How to lower nitrates after a cycle

[bambo]

Hello everyone. My tank finished cycling about 2 weeks ago “100 gallon system” and since I’ve done a 30 gallon and a 15 gallon water change. I tested today with a Hanna and my nitrates are at 33 phosphates are at .09. What do I need to do to get my nitrates down? Continue to do water changes? I used dr Tim’s all in one when cycling. And have started adding brightwell microbactor 7. I added 3 fish today also. 2 clowns and a tiny blue hippo. Also ammonia and nitrites are at 0

 

[cdemoss01]

Ah I have had issues with N04 too. Firstly what's your filtration? Id reccomend setting up a tank thread and posting your equipment so people can understand where your coming from. after that attach it to your profile
if you need to post one click this LINK.
After post it HERE!

 

[cdemoss01]

Also for filtration try to add purigen, and do more water changes. Water changes are key. Consider adding a skimmer or fuge to the tank. Please let me know if you need help with this and I can answer or refer you too a few of my pals on here.

 

[bambo]

Ok I’ll pick up some purigen tomorrow. I didn’t realize that was a nitrate remover. I plan on doing another wc tomorrow of about 30 gallon. Also I was told not to start running my skimmer yet since my tank isn’t dirty

 

[cdemoss01]

Ok I’ll pick up some purigen tomorrow. I didn’t realize that was a nitrate remover. I plan on doing another wc tomorrow of about 30 gallon. Also I was told not to start running my skimmer yet since my tank isn’t dirty

All good. Good advice for skimmer, if you want put some Cheato in there and it'll eat your nitrates right up.

 

[bambo]

I’m not sure where to put cheato. Can it go in the same compartment at the matrix in my sump?

 

[cdemoss01]

I’m not sure where to put cheato. Can it go in the same compartment at the matrix in my sump?

if may be able too. I'd have to ask someone. @kevgib67 any ideas?

 

[MnFish1]

Hello everyone. My tank finished cycling about 2 weeks ago “100 gallon system” and since I’ve done a 30 gallon and a 15 gallon water change. I tested today with a Hanna and my nitrates are at 33 phosphates are at .09. What do I need to do to get my nitrates down? Continue to do water changes? I used dr Tim’s all in one when cycling. And have started adding brightwell microbactor 7. I added 3 fish today also. 2 clowns and a tiny blue hippo. Also ammonia and nitrites are at 0

More water changes. Everything you add will be adding more 'nitrate' eventually. Of course there are multiple ways to lower nitrate - the quickest are water changes - and there is a calculator to help determine how to do it here: https://www.hamzasreef.com/Contents/Calculators/EffectOfWaterChanges.php

 

[SliceGolfer]

You could go the bacteria driven route. Vinegar, Vodka, and Tropic Marin minus NP are good ways to get started.

 

[PharmrJohn]

More water changes. Everything you add will be adding more 'nitrate' eventually. Of course there are multiple ways to lower nitrate - the quickest are water changes - and there is a calculator to help determine how to do it here: https://www.hamzasreef.com/Contents/Calculators/EffectOfWaterChanges.php

This ^^^^

 

[JayM]

33 and .09 aren’t really anything to be concerned with. With your tank being so new, I personally wouldn’t consider doing anything but weekly 10-15% water changes at this point.

Take it slow and don’t chase numbers.

 

[UncommonSense]

I’ve been a long time believer in algae scrubbers for nitrate reduction — significantly more compact, and power efficient than a macro algae refugium! Typically I just make my own double lit vertical waterfall style scrubbers, but there are some realistically priced ones on eBay/etc!

 

[pergis]

Hello everyone. My tank finished cycling about 2 weeks ago “100 gallon system” and since I’ve done a 30 gallon and a 15 gallon water change. I tested today with a Hanna and my nitrates are at 33 phosphates are at .09. What do I need to do to get my nitrates down? Continue to do water changes? I used dr Tim’s all in one when cycling. And have started adding brightwell microbactor 7. I added 3 fish today also. 2 clowns and a tiny blue hippo. Also ammonia and nitrites are at 0

Water change, water change, water change! Get a skimmer up and running immediately. Are you running a sump/refugium? If so, deep sand bed for anaerobic bacteria.

 

[pergis]

Sorry, didn’t mean to rely twice.

 

[bambo]

This is my sump. I had thought about running some Cheto but not sure if I can put it in with the matrix if there’s enough room

 

[PharmrJohn]

Take it slow and don’t chase numbers.

A very wise statement. Just adhere to an acceptable range that works for your ecosystem. I've chased numbers before and it was an exercise in futility and frustration.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

how much ammonia did you add? Assuming you did not boost to 2 ppm more than a couple of times, the nitrate may be a testing issue, not a real value of 33 ppm.