[Nitrate Reduction] Which reactor media is best at reducing nitrates? Matrix or biopellets? Carbon?

[Marquarium]

I am looking to add additional ways reduce nitrates in my tank.

One way I tried was running a reactor with matrix in it. After 5+ weeks there doesn't seem to be any difference. I'm not sure if this is because matrix isn't effective when used this way or it hasn't been enough time.

Should I ditch the matrix in the reactor and use biopellets instead? People seem to use biopellets in reactors much more
There's room in other slow flow spots for matrix I'm not sure it needs its own reactor

Also considering adding another reactor to the setup. What media should I use other than biopellets? Carbon?



Other notes:
I also dose daily NO3O4-X
Have a good skimmer running
Am doing large water changes to keep nitrates as low as possible but they build back up fast and doing large 80-100gallon changes weekly on my 300g is more than I'd like to be doing.


Thanks!

 

[Spare time]

You may just need to up the nopox dosage

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

How much NOPOX per day?

 

[MBruun]

Another option is "Donovans nitrate destroyer" reaktor.
Mine is running smooth, keeping the nitrate at around 5ppm.

Poor Man's Nutrients Control - Donovan's Nitrate Destroyer

Hello fellow reefers!. I have been in the hobby for more than 3 years, the first 2 years was tough. Cyno, diatom, nuisance algae, high NO3 (120ppm at one time) and ich/velvet. I have tried several nutrient control method (poor man, so most of it were DIY project). GFO, water fall scrubber...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Marquarium]

Another option is "Donovans nitrate destroyer" reaktor.
Mine is running smooth, keeping the nitrate at around 5ppm.

Poor Man's Nutrients Control - Donovan's Nitrate Destroyer

Hello fellow reefers!. I have been in the hobby for more than 3 years, the first 2 years was tough. Cyno, diatom, nuisance algae, high NO3 (120ppm at one time) and ich/velvet. I have tried several nutrient control method (poor man, so most of it were DIY project). GFO, water fall scrubber...

www.reef2reef.com

I was just looking at that thread! I think something like that may be exactly what I need

 

[Marquarium]

You may just need to up the nopox dosage

How much NOPOX per day?

Started with dosing 30mL per day and have increased to doing 40mL now

Trying to stay close to the recommended amount of dosing but perhaps I should be doing much more.

My nitrates get as high as 50-70ppm right before water change time. Say a water change gets them down to 20-30 range, it typically takes about a week to get back to the 50-70 range.

 

[fishRus]

I have been using NO-POX in my 100 gal. Reef with sump and protein skimmer I have been adding 15 ml per day for 3 months It reduce my nitrates to 0 they were up to 50 ppm I’m now cutting back to 5ml per day I want my nitrates to be around 15ppm . My phosphate are at .04 The phosphates may be staying low partly because I have some hair algae growing in upper corners and on my returns for my sump.
previously I used it on a 55 gal. With a skimmer and a canister filter and the NO-POX worked on it also.
I do very little water changes and I feed fairly heavily .
I have LPS and SPS and Softies all growing well.
Im planning on switching to vinegar the NO-POX is expensive. I will post if the vinegar works as well.

 

[Marquarium]

I have been using NO-POX in my 100 gal. Reef with sump and protein skimmer I have been adding 15 ml per day for 3 months It reduce my nitrates to 0 they were up to 50 ppm I’m now cutting back to 5ml per day I want my nitrates to be around 15ppm . My phosphate are at .04 The phosphates may be staying low partly because I have some hair algae growing in upper corners and on my returns for my sump.
previously I used it on a 55 gal. With a skimmer and a canister filter and the NO-POX worked on it also.
I do very little water changes and I feed fairly heavily .
I have LPS and SPS and Softies all growing well.
Im planning on switching to vinegar the NO-POX is expensive. I will post if the vinegar works as well.

Corals looking great. Nice to hear NO-POX is working for you. Hopefully continued use for me will start to show some improvements!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Started with dosing 30mL per day and have increased to doing 40mL now

Trying to stay close to the recommended amount of dosing but perhaps I should be doing much more.

My nitrates get as high as 50-70ppm right before water change time. Say a water change gets them down to 20-30 range, it typically takes about a week to get back to the 50-70 range.

I'd up the dose before switching to a denitrator.