Nitrate control

[scotty333]

Guys my nitrates are 100 and I’ve been dosing nopox for a month and they’re not reducing, any tips for reducing these other than water changes? I have a sump

 

[Dburr1014]

Guys my nitrates are 100 and I’ve been dosing nopox for a month and they’re not reducing, any tips for reducing these other than water changes? I have a sump

50% reduction with a 50% water change. Just sayin

Refuge or algae scrubber

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

How much NOPOX? Carbon dosing takes a while, but if the other conditions are right (enough phosphate, for example), enough organic will not fail to lower nitrate.

 

[scotty333]

I’m doing 30% changes , 50 is a bit steep no

I’m dosing 25ml currently (5ml per ltr) , got slime coming of my rocks and the hair algae is just disgusting, cuc arrives tomorrow

 

[scotty333]

Can’t get no chaeto round here , I’ll look in to scrubbers thanks

 

[TX_REEF]

+1 agree with algae turf scrubber. Mine grows a thick mat of algae that I harvest every 2 weeks or so.

 

[scotty333]

+1 agree with algae turf scrubber. Mine grows a thick mat of algae that I harvest every 2 weeks or so.

And reduces nitrates yes?

 

[TX_REEF]

And reduces nitrates yes?

yup, the algae consumes nitrate and phosphate and prevents algae from growing in your display. When you harvest and toss, you're literally exporting phosphate and nitrate.

 

[Naekuh]

And reduces nitrates yes?

scrubber will reduce phosphates and nitrates, because the algae will use that to grow.
Then you scrape the growth away, so you can grow more.

Chaeto in sump does this also, but may require some dosing of elements to help it out compete algae, or it will turn nasty brown and get covered with slime algae, hence why most people just go scrubber these days, because your accumulating that slime algae to scrap off on the scrubber, and no additional dosing or tumbling of chaeto required.

Problem with scrubbers tho, is if u don't keep up with it, or keep a good eye on water chemistry, you'll be back here saying your nitrates and phosphates have bottomed out to 0, and u got a cyano bloom.

So tight control is required on scrubbers.

 

[scotty333]

Sweet !
I’ll dump my dsb then and pop one in its place

 

[lmfbs]

+1 agree with algae turf scrubber. Mine grows a thick mat of algae that I harvest every 2 weeks or so.

Do you have a thread or something about your ATS? I'm keen to start one but I don't really know where to start!

 

[TX_REEF]

it's simple as can be, especially if you're buying one. Here's the unit I used, it's an IceCap product. There are also videos on youtube of how to make one for yourself. Only extra tip I'd add is to sand the mesh with coarse sandpaper before installing it, the rough surface will start growing algae more readily.

 

[scotty333]

Best bulb for fuge? Needs be cheap

 

[Dburr1014]

6500k daylight flood light from home depot.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I’m dosing 25ml currently (5ml per ltr) , got slime coming of my rocks and the hair algae is just disgusting, cuc arrives tomorrow

Is the slime colored (cyano or dinos, perhaps) or clear?

 

[scotty333]

6500k daylight flood light from home depot.

Watts?

 

[scotty333]

Is the slime colored (cyano or dinos, perhaps) or clear?

Slime is clear with a brown tinge , a little pink stuff in the sump and yes diatoms in the display
Rocks covered in hair algae

 

[scotty333]

Cuc delayed till tomorrow

 

[scotty333]

130 ltr changed , results are :

Salinity 1.025
Phosphate 0.15
Nitrate 75
Kh 8.9
Mag 1470
Calcium 330

Added a big bag of caluerpa and bought a 6500k 60w bulb

 

[scotty333]

Picture of sump