How to lower my Nitrates

Peter Pan · Joined: 17 Dec 2007 Posts: 57

My nitrates run normally 10 - 15 ppm. I do 1/3 partial water changes
roughly every 25 - 30 days. Today I checked my levels and I'm at 20 ppm.
This is just after i did my Partial WC
Other then water changes how can I reduce my nitrates. I've tried in
the past adding macro algae, but the bristle star fish also found it
and made a meal out of it, so that didn't work. My tank: 75 gal FOWLR
4" DSB 85 lbs LR Canister filtration, Protein skimmer.
Thanks

Archived from group: rec>aquaria>marine>reefs

Wayne Sallee · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 526

Brittle stars don't eat macroalgae.

Your canister filter is contributing to your
nitrates. You could convert it into a denitrier by
restricting the output.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne@WayneSallee.com

Peter Pan wrote on 1/24/2008 9:50 PM:
> My nitrates run normally 10 - 15 ppm. I do 1/3 partial water changes
> roughly every 25 - 30 days. Today I checked my levels and I'm at 20 ppm.
> This is just after i did my Partial WC
> Other then water changes how can I reduce my nitrates. I've tried in
> the past adding macro algae, but the bristle star fish also found it
> and made a meal out of it, so that didn't work. My tank: 75 gal FOWLR
> 4" DSB 85 lbs LR Canister filtration, Protein skimmer.
> Thanks

Peter Pan · Joined: 17 Dec 2007 Posts: 57

> Your canister filter is contributing to your nitrates. You could convert
> it into a denitrier by restricting the output.

Can you elaborate on this? I'm not sure what you mean

Wayne Sallee · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 526

Nitrification is the process that takes place with
plenty of oxygen. Ammonia is oxidized into nitrite,
and then oxidized into nitrate.

Denitrification is the process that takes place in
low oxygen. Nitrates is reduced to nitrites, and
then reduced to N2.

By restricting the flow of the output of the
canister filter, oxygen levels in the canister
filter will drop, and denitrification will take place.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne@WayneSallee.com

Peter Pan wrote on 1/24/2008 11:34 PM:
>
>> Your canister filter is contributing to your nitrates. You could
>> convert it into a denitrier by restricting the output.
>
> Can you elaborate on this? I'm not sure what you mean

Peter Pan · Joined: 17 Dec 2007 Posts: 57

So to restrict the flow, simply turn the valve on the hose returning to
the tank to decrease the output?

KurtG · Joined: 10 Dec 2007 Posts: 57

Peter Pan wrote:
>
> So to restrict the flow, simply turn the valve on the hose returning to
> the tank to decrease the output?

Recommend a drip gate for this, but you'll need to check it every few
days to make sure the drip is right. Here's where I get mine:

http://tinyurl.com/33na84

Might as well load up on flea meds while you're there. Wink

I'd also recommend a tank starter. I added this stuff to my tank and my
nitrates went to zero in 30 days. It's supposed to have all the various
bacteria. I recommended to a friend with fresh water tanks and nitrate
issues and her nitrates went to zero in a month. I suspect it works.
If interested, I'll post the name. (I'm at work now).

--Kurt

Wayne Sallee · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 526

Yep, I would also put a T on the input and the
output and connect them with a valve. That way, when
you restrict the output, the water will still flow
full flow through the filer, circulating in and out
of the filter. Since bacteria is able to process
more water the more the water flows across it. Also
the warmth of the motor will help warm the water up
in the filter thus speeding up the denitrification.
Just make sure it does not get too hot. And you can
drip the output over a flat object to aerate it to
degas any hydrogen sulfide.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne@WayneSallee.com

Peter Pan wrote on 1/25/2008 9:27 AM:
>
> So to restrict the flow, simply turn the valve on the hose returning to
> the tank to decrease the output?

jthread · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 132

"Peter Pan" wrote in message @comcast.com...
> My nitrates run normally 10 - 15 ppm. I do 1/3 partial water changes
> roughly every 25 - 30 days. Today I checked my levels and I'm at 20 ppm.
> This is just after i did my Partial WC
> Other then water changes how can I reduce my nitrates. I've tried in the
> past adding macro algae, but the bristle star fish also found it and made
> a meal out of it, so that didn't work. My tank: 75 gal FOWLR 4" DSB 85
> lbs LR Canister filtration, Protein skimmer.
> Thanks

PP:

I've got the same setup with my 45 gal tank.

On recommendation from someone in this group I added LR to my 45 gal. (There
must be at least 140 lbs of LR) The results have been good. I'd say I'm
changing my water now about half of what I was changing it. About 5 gal a
week. If my nitrates are elevated I'll skip feeding my fish for a night and
check it again in the morning. Usually the nitrates will be lower. The LR
seems to be doing the trick.

Jim