Nitrate Reduction

[Crazy fishes]

I thought it would be good to get together to list all the possible ways of keeping nitrate, and phosphate for that matter, levels low in reef tanks.
Water changes and nitrate adsorptive media are two which I will start with. Anyone think of anymore!!

Regards

 

[steelhealr]

Regular consistent water changes. SH

 

[5teady_2012]

Agree with above, a consistant regular waterchange, and gravel clean every month (if have gravel) also clean filters every month (varies with some filters)

 

[Lynden]

In my opinion GFO is the single best way to keep phosphate down, and fuges can do the same with both phosphate and nitrate. They go beyond what modest water changes are capable of. It should also be noted that nitrate alone is not a problem (according to Bob Fenner at least) but it is often indicative of other problems.

 

[SkiFletch]

Although not necessarily suitable for a nano, there's always a remote deep sand bed, or a nitrate reactor

 

[Donya]

Macro Doesn't always have to be in a fuge either depending on the species.

 

[andywg]

Not really applicable to nano, but having a very low stocking density.

 

[dilbert]

My macroalgae came with the live rock.

There was a small piece of Chaetomorpha on one rock. When I was too stupid and teared it off accidentally I attached it to the frame of a powerhead. It has now the size of a golfball. There are two more powerheads on the surface so still some mileage to go.


The powerheads don't look really natural or otherwise pretty so why not attach a natural ball of Chaetomorpha to it? If it becomes greater than the powerhead I'll harvest it.

The original Chaetomorpha on the rock still is thriving. It got only two hairs for now.

Halimeda came with the little piece of rock the button polyps where on. They can grow together without suffocating each other and Halimeda grows slowly so when it becomes greater I'll cut it, too. And I hope it will spread in the tank elsewhere.

But surely, as those macros can't be too big in a nano they won't absorb much nitrates. Their impact is rather on the phosphates.

And for me as I throw that much food into the tank, the whole tank needed to be a great Chaetomorpha or Halimeda ball to cope with the nitrates on its own.

 

[Donya]

The powerheads don't look really natural or otherwise pretty so why not attach a natural ball of Chaetomorpha to it? If it becomes greater than the powerhead I'll harvest it.

I actually had a powerhead become completely clogged due to sucking up Chaeto in not so long a time-frame...it's not something I'd ever want near a powerhead again after that. I had to take the powerhead apart and pick tons of little macro bits out of the impeller chamber with tweezers.

 

[dilbert]

Well, I got those Maxi-Jet powerheads. Their plastic inlet filter cap seems to be quite good.

Almost since the beginning, single hairs of that Chaetomorpha were floating through the tank and often got finally stuck on that filter. At first, I removed them always but now I let those single hairs there. The shrimps come to those filter caps to clean out fish food particles, so they are not completely useless.


I haven't got any problems but surely that is something to consider for soemone with different or more powerful powerheads. I got only three weak Maxi-Jet MJ 500 (apart from a crappy and meager Hailida HX-1000 but that's near the bottom to stream upwards for oxygen intake, only).

 

[steelhealr]

But surely, as those macros can't be too big in a nano they won't absorb much nitrates. Their impact is rather on the phosphates.

Totally disagree depending on a your setup. Here is the macro in my system...it's filled with chaeto. The chamber holding it is at least 19 inches high by 6-8 inches wide by about 4-5 inches deep. I think it's why my nitrates have been and stay at 0. That's a ton of nitrate absorbing plant in a nano. SH

Tons of chaeto and zero nitrates:

 

[exsarg]

SH
I think I've been blessed again & got in here at a great time. My aquapod 24gal is all ready to add water, set up filter etc. Please what is "chaeto", sorry to
be so Mentally challenged? Also, I had previously acquired info from your postings where you use Purigen, Sea Gel, Algon, and Chemi-Pure, as you are aware
the aquapod has only one compartment for filter, would I be proper in putting a "small ?" amount of each in small bags in this compartment? What about the
chaeto? I was wondering about some live rock rubble in this compartment? Also, is there any particular order top to bottom to put the various filter media?
One more, looking to use PCV under rock, one source says to use schedule 80 gray, only available here in 2" by 10ft lengths, whereas I can get 3/4" up in
any length schedule 40 off white, anything wrong with the schedule 40?
Sorry, but thanks so very much!!!!!!

exsarg

 

[fishstick]

But surely, as those macros can't be too big in a nano they won't absorb much nitrates. Their impact is rather on the phosphates.

Totally disagree depending on a your setup. Here is the macro in my system...it's filled with chaeto. The chamber holding it is at least 19 inches high by 6-8 inches wide by about 4-5 inches deep. I think it's why my nitrates have been and stay at 0. That's a ton of nitrate absorbing plant in a nano. SH

Tons of chaeto and zero nitrates:

Steelhair - sorry to be dim but is the chaeto in the pic in your sump or in your nano tank? If its in your tank is there any room for other stuff?