How to lower nitrates?

[Sicklid]

Besides water changes, what else can i do to lower nitrates?
I did somes test today morning and the color of the sample is between 10 and 15ppm.
Thanks for helping out!!!

 

[robbrouse]

Carbon dosing.. Someone else will jump in and I need a refresher course. Mine are climbing up again. Red Sea Sells a product that does it as well.
[h=1]Red Sea NO3O4-X Nitrate & Phosphate[/h]

 

[AquaFX]

I actually started carbon dosing, and after doing some more research it may not be the best idea. From what I found out carbon dosing apparently messes with the natural algae growing on the live rocks and causes an imbalance however it seems like that's all 50/50 so.. personally if your nitrates are that high, just go with a water change and make it a decent one that's the real answer. For long term you may want to look into plant life that lives off nitrates to help like Mangroves, also do you have bio balls? Ive found that once your tank is established if you do have bio balls remove them. the reef should be doing what they were initially used for at this point. From my understanding the bio balls can cause nitrates to come back time and time again.. Hope I helped.

 

[glb]

There's a product by Dr. G's which is a nitrate adsorbant medium you put in your sump. It was highly recommended to me so I'm trying it out.

 

[Reefing Madness]

Denitrators
Carbon Dosing
Bio Pellets
Dr Tims NP Active Pearls
Sulphur Reactor

 

[RogerWilco357]

bio pellets seems to work well so I hear . Think I will give them a try my self.

 

[dreefman]

here's what i use and it lower mine from 80 ppm to 30 ppm in one month AquaMaxx BioMaxx BioPellet Reactor they got other ones and i still do my water changes to but i do think it helps

 

[FL_Reefer]

I second the NoPox, works very well!

 

[gonpostal]

I use chaeto.

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

I use chaeto.

+1. I also use macroalgae to help with nitrates.

 

[mcarroll]

Your live rock is a highly efficient nitrate reducer if used properly. The rock can't be logged with detritus. Hand in hand with that, the rock needs to have excellent circulation through it.

How are your phosphates and do you have much green algae growth?

-Matt

 

[Sicklid]

@mcarroll my po4<5
And this is how my live rocks look like:

 

[Mike J.]

Denitrators
Carbon Dosing
Bio Pellets
Dr Tims NP Active Pearls
Sulphur Reactor

A person must be very careful using sulfur to lower nitrates. The KZ denitrator would be safer to use than the sulfur filter because it has a built it method of raising the very low pH water coming out of the reactor. A flow rate that is off or a lack of nitrates to feed the reactor can cause the existing bacteria in the reactor to crash, with disastrous results to your tank.

I'm surprised natural ways to reduce nitrates is not mentioned; lots of live rock, a deep sand bed, a remote deep sand bed.

A remote deep sand bed, (that is kept in the dark so it doesn't require sand bed fauna), that has a slow flow of water over it can be very effective at reducing nitrates. It also has the added benefits of raising your pH and keeping your calcium and alkalinity stable.

There are a lot of tanks out there that would benefit greatly by simply adding more live rock and sand.

 

[Reefing Madness]

A person must be very careful using sulfur to lower nitrates. The KZ denitrator would be safer to use than the sulfur filter because it has a built it method of raising the very low pH water coming out of the reactor. A flow rate that is off or a lack of nitrates to feed the reactor can cause the existing bacteria in the reactor to crash, with disastrous results to your tank.

I'm surprised natural ways to reduce nitrates is not mentioned; lots of live rock, a deep sand bed, a remote deep sand bed.

A remote deep sand bed, (that is kept in the dark so it doesn't require sand bed fauna), that has a slow flow of water over it can be very effective at reducing nitrates. It also has the added benefits of raising your pH and keeping your calcium and alkalinity stable.

There are a lot of tanks out there that would benefit greatly by simply adding more live rock and sand.

Korallin Sulfur-Based Biodenitrator
Perfectly safe.

 

[OceanDude]

Wish I saw some of these solutions back when I had my tank. I probably did the wrong thing and did water changes as well as waiting it out. Wish you best of luck!

 

[Tylermacdonald15]

You could always give bio pellets a try. But I find the best way is to just keep on top of water changes. Once you get them under control, stay on a normal water change routine. Bio pellets work, but I like the idea of totally exporting the waste and adding fresh water.

 

[mcarroll]

If flow is strong, then the tank looks like it's in the land of "no problems" - I might question the test kit.

PO4 should be under 0.05 ppm...is that what you meant by "<5"?

Anyway, judging from the pic I might question the test kit. Are things worse in the tank than this pic would suggest?

-Matt

 

[Sicklid]

@mcarroll I mean less than .05 ppm, but you right about my po4 reading, I have the cheap API test kit. I have been doing water changes and now my nitrates reading shows 5ppm. Thanks for all comments guys!!