Cant get rid of no3...

Dutchie · Oct 11, 2016

Hello there Reefers!

I am new to this forum :) My name is Rob and i live in the Netherlands, and i love to keep a saltwater tank.
Sinds a couple off weeks i can't get rid of my high no3,p04 was 0 i am currently dosing po4+ from DSR.
I am currently running a 40x25x25 inch custom made Cristallo Tank with aprox 115 Gallon on triton.
i am thinking of starting Vodka method or vv/vsv at the moment i am dosing VSV 1ml a day but the no3 is keeping rising. i have made a mix of 200ml’s Vodka, 50ml’s vinegar, and 22 gram sugar.
2 days ago i did a water change of 130liters but i am already back at my old no3.
also i have a biopellet reactor in the sump loaded but i don't do anything for 8 weeks... i am gonna remove that one and change it again to carbon.
So people i really do need some help to lower my no3 and keep it on control with one of the above options.... what mix do u use and what do u advise as a starting dose ???

The setup i am running at the moment =

40x25x25 inch custom made Cristallo Tank
2 x Ecotech marine G3 pro
Deltec sc1456 skimmer
jecod dp4 dosing computer
2 x jecod rw8 with aan additional Maxspect Gyre xf130
300 watt thermo
2x DD H2Oceanfilters with an jecod dcs 4000L
Returnpump Jecod dcs 7200L
And currently i am running on Triton Base elements;)
Here are some pics of my tank today !

Greetings from the Netherlands

Dutchie · Oct 11, 2016

Just finished water parameters testing here are the results for the people who are asking for them [emoji2]
Did the testing whit hanna checkers and salifert

Irsug1 · Oct 11, 2016

Without phosphate your nitrates will not be consumed. Keep dosing phosphate and carbon source as you mention. The biopellets and carbon dosing should knock those nitrates down if you keep the phosphate up.

mcarroll · Oct 11, 2016

Consumption of NO3 by corals is also likely to increase with a bit more PO4.....just do not feed particulate foods like plankton for at least a few days as that also controls use of dissolved nutrients.

Honestly those numbers aren't bad. I think all I'd do is try to use less and fewer PO4-removing products and/or slightly increase your dose of liquid PO4.

Dutchie · Oct 11, 2016

My parameters arrent that bad but i want to knock those nitrate level down to 5 i think what do u suggest for lowering the no3 feeding and plankton etc is at a minimum at the moment my friends tell me to kick in with only wodka and start with 1ml and raise it by 1ml a day

rock_lobster · Oct 11, 2016

How often are you pruning the chaeto? should be growing pretty fast.

Dutchie · Oct 11, 2016

I have diffrent types of algea in the sump and the thing is i dont ! It isnt growing at the moment

mcarroll · Oct 11, 2016

Before another thing is said:

Look at the pictures you posted. That is not a system begging for changes or complaining about a number. It looks great!!

If you insist for your own reasons.... ;)

How fast are you seeing NO3 increase? Was it 0 ppm a week ago and now it's 30? Or was it more like 29 a week ago?

How much light do you have over the algae farm? Can you please measure it with (at least) a lux meter? A freebie app (there are many) lux meter for your smartphone will do the trick.

I'm sorry for not offering direct help on the vodka or vinegar front, but I, much like your corals, still question your premise. ;)
(It's ok if you'd rather I not do that. ;) )

And this may be neither here nor there, but....if I've converted correctly, and 24.4ºC = 75ºF, isn't that a bit subtropical?

Dutchie · Oct 11, 2016

Haha thanks for the compliment ! I am just a little bit perfectionist [emoji85] i want the max out of my tank[emoji108] the no3 is rease a bit fast this week 10ppm i think.... No problem that u cant help me about the vodka etc m8 !
Just dit a lux test with my iphone directly in the lamp is 2250 and on the algea bed 750. As far as i know/see are all aquarium running about 24/25 celcius in the netherlands !?

mcarroll · Oct 11, 2016

Interesting! I'd be looking for at least 10,000 lux on the sump – should charge up your algae.

Just to make sure that's a good number, what does that lux meter app register for your main lights? (Measure close to the water surface.)

Dutchie · Oct 11, 2016

Hahah my bad !! Dit a wrong test m8 [emoji85] refugium light is about 40k lux and my radions 100k but i had this light on my previous tank and the algea whas growing mad

Dutchie · Oct 11, 2016

By the way it is a 20watt 6500k led

eg8r210 · Oct 11, 2016

I agree with mcarroll that your tank looks great. Being a perfectionist doesn't have to mean chasing numbers, it could just mean you keep up your husbandry. If you wanted to drop your nitrates fast the easiest way is to do it with large water changes. Two 50% WC theoretically would get you down to 7.5 nitrates (if no new nitrates were added in between the WC). You could even spread out the large WC over a couple weeks and in the mean time figure out what you are doing that is causing a big increase. Another option is to add media like siporax or matrix. It will take time to see with bacteria but once it is then you will be able to control nitrates that way.

However, with your tank looking so great don't chase numbers. Keep alk stable, at whatever number you choose and keep up with the tank. If the corals being changing negatively then react but by keeping up on your husbandry you are being proactive and should have a lot less issues.

mcarroll · Oct 11, 2016

Right on – I think you're set for light too then.

Is flow in the algae farm the same as before too? How about the types of algae – same?

I stick with my assessment of letting PO4 get a little higher. Maybe try 0.50 ppm....

mcarroll · Oct 11, 2016

I did not pick that number out of thin air....

Check this:
High phosphate uptake requirements of the scleractinian coral Stylophora pistillata

mcarroll · Oct 11, 2016

Espeically if you're really blasting your display with surface-lighting/direct sun lux levels.

(sorry that was so late! :D)

rock_lobster · Oct 11, 2016

something missing because any positive reading with phosphate and 30 nitrates should be growing chaeto like mad.

rock_lobster · Oct 11, 2016

tank honestly looks to clean for 30 nitrates what test did you use? did you check vs control?

Dutchie · Oct 11, 2016

Everybody thanks for the compliments about my tank [emoji106][emoji106][emoji16] about the algea i have cheato, caulerpa and the other one i dont know the englisch name its the one with grapes on top....
Thanks for the link @mcarroll ! Need some time to read [emoji85] i am running triton with nog wc so i really dont like to change water because the parameters eg8r210 maybe i can add some matrix i have some here @home maybe will that will do the trick [emoji106] but is still need some off carbon source for the heavy feeding for my anthias fish. And offcourse ikl keep the water parameters stable.... Thats why i bought the hanna's[emoji6] the no3 is just enoying because the windows are getting green real quickly.... Sorry for my bad english by the way !