High Nitrate Mixed Reef 50-70ppm

phildoingthings

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 12, 2022
Messages
67
Reaction score
39
Location
Long Island
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Hey all,

Been running a RS Reefer 250 G2 for about a year now.
Pretty much self-sustaining at this point...I do small 5 gallon water changes maybe once or two times a month. I'm a believer in "if it isn't broke don't fix it".
I have a huge colony of GSP that is thriving, as well as a few torches, a large anemone, some favia and a trachy that are thriving as well.
Fish Stock is 2 clowns, Pintail Fairy Wrasse, Juvi Caribbean Blue Tang, Diamond Goby, and a Bangai Cardinal.
Have a large clean up crew (approx 30 mixed snails and hermits, cleaner shrimp, 2 emerald crabs.
Everyone is happy, healthy, eating no problem, good coral growth and almost zero nuisance algae growth. I tested my water for the first time in like 3 months (lol) and my Nitrates were around 60. I'm running an oversized skimmer, UV sterilizer, and a Red Sea Roller Mat for mechanical filtration.
I have an auto feeder dumping a small amount of pellet food 2x a day, and I spot feed frozen brine/mysis 2x a week with reefroids and garlic.

Question is: How do I lower my Nitrates and Phosphate to around 20 without chemicals, and secondly, if everyone is healthy do I even bother?
 

Dom

Full Time Reef Keeper
View Badges
Joined
Apr 29, 2016
Messages
6,449
Reaction score
6,945
Location
NY
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Hey all,

Been running a RS Reefer 250 G2 for about a year now.
Pretty much self-sustaining at this point...I do small 5 gallon water changes maybe once or two times a month. I'm a believer in "if it isn't broke don't fix it".
I have a huge colony of GSP that is thriving, as well as a few torches, a large anemone, some favia and a trachy that are thriving as well.
Fish Stock is 2 clowns, Pintail Fairy Wrasse, Juvi Caribbean Blue Tang, Diamond Goby, and a Bangai Cardinal.
Have a large clean up crew (approx 30 mixed snails and hermits, cleaner shrimp, 2 emerald crabs.
Everyone is happy, healthy, eating no problem, good coral growth and almost zero nuisance algae growth. I tested my water for the first time in like 3 months (lol) and my Nitrates were around 60. I'm running an oversized skimmer, UV sterilizer, and a Red Sea Roller Mat for mechanical filtration.
I have an auto feeder dumping a small amount of pellet food 2x a day, and I spot feed frozen brine/mysis 2x a week with reefroids and garlic.

Question is: How do I lower my Nitrates and Phosphate to around 20 without chemicals, and secondly, if everyone is healthy do I even bother?

Your water changes are too small and too infrequent. Some things to try:

  • 20% FAITHFUL, WEEKLY water changes. 10 gallons per week for you should be fine. This will help you to export the built Nitrates.
  • Run a refugium. Macro algae will take a portion of nitrates in the water column.

Do this and monitor your chemistry for the next 4 weeks. I'm sure you will see an improvement.
 
Last edited:
OP
OP
phildoingthings

phildoingthings

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 12, 2022
Messages
67
Reaction score
39
Location
Long Island
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Your water changes are too small and too infrequent. Some things to try:

  • 20% FAITHFUL, WEEKLY water changes. 10 gallons per week for you should be fine. This will help your to export the build up of Nitrates.
  • Run a refugium. Macro algae will take a portion of nitrates in the water column.

Do this and monitor your chemistry for the next 4 weeks. I'm sure you will see an improvement.
Oh I know they're too infrequent haha. I will up the changes, it just felt like everyone was doing well so why disrupt anything, but I do know the value of water changes.

Problem with the RSR 250 is lack of sump space, very difficult to run a fuge. I've seen people modifying the RS ATO reservoir to run a fuge. Played with the idea a few times, now considering it more seriously.

Thanks for your input.
 
OP
OP
phildoingthings

phildoingthings

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 12, 2022
Messages
67
Reaction score
39
Location
Long Island
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
If you and all your aquatic pets are happy, I wouldn’t get ballistic about it, but here’s what you could do to slowly lower nutrients:
  • more frequent and larger water changes
  • less reef roids
  • less automatic feeding( some food may land in sump) and more manual feeding
I considered removing the auto feeder entirely, its just so convenient. I used to feed only frozen but was told that Frozen can be high in fat content which could lead to the same issue.

Reefroids maybe 1x a week instead?
 

Dom

Full Time Reef Keeper
View Badges
Joined
Apr 29, 2016
Messages
6,449
Reaction score
6,945
Location
NY
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Oh I know they're too infrequent haha. I will up the changes, it just felt like everyone was doing well so why disrupt anything, but I do know the value of water changes.

Problem with the RSR 250 is lack of sump space, very difficult to run a fuge. I've seen people modifying the RS ATO reservoir to run a fuge. Played with the idea a few times, now considering it more seriously.

Thanks for your input.

