Nitrate Reduction Without Skimmer

[cwk84]

Without an excellent skimmer, your carbon dosing would be much less effective. Combine that with the fact that it often takes 60 + days for it to begin to work well and the fact that you are planning on upgrading within the next year, this may not be the best method for you. I agree with the idea of using an algae reactor in your case. All you will need is a little pump and then the reactor and light source. It takes up a very small footprint but it's very effective. I used to use a skimmer in my 40 gallon all-in-one but now only use the reactor to control nitrates. Despite heavy feedings and little to no water changes, my nitrates remain between 0 and 0. 25. When the reactor becomes full of algae you just remove most of it. This is by far the most effective method I have ever seen at controlling nitrates (and it helps with phosphates) with the most minimal effort. Regardless of what method you use, I would do at least three 30% water changes spaced a couple days apart to give your method a head start.

Would this algea reactor work in a tank without a sump?

This is all the space I have. I have a canister filter and one tiny nano skimmer which you can see in the top right corner. It keeps my N03 at around 10-20 ppm. I want to get more into SPS and would like to get down to maybe 5-10ppm. I already hade two birds nest die on me.

 

[Kyle Rinker]

I believe that utilizing the canister filter is perhaps one of the biggest reasons the nitrates are not where you would like them. At times other people have referred to them as nitrate factories just just because of the way they collect detritus without any way to have an active nutrient export method. You definitely can use a algae reactor without a sump. You would need to mount a small pump inside your tank but you could easily cover it up with a piece of live rock sitting in front of it or something. The water is pumped out of the tank and and then down and through the reactor and then back up to the tank in a return line, much the same way a canister filter works. I wrapped an LED grow strip around my canister filter to supply the algae with light.

 

[cwk84]

I clean the filter every couple days and when I open it there's barely anything in it. I turn the pumps off when I feed and I only feed a tiny amount. I refuse to believe that my canister filter keeps my nitrates up but it seems plausible lol. The problem I have is that I want sparkling clear water and the only way to achieve that is by running carbon. If I take the filter offline I won't be able to run carbon.

Do you think I could put chaeto in my display behind all the rocks and put the LED strip behind the glass so that it is directly behind the chaeto? This would be the cheapest solution.


EDIT:

What if I use the existing tubing of the canister filter and let it hang into a cheap 10gallaon tank from which I will have the water pump up into the aquarium with a cheap pump? I could put the cheato in there, carbon, and my nano skimmer.

 

[chefjpaul]

I had considered this, but not sure I want to commit to it, yet. Still fairly noobish.

You would want to have a skimmer if you went this route anyway.

 

[Kyle Rinker]

I clean the filter every couple days and when I open it there's barely anything in it. I turn the pumps off when I feed and I only feed a tiny amount. I refuse to believe that my canister filter keeps my nitrates up but it seems plausible lol. The problem I have is that I want sparkling clear water and the only way to achieve that is by running carbon. If I take the filter offline I won't be able to run carbon.

Do you think I could put chaeto in my display behind all the rocks and put the LED strip behind the glass so that it is directly behind the chaeto? This would be the cheapest solution.


EDIT:

What if I use the existing tubing of the canister filter and let it hang into a cheap 10gallaon tank from which I will have the water pump up into the aquarium with a cheap pump? I could put the cheato in there, carbon, and my nano skimmer.

This, my friend, is a sump/reugium. That will work indeed . The algae reactor will work faster and be more efficient but your design will work as long as you have a strong enough light over the 10 gallon tank. It's not quite as simple as this, but you can't expect a $5 shop light to outcompete your display light for nutrients. Keep us posted as to how it goes!

 

[cwk84]

This, my friend, is a sump/reugium. That will work indeed . The algae reactor will work faster and be more efficient but your design will work as long as you have a strong enough light over the 10 gallon tank. It's not quite as simple as this, but you can't expect a $5 shop light to outcompete your display light for nutrients. Keep us posted as to how it goes!

I do not know how to prevent it from overflowing, though. I would have to build an overflow for my tank and put a check valve in the outlet tube. I think an algae reactor will be the cheaper option. Where did you get all the parts from for the reactor?

 

[Kyle Rinker]

I ordered mine from Amazon. I know Marine Depot sells DIY kits all together. Not sure if Bulk Reef does. I believe my reactor brand is deepwarer Aquatics. I think the kits they sell are normally Aquamax. Best and simplest project I ever did for my reef! There are excellent videos of how to build them on YouTube.

 

[cwk84]

I don't want to go through the hassle of looking for all the parts. I'd like to buy a whole setup that I just need to install. I will check Amazon.

