A master plan to reduce my nitrates (I need opinions on this)

[blazn]

I was dealing with a 75+ NO3 situation and I decided to build/implement a DIY denitrification reactor, based on this thread (with over 1,300 posts): https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/poor-mans-nutrients-control-donovans-nitrate-destroyer.302685/
{RIP Donovan}

Carbon dosing can work, but doing so with a properly designed reactor allows for more anaerobic processing of NO3, significantly improving the results of carbon dosing. It takes a few weeks to build up the bacteria population, but once it 'kicks in', you'll be back in control of your NO3. In 48 days, my reactor reduced my N03 to 13. It definitely works.

 

[schooncw]

Look into a bio pellet reactor. Easiest and most stable method for you

 

[pal98111]

Hello everyone !

Things to know about the tank
~200l (+55g) total
+1.5 years old,
-Nitrate is always either 100 or 75 but over 50 (salifert)
-PO4 usually 0.05-0.08 at most (Hanna PO4 ULR)
About it's nitrogen cycle
cycled with about 40% live rock, fishless with dosing bacteria
-> after the cycle I always had a reading of 100 in nitrates on salifert (backed up by hanna HR)

Livestock
Scopas tang, Dragonet, Anthias, Damselfish, fire goby, (all of them are on the smaller scale)
->they get less than half a cube of mysis 1x/day
->LPS usually die... except torches?!
->Softies grow very well especially zoas.

Filtration
Bubble Magus NAC5 (pretty good skimmate, some times it's the very wet kind)
2 handful of ceramic cylinders
1 sponge

15-10% waterchange /week

The plan

I'm planning to do 2x100 waterchange, which should end with about 25ppm NO3
I'll dose 2-3mls of nopox + Na3PO4 to keep up with the phosphate consumption
Finally the most important, getting a new skimmer (Red Sea RSK300).

I'm interested in your opinions in terms of executing the plan mentioned above!

Dose a little Praziquantel (prazi). It will reduce your nitrates easily.

 

[Katze]

Thank you for all the replies !
As an update ! the 50% waterchange kinda worked while dosing nopox 1-2ml/day now nitrate is around 50 on salifert it remains to be seen on hanna. The next 50% will be done during this week. If nitrate will still rise after the procedure, I'm going to change skimmer.
I'am still interested in more opinions/ideas.

 

[zoomonster]

Tried all the methods at one time or another and current bio pellet reactor (not really that effective and adds biofilm and CO2) is going to be gone here shortly. Also run refugium and GFO. Refugium will stay, GFO will go when phosphate is in a better ratio with nitrate. Tropic Marin Elimi-NP (hard to find now) is working better than any carbon dosing method I have tried though it does a better job at nitrate than phosphate. Ultimately, I will then switch to NP Bacto Balance.

 

[ToxicMel]

Instead of replacing of the skimmer, are you in a position where you can add a roller mat instead?

 

[Katze]

Instead of replacing of the skimmer, are you in a position where you can add a roller mat instead?

Those are very expensive for my budget, but so far I'm watching the nitrates, maybe there is no need for a change in skimmer after all.

 

[Katze]

Update ! Half victory after the 2nd waterchange, nitrate is under 50 but somewhat over 25 as awaited. I'll ask for a Hanna check just to be sure. I'll continue the dosing of NOPOX as another 50% would not worth it unless it's 50.

 

[Spare time]

Dose a little Praziquantel (prazi). It will reduce your nitrates easily.

I think that is just carbon dosing at that point but far more expensive lol

 

[MabuyaQ]

Blow off all the rock with a small powerhead and see how much detritus is released. If this is really bad, remove the sandbed because it's gone be 10 times worse. Just return the dragonette to your lfs as you will be taking out a major foodsource as well by removing the sandbed.

Go bare bottom untill you got full control over NO3 and PO4 and only then add a new sandbed or remain bare bottom.

 

[Katze]

Bad news ! After checking with hanna, nitrate turned out to be over 75,
I'll be proceeding with the skimmer change.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Bad news ! After checking with hanna, nitrate turned out to be over 75,
I'll be proceeding with the skimmer change.

There are many good ways to reduce nitrate, and I discuss many of them here:

Nitrate in the Reef Aquarium - REEFEDITION

Nitrate is an ion that has long dogged aquarists. It is typically formed in aquaria through the digestion of foods, and in many aquaria it builds up and can be difficult to keep at natural levels. In the past, many aquarists performed water changes with nitrate reduction as one of the primary...

www.reefedition.com

 

[Pickle_soup]

Hello everyone !

Things to know about the tank
~200l (+55g) total
+1.5 years old,
-Nitrate is always either 100 or 75 but over 50 (salifert)
-PO4 usually 0.05-0.08 at most (Hanna PO4 ULR)
About it's nitrogen cycle
cycled with about 40% live rock, fishless with dosing bacteria
-> after the cycle I always had a reading of 100 in nitrates on salifert (backed up by hanna HR)

Livestock
Scopas tang, Dragonet, Anthias, Damselfish, fire goby, (all of them are on the smaller scale)
->they get less than half a cube of mysis 1x/day
->LPS usually die... except torches?!
->Softies grow very well especially zoas.

Filtration
Bubble Magus NAC5 (pretty good skimmate, some times it's the very wet kind)
2 handful of ceramic cylinders
1 sponge

15-10% waterchange /week

The plan

I'm planning to do 2x100 waterchange, which should end with about 25ppm NO3
I'll dose 2-3mls of nopox + Na3PO4 to keep up with the phosphate consumption
Finally the most important, getting a new skimmer (Red Sea RSK300).

I'm interested in your opinions in terms of executing the plan mentioned above!

No need to overthink nitrates.

 

[Katze]

Today I had a ridicolous idea of doing an 80% waterchange ! With the same temperature, the nitrates should drop to ~25-20. But I believe it would be too much stress for the fishies and the 2 torches, I'm not concerned about the softies on this route.
Even if it would be 330ppm it would decrease to atleast 50ppm.