Can you provide a picture of your sump area? I may have a few suggestions.
 

thedon986

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Mar 19, 2016
Messages
738
Reaction score
708
Location
Denver, CO
Rating - 100%
2   0   0
Do you know what your phosphate level is? I dont see it mentioned. In place of some water changes you could start carbon dosing via or vodka, vinegar or something like NP Bacto Balace.
 
OP
OP
phildoingthings

phildoingthings

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 12, 2022
Messages
67
Reaction score
39
Location
Long Island
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Can you provide a picture of your sump area? I may have a few suggestions.

IMG_2214.jpg
IMG_2216.jpg
IMG_2215.jpg
 
OP
OP
phildoingthings

phildoingthings

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 12, 2022
Messages
67
Reaction score
39
Location
Long Island
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Do you know what your phosphate level is? I dont see it mentioned. In place of some water changes you could start carbon dosing via or vodka, vinegar or something like NP Bacto Balace.
1.36 on Red Sea Test Kit.

Whats the vodka/vinegar method?
 

Spare time

10K Club member
View Badges
Joined
Apr 12, 2019
Messages
13,208
Reaction score
10,672
Location
Here
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I'd swap the skimmer for a refugium or carbon dose. I prefer a refugium over carbon dosing as it handles phosphates better, but if your phosphate is not high, then carbon dosing or biopellets would be my choice. Biopellets are easier to be lazy with imo.
 
OP
OP
phildoingthings

phildoingthings

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 12, 2022
Messages
67
Reaction score
39
Location
Long Island
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I'd swap the skimmer for a refugium or carbon dose. I prefer a refugium over carbon dosing as it handles phosphates better.
I actually considered the skimmer vs refugium option. I've gotten very mixed opinions on it however. I am all about biological filtration if possible. And +1 on fuge over carbon. What are you running on your system?
 

Dom

Full Time Reef Keeper
View Badges
Joined
Apr 29, 2016
Messages
6,449
Reaction score
6,945
Location
NY
Rating - 0%
0   0   0

Wow... they really pack everything in there!

Here is something I've done on the past.

Fluval makes a hang on breeder box. Here is the link: Amazon product

I turned it into a refugium with a small grow light and tiny (8gph) return pump. Worked very well.

Just something to consider.
 

Dom

Full Time Reef Keeper
View Badges
Joined
Apr 29, 2016
Messages
6,449
Reaction score
6,945
Location
NY
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I actually considered the skimmer vs refugium option. I've gotten very mixed opinions on it however. I am all about biological filtration if possible. And +1 on fuge over carbon. What are you running on your system?

Eliminating a skimmer in favor of the refugium is an option. But I ask you to consider all that you lose by eliminating the skimmer, such as oxygenating the tank.
 
OP
OP
phildoingthings

phildoingthings

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 12, 2022
Messages
67
Reaction score
39
Location
Long Island
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Wow... they really pack everything in there!

Here is something I've done on the past.

Fluval makes a hang on breeder box. Here is the link: Amazon product

I turned it into a refugium with a small grow light and tiny (8gph) return pump. Worked very well.

Just something to consider.

WOW I love this idea actually. As much as I would love to remove a skimmer this is a definite viable option. So you just drop the pump into the first compartment of the sump?
 

thedon986

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Mar 19, 2016
Messages
738
Reaction score
708
Location
Denver, CO
Rating - 100%
2   0   0
OP
OP
phildoingthings

phildoingthings

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 12, 2022
Messages
67
Reaction score
39
Location
Long Island
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Eliminating a skimmer in favor of the refugium is an option. But I ask you to consider all that you lose by eliminating the skimmer, such as oxygenating the tank.
Yeah I don't think I'm going to remove skimmer. It definitely gets nasty so its obviously doing something. Possible hang-on-side? fuge could be an option?
 

Randy Holmes-Farley

Reef Chemist
View Badges
Joined
Sep 5, 2014
Messages
72,100
Reaction score
69,741
Location
Massachusetts, United States
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Some great reef aquaria have had phosphate above 1 ppm and nitrate above 100 ppm, and most reefers would be envious of the aquarium. Richard Ross’ tank comes to mind.
 

Waboss

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Dec 1, 2014
Messages
2,061
Reaction score
1,048
Location
MD, USA
Rating - 100%
11   0   0
My general rule is that if all the life in the tank is happy AND, it all looks good (no crazy algae issues), and nothing is SO out of balance that it could easily cause severe issues, then let it go and thrive (but keep an eye on it).

With that being said, I can't see a reason why adding a refugium would be a bad thing, so if you want to, go for it.
 

Spare time

10K Club member
View Badges
Joined
Apr 12, 2019
Messages
13,208
Reaction score
10,672
Location
Here
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I actually considered the skimmer vs refugium option. I've gotten very mixed opinions on it however. I am all about biological filtration if possible. And +1 on fuge over carbon. What are you running on your system?


I run a refugium, carbon in a reactor, and filter socks. I don't do water changes except when cleaning my sump or overflow box.
 
Back
Top