Do skimmers reduce nitrates?

[Cadiz.Jonathan]

Ok I admit I'm def a beginer do have a skimmer just wondering what it would do for my tank cuz all my levels are in check except my nitrates


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[Audi0s]

Skimmers are useful in reducing the organic waste and decaying food in your water. Nitrate reduction is usually best done with frequent water changes and some sort of algae that feeds off of it.

 

[Cadiz.Jonathan]

Ment to to say I don't have a skimmer but I get mixed answers on this at an lfs I go to just want peoples opinion


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[KathyC]

Yes, but not very well as compared to other methods.
Some info here - just blove the 'conclusions' at the bottom of the article
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-12/rs/feature/index.php

If a person is having a high nitrate issue the best thing to do is 1 - find & remedy the cause and 2 - do water changes to reduce the nitrate (which works much faster than a skimmer will)

 

[Deanos]

Skimmers remove wastes which would eventually produce nitrates. Assuming you had no other form of nitrate export (algae, water changes, clams, etc), your nitrates would not be reduced using a skimmer.