How do you keep nitrates & phosphates down in a large tank?

[Jrco226]

I have a 220g tank + 30G sump that will be FOWLR and I'm curious as to how some folks keep these numbers down with larger tanks. Any and all comments/suggestions welcomes, thanks!

 

[JaimeAdams]

Large amount of surface area for biological filtration as in lots of rock and/or the bio media blocks. Rinse food well and don't over feed. I just watched the BRS video on cheat refugiums, so I should mention that as well.

 

[DrDNA]

Carbon dosing, turf scrubbers, dosing lanthanum chloride for phosphates

 

[JaimeAdams]

Yeah I will second carbon dosing.

 

[prsnlty]

I used to carbon dose but now I can't keep nitrates without dosing kno3 to get some. (180g)

 

[outeastreefer]

Large refugium with macro algae. Big skimmer.

 

[Jrco226]

I was thinking of a cheato reactor but haven't found anything that seem worth the money being asked other than diy route. I will look into carbon dosing as well.

 

[DrDNA]

Just a quick caveat on carbon dosing, especially vodka, is that you definitely need good skimming and aeration. The process can consume a lot of dissolved oxygen, and I had a partial tank crash years ago from over dosing the tank with vodka. Vinegar is a lot more forgiving

 

[Gweeds1980]

320g... big skimmer, refuge and bio pellet reactor & gfo reactor.

 

[trevormass7]

I sugar dose instead, have had a lot lessproblems with it

 

[Shaun Sweeney]

I have almost 400 gallons running around the house with lots of surface area. I rely mostly on straight vodka to keep PO4 down. So far, so good.

 

[schooncw]

I have a relatively new-Feb-120, heavily stocked mixed reef and I have been battling nitrates from the onset. I have lots of rock, with some very large pieces and I realize I might just need more time. I added 3 of these a few weeks back.

http://brightwellaquatics.com/products/xport_no3_brick.php