Nitrate remover

[GARRIGA]

I’m tackling nitrates with a large biological filter that performs both nitrification and denitrification. For the most part keeps nitrates under 5 ppm and phosphates under 0.25 ppm. Accomplish this by having a slow flow to allow nitrification to strip the DO and I trap detritus which as it decomposes provides the carbon needed for heterotrophic bacteria to utilize nitrates. However, when o increase the flow I’m forced to use NoPox to get my nitrates down from 20 ppm. Phosphates shoot up to 0.5 or as high as 1 ppm.

Only once have I had to resort to phosphate remover and that’s because in inadvertently added phosphates thinking it was something else. No water changes since September. I do have to and for an ICP just to see if anything needs addressing but so far all working well. No algae problems since I reduced my lighting. Just fish so that was on to intense just because my eyes aren’t par meters.

 

[squirrelbaffler]

DIY NoPox. 40% vodka 60% white vinegar. I dose 3 ml every 6 hours on my barebottom 90 reef. Fairly heavy bioload. I don’t run a traditional skimmer, but my plastic colander pre filter does some foam fractioning and pulls out a lot of detritus.

 

[Jayreef23]

Try a pouch of chemipure Elite. Really works and keeps both nitrate and phosphate in check while lowering to safe r

Try a pouch of chemipure Elite. Really works and keeps both nitrate and phosphate in check while lowering to safe range

So what I’m thinking is doing one more 20 gallon water change and getting some Nopox or chemipure elite. What do you guys think?

 

[vetteguy53081]

So what I’m thinking is doing one more 20 gallon water change and getting some Nopox or chemipure elite. What do you guys think?

NoPox is another version of vodka dosing. I prefer elite. Also removes toxins of present and polishes water

 

[Jayreef23]

NoPox is another version of vodka dosing. I prefer elite. Also removes toxins of present and polishes water

Ok I’ll definitely check my LFS to see if they have it. Do you think I have to do the water change or just put the chemipure in the sump?

 

[Miami Reef]

So what I’m thinking is doing one more 20 gallon water change and getting some Nopox or chemipure elite. What do you guys think?

I’m more partial to carbon dosing (with vinegar, not nopox) than chemi pure elite.

I looked up chemi pure elite and it looks like it’s just GFO, activated carbon, and some (di resin?) I don’t really see it as an effective export for nitrates, and the activated carbon and GFO can be purchased separately for a significantly cheaper cost.

If you have a skimmer, vinegar dosing is the best method IMO. Because it’s cheap, readily available, easy to dose smaller tank sizes, and doesn’t cause cyano like ethanol (in vodka) does.

Remember to take it slow. There’s no rush to lower nutrients as corals can tolerate 50ppm nitrates, but they may not tolerate a rapid decrease in nutrients.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Ok I’ll definitely check my LFS to see if they have it. Do you think I have to do the water change or just put the chemipure in the sump?

I would do both.
Regarding yout nitrate level, Confirm it, by taking a water sample to a Pet store that does not Use API test kits and see what reading they come up with

 

[Jayreef23]

I’m more partial to carbon dosing (with vinegar, not nopox) than chemi pure elite.

I looked up chemi pure elite and it looks like it’s just GFO, activated carbon, and some (di resin?) I don’t really see it as an effective export for nitrates, and the activated carbon and GFO can be purchased separately for a significantly cheaper cost.

If you have a skimmer, vinegar dosing is the best method IMO. Because it’s cheap, readily available, easy to dose smaller tank sizes, and doesn’t cause cyano like ethanol (in vodka) does.

Remember to take it slow. There’s no rush to lower nutrients as corals can tolerate 50ppm nitrates, but they may not tolerate a rapid decrease in nutrients.

How do I vinegar dose? Never done that before

 

[Miami Reef]

How do I vinegar dose? Never done that before

Here you go. Here is a very easy to follow chart. I do not know your tank size, but if this was me I would start with a once a week dose starting with the "Week 1 day (4-7)

No need to ramp up like the chart states. If your tank was 25 gallons, you'd dose 1.6mL and then you'd dose 5.6mL the following week and so on. Once you see your nitrates start to decline, you will continue that same dose and not ramp up anymore, dosing once per week. Then once you are at your ideal nitrate level, you will cut that dose in half and it will be your maintance dose. You will only dose once per week.

If your nitrates start to climb, slightly increase the dose, if it starts to drop too much decrese the dose. It's more of an art than an exact science.

 

[Jayreef23]

Here you go. Here is a very easy to follow chart. I do not know your tank size, but if this was me I would start with a once a week dose starting with the "Week 1 day (4-7)

No need to ramp up like the chart states. If your tank was 25 gallons, you'd dose 1.6mL and then you'd dose 5.6mL the following week and so on. Once you see your nitrates start to decline, you will continue that same dose and not ramp up anymore, dosing once per week. Then once you are at your ideal nitrate level, you will cut that dose in half and it will be your maintance dose. You will only dose once per week.

If your nitrates start to climb, slightly increase the dose, if it starts to drop too much decrese the dose. It's more of an art than an exact science.

Awesome thanks