Brine Shrimp

[SeahorseWhisperer]

I think by trying to create a system that creates less nitrate, you might consider creating a system that consumes more nitrate?

Nitrate is removed by a system a few different ways:

Denitrafication: Areas of hypoxic (low oxygen) water flow. like porous rock and deep sand beds grow anaerobic bacteria that converts the nitrate compound to free nitrogen gas that bubbles up and out to the tank. Only convert Nitrate though, it leaves phosphate.

Consumption: Something eats it! Macroalgae is my favorite. It consumes both nitrate and phosphate and is gorgeous!

Another way might be microalgae/phytoplankton. If you were lucky enough to get a bloom and could live with it for a few days, the zooplankton would grow in massive numbers, and when the water cleared, your tank would be really heathly, biodiverse city!

Plus, algae is gorgeous!

 

[Miss Wiggle]

Yeah we're working on the nitrates with water changes. We've found out the cause though, dodgy old RO unit, the new one's on order and will be with us by the start of next week (hopefully) so they should start to come down when we actually have decent quality water to do changes with.