how do i lower nitrates in my tank? i have a 33 gal tank and i just did a water change and cleaned out my fluval 304 today. before the water change, the nitrates were around 25 ppm. now it's around 12.5 ppm. not much of a difference. i heard that 5 ppm is the desired level. is there other (fairly easy) ways to lower nitrates in my tank??
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
lower nitrates...
- Thread starter csv_scorpion
- Start date
Well, there are few ways to lower your nitrates.
1) Of course, water changes (in which, you have done, but another one would not hurt too).
2) Get rid of that fluval. Its a nitrate factory. You should only need to rely on your live rock and live sand, which its able to break down ammonia one more step to nitogen gas, not an end product of nitrates.
3) Setting up a refugium with macroalgae will reduce your nitrates along with phosphates.
4) Make sure that you are not feeding the fish more than you need to.
5) Add carbon and remove it every 3 days. Carbon absorbs organic based nitrates.
5) Last but not the least important, get a good skimmer. Skimmers removes fish waste before it starts to break down into nitrates.
I am assuming that you have a reef tank. Fish only systems can tolerate higher levels of nitrates. I would not be panicing if your level is at 25 ppm if its a fish only. But you do want to get below 5 ppm for a reef system.
1) Of course, water changes (in which, you have done, but another one would not hurt too).
2) Get rid of that fluval. Its a nitrate factory. You should only need to rely on your live rock and live sand, which its able to break down ammonia one more step to nitogen gas, not an end product of nitrates.
3) Setting up a refugium with macroalgae will reduce your nitrates along with phosphates.
4) Make sure that you are not feeding the fish more than you need to.
5) Add carbon and remove it every 3 days. Carbon absorbs organic based nitrates.
5) Last but not the least important, get a good skimmer. Skimmers removes fish waste before it starts to break down into nitrates.
I am assuming that you have a reef tank. Fish only systems can tolerate higher levels of nitrates. I would not be panicing if your level is at 25 ppm if its a fish only. But you do want to get below 5 ppm for a reef system.
Or....
you can keep that fluval and fill it with a nitrate sponge. kents or Sea chems. then slow the flow on the outlet to almost nothing and whammmooo
you have your own nitrate reducer. I have done this with the eheim canisters with very goood success. I had a reading of 40ppm in my 40g and in a week and a half it was down to 9ppm. then to zero after 1 month. the key is to slow the flow so that very minimal amounts of oxygen get in. then u have an anerobic enviro..... almost like a thick sand bed....
just a thought.
one more thing.... be consistant with water changes and do not overfeed......
hth
you can keep that fluval and fill it with a nitrate sponge. kents or Sea chems. then slow the flow on the outlet to almost nothing and whammmooo
you have your own nitrate reducer. I have done this with the eheim canisters with very goood success. I had a reading of 40ppm in my 40g and in a week and a half it was down to 9ppm. then to zero after 1 month. the key is to slow the flow so that very minimal amounts of oxygen get in. then u have an anerobic enviro..... almost like a thick sand bed....
just a thought.
one more thing.... be consistant with water changes and do not overfeed......
hth
Just in case you decide to spend some $$$$ on equipment.
Don't buy the Aqua-Medic Nitrate Reducer. They're crap. I've got one running ona 40gal reef system using the computer and pump set-up (supposed to be fully automated) and it does hold the nitrate down but itreally should do better.
I've just this week fitted a Sulphur De-nitrator to my 70gal fish only system. The unit will take a few weeks to get going but I'll post it's progress here.
People will tell you to use live rock. Live rock look very nice in a reef system but in a fish only system it can just become a green hairy mess of algie due to the higher nitrates/phosphates that are ALWAYS going to be present in a FO system.
Also, a basic Sulphur De-nitrator (if it works!) is a lot less $$$$ or ££££ than live rock.
It is a good ideato turn the filter off when feeding brine-shrimp etc.
Don't buy the Aqua-Medic Nitrate Reducer. They're crap. I've got one running ona 40gal reef system using the computer and pump set-up (supposed to be fully automated) and it does hold the nitrate down but itreally should do better.
I've just this week fitted a Sulphur De-nitrator to my 70gal fish only system. The unit will take a few weeks to get going but I'll post it's progress here.
People will tell you to use live rock. Live rock look very nice in a reef system but in a fish only system it can just become a green hairy mess of algie due to the higher nitrates/phosphates that are ALWAYS going to be present in a FO system.
Also, a basic Sulphur De-nitrator (if it works!) is a lot less $$$$ or ££££ than live rock.
It is a good ideato turn the filter off when feeding brine-shrimp etc.
I like that idea about turning a fluval into a nitrate reducer.
A couple of questions.
I have a 404 and I was considering the following.
1) Removing the biomedia and filling all trays with carbon which I would change every 2wks to every month or
2) Trying the "ammovec" ammonia reduder for the top tray or two. After all, if you lower the ammonia, you lower the nitrates correct?
3) I also have a FO/LR/LS setup, but only have 12lbs of live rock just for decorative/fish enjoyment. I was going for 20lbs. Do you think that is a problem?
A couple of questions.
I have a 404 and I was considering the following.
1) Removing the biomedia and filling all trays with carbon which I would change every 2wks to every month or
2) Trying the "ammovec" ammonia reduder for the top tray or two. After all, if you lower the ammonia, you lower the nitrates correct?
3) I also have a FO/LR/LS setup, but only have 12lbs of live rock just for decorative/fish enjoyment. I was going for 20lbs. Do you think that is a problem?
Sponsor Reefs
We're a FREE website, and we exist because of hobbyists like YOU who help us run this community.
Click here to sponsor $10:
