F
Fishstar3
Guest
Does anyone have any recommendations to get rid of high nitrates? I am feeding less and doing water changes regularly and no change. I would really appreciate some suggestions. Thanks.
- Location
- Staten Island
Natureef denitrifier.. Or try to stop feeding frozen and switch to formula one pellets or flakes... Also how is your Rock situation??? Do you have enough???
But to start Large water change but you should have enough rock to change the amount needed to do anything...When I say rock I also mean good bacteria so that your system won't crash...
But to start Large water change but you should have enough rock to change the amount needed to do anything...When I say rock I also mean good bacteria so that your system won't crash...
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- Location
- Howard Beach NY
how many fish and how manya gals is your tank? I had 6 fish in a 24 gal tank.. I took 3, remove sponges that i have.. keep doing water changes and feeding less, also bought xenia.. so far my nitrates are going down.. 
- Location
- Staten Island
If you want hard corals high nitrates will wipe them out quick...
IMO, this is a loaded question because nitrates are not necessarily a problem. I personally think that Phosphate levels are so much more important than Nitrate levels, and that high nitrates are not really a problem without high phosphate levels.
First we need a whole lot more information.
1. how much live rock do you have
2. what type of fish do you have
3. what are your nitrate levels. while you are at it post all of your test results.
4. What type of filtration system are you running (protein skimmer,
filter socks, cannister filters, etc. etc.)
5. do you have sand bed, what is it made of and how deep is it.
6. what do you feed, and how often
7. Do you have a sump
8. Do you use bioballs
Thats a start, I'll probably have more questions
I whole heartedly disagree, I have known many people who have had high nitrates and beautiful sps tanks.
do your own research into adding sugar/vodka. Im a newbee to this but people have had good and bad luck. i am not picking a side, just saying something u could try if u think it would work. good luck. i have a similar problem with my fowlr.
- Location
- Staten Island
I'd like to meet these people and see the colors on their corals...lol Phosphates in conjunction with nitrates like you said though...
IMO get a refugium, You can find a nice hang on for pretty cheap on here. This along with a phos reactor. Fill the fuge with sand, some rock, and chaeto, and a light of course. These to devices along with 5-10 gallons a day or every other day for a week or so and you should be good. my fuge got my nitrates down to 0 in no time and phos reactor did same for phosphaters in a week.
This along with weekly water changes and reasonable feeding and your ready to go reefing.
This along with weekly water changes and reasonable feeding and your ready to go reefing.
IMO most refugiums are not well suited to this end, even if they are (and in most cases I would wager they cause more trouble than they are worth) they are still a band-aid to an underlying concern...high nitrates (If it really is a concern in the first place)
Long term, with any "problem" such as this, it is better to get at the root cause, then to add complexity to the system. Not that such band-aid don't have a place, but they are more efficient once the underlying root problem has been addressed. (i.e. stop over feeding, take out the bioballs, take the six full size naso tangs out of the 72gallon tank
)
- Location
- Staten Island
Yep, checked out that thread and I have some reading to do as far as the site that paul posted... BUT like he said there are some corals that he just can't keep.... I also think that the fish wouldn't benefit from high nitrate levels either....
:biglaugh: Wes, I was going to say the same thing after reading this thread.
Couldn't have said this part right here better myself:
Couldn't have said this part right here better myself:
IMO most refugiums are not well suited to this end, even if they are (and in most cases I would wager they cause more trouble than they are worth) they are still a band-aid to an underlying concern...high nitrates (If it really is a concern in the first place)
Long term, with any "problem" such as this, it is better to get at the root cause, then to add complexity to the system. Not that such band-aid don't have a place, but they are more efficient once the underlying root problem has been addressed. (i.e. stop over feeding, take out the bioballs, take the six full size naso tangs out of the 72gallon tank
IMO refugiums are a natural way of allowing plant matter to come in contact with your water to comple the nitrogen cycle. OF COURSE one must do the necessary husbandry and means (good nutrient free water, water changes) and not rely just on this, but as a way to naturally reduce nitrates and phosphates, I feel it is a good addition to any reef.
This is just the opinion I have formulated from my experience
This is just the opinion I have formulated from my experience
Make that high No3 and super high Po4, corals are growing out of the tank.
From all the BOOKS I've read, fish don't care about Po3. I am embarass to tell poeple how high my Po3 is in my FOWLR tank, and an oversized BK300 can't fix the problem. NONE of my fish seems to care much.
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