In the quest to lower nitrates - how often can you perform water changes?

[FUNGI]

These ok?

 

[vadryn]

Your vodka doesn’t look any different than what I use. I’m not sure the benefits of doing a combined recipe. Vodka alone has worked good for me. Mind you, don’t do carbon dosing without a protein skimmer.

 

[FUNGI]

Your vodka doesn’t look any different than what I use. I’m not sure the benefits of doing a combined recipe. Vodka alone has worked good for me. Mind you, don’t do carbon dosing without a protein skimmer.

Thanks....and yes I have a skimmer.

 

[Red_Beard]

Using both provides 2 different forms of carbon and will (at least in theory) feed a greater diversity of bacteria.

Yes, the pictured ones will work. I use 80 proof, and 5% too

 

[FUNGI]

cool thanks

 

[FUNGI]

so not to use this one I have laying around...

 

[Red_Beard]

so not to use this one I have laying around...

I mean you could, but you gotta remember who you are catering to. Bacteria are low class drunks, don't appreciate the finer things.

 

[bubbgee]

For the folks using Nopox, how do you guys manage nopox dropping pH? Struggled with this issue.

 

[bubbgee]

whats the proof on teh Vodka and whats % on vinegar?

Yeah we don’t want drunk torches and clownfish in our tank.

 

[Reefer Brent]

I would do a 25 gallon every 2 days (prob 3 in total depending on #s) once number is in range deploy a new tactic of keeping them lower like carbon dosing or whatever you choose. I like slow changes especially if you have nems.

 

[Daz_1978]

Lower nitrate? I dose them!!! Along with phosphates.

BRS shows how weekly 10% water changes keep everything at a low level. Much more effective mathematically than larger/less often water changes.
It’s less of a shock to your system too.

 

[twentyleagues]

Lower nitrate? I dose them!!! Along with phosphates.

BRS shows how weekly 10% water changes keep everything at a low level. Much more effective mathematically than larger/less often water changes.
It’s less of a shock to your system too.

While I agree being on a weekly water change schedule can be beneficial not all reef tanks are the same. 10% on my tank does very little to adjust the nitrate levels. It all depends on what is causing and using those nitrates. If I dont do water changes my reef tends to level out at about 30ppm nitrate and will stay in that general area for an extended time. If I do 10% water change once a week I am still at around 30ppm weekly. It may drop 2-4ppm after the change. Roughly 120g actual water volume. I would like to see 10-20ppm but to do so with water changes I am looking at 50% or more weekly wc. I have done 3 20g changes throughout the week to accomplish that and it works with no issues for the tank just for me lol. Working on carbon dosing atm to achieve my goals.

 

[Daz_1978]

While I agree being on a weekly water change schedule can be beneficial not all reef tanks are the same. 10% on my tank does very little to adjust the nitrate levels. It all depends on what is causing and using those nitrates. If I dont do water changes my reef tends to level out at about 30ppm nitrate and will stay in that general area for an extended time. If I do 10% water change once a week I am still at around 30ppm weekly. It may drop 2-4ppm after the change. Roughly 120g actual water volume. I would like to see 10-20ppm but to do so with water changes I am looking at 50% or more weekly wc. I have done 3 20g changes throughout the week to accomplish that and it works with no issues for the tank just for me lol. Working on carbon dosing atm to achieve my goals.

You must have a pretty healthy fish load or over feeding habit? I over feed like crazy, but I use mostly frozen foods… So it’s not too crazy on the bio load. I know pellet foods can add a lot of nutrients to the tank.

I’m with you on the 10-20 Nitrates, but I have been near 30 for extended periods before with no ill effects.
I think if mine naturally fell in the 25-30 range and I didn’t have any algae issues… I might would let it ride and match phosphate to it.
But again, I have to dose to maintain a 10+ range. I like the 15-ish level. I dose phosphate also to try to keep the 100:1 ratio close.

Maybe I should just add more fish… . It would be cheaper than dosing.

 

[Miami Reef]

These ok?

Those are perfect.

 

[twentyleagues]

You must have a pretty healthy fish load or over feeding habit? I over feed like crazy, but I use mostly frozen foods… So it’s not too crazy on the bio load. I know pellet foods can add a lot of nutrients to the tank.

I’m with you on the 10-20 Nitrates, but I have been near 30 for extended periods before with no ill effects.
I think if mine naturally fell in the 25-30 range and I didn’t have any algae issues… I might would let it ride and match phosphate to it.
But again, I have to dose to maintain a 10+ range. I like the 15-ish level. I dose phosphate also to try to keep the 100:1 ratio close.

Maybe I should just add more fish… . It would be cheaper than dosing.

Other than some bubble algae I dont have algae issues. I am not worried about my nitrates being at 30 at all really. I am happy they level off though and maintain that level for weeks on end with me doing basically nothing. I just would like to see what carbon dosing does and wouldnt be mad at 15-20ppm. I have 6 fish. I feed a good sized pinch of flake food early in the day most but not all days which is mostly consumed with in a min a little goes to the fuge which feeds the large pod/mysid population and I feed 1 cube of frozen at night either mysis or enriched brine typically. I also add a small chunk of nori daily for the tang. I dont think I over feed or over stock. My fish are plump and happy though.

I have never had the I cant raise my nutrient levels issue. Years ago I would say I was overstocked and over fed. It probably didnt help I had 2-300 stock tanks full of not reef safe fish. Carbon dosing, large water changes, and eventually removing the stock tanks helped me to achieve ulns values which had become the new cool at the time. After running like that for about a year I went back to the 20-40ppm range my tanks seemed to be happiest at, again much easier to achieve without the stock tanks. Prior to trying to get ulns I ran around 80ppm nitrate and you wouldnt believe me if I told you the phosphate.

 

[Red_Beard]

For the folks using Nopox, how do you guys manage nopox dropping pH? Struggled with this issue.

Struggled making the choice? Or your ph actually dropped? I didn't see much if any drop when i was dosing. Tank stayed around 8.2-8.3 the whole time.

 

[bubbgee]

Struggled making the choice? Or your ph actually dropped? I didn't see much if any drop when i was dosing. Tank stayed around 8.2-8.3 the whole time.

pH dropped. It’s an effect of carbon dosing. I’ve struggled with pH because I’m close to a busy road. The same reason why I stopped using AFR because it has carbon dosing effect as well.

 

[Red_Beard]

pH dropped. It’s an effect of carbon dosing. I’ve struggled with pH because I’m close to a busy road. The same reason why I stopped using AFR because it has carbon dosing effect as well.

You dosing kalk now instead of AFR? That could help. That is a raw deal fighting low ph.

 

[Tamberav]

Those who keep picos, 100% water changes are not uncommon.

 

[Fenral]

Water changes, many smaller over time is better - less risk of shock as stated above.

Carbon dosing - is an option…
But before you start randomly dumping things in your tank that require more work…

You may want to consider a fuge, macro or algae scrubber…or a roller mat to address the issue…