Nitrate reduction with low phosphates

[6272862829]

I removed my pellets for this reason.

 

[pickupman66]

I am not sold on the pellets any longer. I used them on my old tank with moderate success. I dont feed heavily but I also dont starve my fishes. I will look into getting a zeolite reactor. In the mean time, i am going to drop the fuge light back a bit and then see about the old coil method I used on my 75 when we lived in the boro. I know how to tune it and make it work so that may be a good option here.

 

[pickupman66]

So, it in wanted to get into the zeo, doesn't it have to be stirred daily?

 

[pelagic]

So, it in wanted to get into the zeo, doesn't it have to be stirred daily?

Yes, it will lose the effect if you don't stir it for more than 4 days cause the zeolite would be covered by the bacteria.
There are automatic reactors, I'm not sure if it wroth it thou. As someone good at DIY like you, I am sure you can make one if you really care that much about it.

 

[rburns24]

Yes, it will lose the effect if you don't stir it for more than 4 days cause the zeolite would be covered by the bacteria.
There are automatic reactors, I'm not sure if it wroth it thou. As someone good at DIY like you, I am sure you can make one if you really care that much about it.

I'd use the coil method if I we're you. It's something you're
familiar with.

 

[dgrigor02]

I too don't understand what the problem is. Are you fighting an algae issue in the show portion of the tank ? If not, leave it be and just enjoy. If you are fighting algae, perhaps get more aggresive with your algae export or switch to an algae turf scrubber.

 

[telesonic]

So, my latest battle (which seems to be a trend for me over the last few years) is battling elevated nitrates with low phosphates. my phoshpates test at .02ppm on my hannah meter. Nitrates at the 10-15ppm levels per salifert. I have about a 10 gallon refugium with a large amount of Cheato in it. 18 hour lighting cycle. my fish consume their once daily feedings quickly and it is a bare bottom tank. 10 to 15 gallon water change every 3 to 4 weeks. Overall volume is about 80 gallons. Skimmer produces a full cup of dark super stanky skimmate a week.

any ideas? this is a barebottom system and I do suck off the detritus each water change.

I would definitely lighten up on the skimmate...should be able to get a full cup every 3 days or so to get rid of the organics quickly before they turn into nitrates. What kind of skimmer are you using?

 

[pickupman66]

Algae on the glass. I think my nitrates are more in the 25 to 30 range. I will retest tomorrow. I have an sca-302.

 

[pickupman66]

Assume and you know what happens. Just tested using an api kit. Less than 5ppm. Go figure. Yet i have a little cyano and some other algae growing in the tank and have to clean the glass more. Even have some green growing on the bottom.

 

[RareEarthCorals]

Seachem Martix (Pond martix) is much easier in a sump your size. Two Liters in two nylon bags and six weeks later your nitrates should improve. You need another biological martix since you're barebottom.

 

[pickupman66]

Il will look into it. Makes a lot of sense.

 

[jpines]

Seachem Martix (Pond martix) is much easier in a sump your size. Two Liters in two nylon bags and six weeks later your nitrates should improve. You need another biological martix since you're barebottom.

I've had good luck with matrix as well

 

[pickupman66]

I ordered 1 liter of matrix and also built my coil. 60 feet or so of 1/4 black tubing. I managed to splice into the return line with a threaded valve so I didn't have to resurrect an old aqualifter.

Inside this 4" pvc is the tubing. I wound it around a 2" pipe and then put it inside the larger pipe. I twisted the 2" out and here we go. Capped with a pair of plastic drains. The pipe does not hold water, just the tubing, so less chance of leak and gunk buildup. I used ldpe tubing.

 

[RareEarthCorals]

It will take time and you will still see the cyclical nature of the biological martix at work. It does prefer a lower flow. Your nitrates will eventually level out and remain low, at times undetectable. Six to eight weeks revisit and let us know how it goes. Just tested mine today and after a sight peak last week it is now undetectable again. My tank never compounds.

 

[pickupman66]

Thanks man. This is my first Bare bottom tank so it's a new challenge. My nitrates are low now but I have alot of green growing on the glass and some on a rock or two. Also some patches of cyano too.

 

[pickupman66]

Btw, I plan to place the matrix in a bag either in my return section or my fuge section. Both have some low areas so should be just right

 

[6272862829]

Let us know how the matrix works out

 

[pickupman66]

Luis, I will do so. Matrix arrived last monday and I rinsed it then put it in a bag in the sump. It should be a month or two before it is cycled and colonated.

 

[bknapp]

How have things progressed Lindsey?

 

[pickupman66]

Honestly, I haven't checked them. I have some green growth on the tank bottom and am fighting low alkalinity. Maybe I'll test it tonight . That said I have seen a diminished growth in my refugium

I am feeding a decent amount of frozen lately too as one of the anthias won't touch flakes.