am not saying that you should not do proper care of the tank. The nitrate reducer is also not an additive. It is an effective way of reducing nitrates. A well maintained system wont need this but, if needed, this will do the job....naturally!!!!!