 

[cwk84]

How much flow do I need through the reactor? Very little right? I could get a waterproof LED strip and convert my canister filter into a reactor. I would not have to change anything except put cheato and the light in there. The only drawback is that the flow rate is around 265gph. Probably a little less due to the fact that it has to pump water against the force of gravity. That might be too much for the cheato to consume nutrients.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I know I'm more of a fan of vinegar dosing than most folks, but if I was not planning to set up a refugium with macroalgae, it would be my choice even without a skimmer. :)

 

[cwk84]

I know I'm more of a fan of vinegar dosing than most folks, but if I was not planning to set up a refugium with macroalgae, it would be my choice even without a skimmer. :)

I thought about this but my past experience with Vodka wasn't so great. Check my BTA thread. It has shrunk over the past months and it all started off with the addition of vodka. I also don't want it to lower my ph. I don't know what to do now. There are many options and I'm indecisive. Have you had great success with vinegar regarding coral coloration? When I dosed vodka it irritated some of my softies.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

It is easy to dose vinegar and not reduce pH (by adding calcium hydroxide to it), but I don't want to encourage you to do something you are reluctant to proceed, and growing macroalgae is a good alternative. :)

 

[shifty2427]

+1 on the algae reactor

 

[cwk84]

Would you mind sharing what parts you used? I'm still lost. I don't know what parts I need for a DIY reactor. Tubing and pump is simple but where do I get the reactor from?

 

[shifty2427]

Would you mind sharing what parts you used? I'm still lost. I don't know what parts I need for a DIY reactor. Tubing and pump is simple but where do I get the reactor from?

Two Little Fishies ATLPBR550 GFO PhosBan Reactor 550 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004I6U192/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_7P9nBbP72BWVD

 

[shifty2427]

Two Little Fishies ATLPBR550 GFO PhosBan Reactor 550 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004I6U192/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_7P9nBbP72BWVD

Ordered the string led lights from amazon as well and bought 3 feet of 1/2 inch hose from my LFS. I already had a decent pump in my tank.

 

[cwk84]

By how much did it lower your nutrients? I currently have chaeto in the DT and it’s dying. NO3 is between 10-20 and PO4 hovers around 0.03 -0.07. There’s plenty of nutrients to consume. If adding an algea reactor would also lead to the chaeto dying off it would be a waste of money :(

 

[Kyle Rinker]

200 gallons per hour would be more than enough flow for the algae to grow inside the reactor. Using your canister filter is an option if you are somehow able to route the power cord for the LED light inside of it. I still use carbon dosing with vinegar in my 125 gallon tank at home. I had actually planned on carbon dosing in my office tank but when the algae reactor did such a good job, there was no reason. I feel like without a skimmer you will definitely have more noticeable particulates floating around in your water column (bacteria). I know you mentioned wanting to have a crystal clear water column. What do you think @Randy Holmes-Farley

 

[Kyle Rinker]

Would you mind sharing what parts you used? I'm still lost. I don't know what parts I need for a DIY reactor. Tubing and pump is simple but where do I get the reactor from?

When I am home this evening I will pull up the items on Amazon and share with you.

 

[Kyle Rinker]

Here were the items I used:
1) Deepwater Aquatics Quattro Media Reactor: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016E448OY/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
The above item is discontinued, but you could order an alternative
2) Two Little Fishies Ball Valve: https://www.amazon.com/Two-Little-F...D=41qkfH3l9dL&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=detail
3) Kedsum 320gph pump: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072C5YZ3C/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
4) LED grow light: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EZTUYRA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
5) 1/2" vinyl tubing: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004DL0Y9O/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The build is very easy. Wrap the LED grow lights around the reactor and attach at the top and bottom with zip ties. Just put your pump in your tank where you want it. Cut an appropriate length of tubing to reach the intake (top-middle) of your reactor. Cut this tube into two pieces and attack the ball valve. This can be used for two purposes. (1) keep the water from siphoning when you turn off the pump and (2) adjust the amount of flow from the pump. Then run a piece of tubing from out outlet (top-side) of your reactor back to the tank. Place a ball of macro algae (like chaeto) into your reactor, then tighten the lid back down. Turn on the pump and let the reactor start running to ensure there will be no leaks when it fills and returns water to your tank. Then, plug the light in! I have my light on a timer so it runs in the evening when the display lights are off. Also, you could theoretically put a media bag with carbon into your reactor. You could potentially do away with your canister filter then.

Concerning your question about the algae die off, it is difficult for it to not have what it needs in the reactor. It is safe from predators, has a very intense and CLOSE light source (somewhere between 400 to 600 PAR with how close the light is), and has all available nutrients flowing through it. I did not have much luck growing chaeto in the sump for my 125, but the reactor grows it like crazy. If yours turns out like mine, there will be minimal growth for a week or maybe two, and then the growth will explode. I have to empty my reactor every 3 or so weeks so it doesn't get too full.

I hope this helps!