Natural ways 2 rid nitrate?

irishsea · 03/22/2007, 12:44 PM

Im looking for natural ways to rid nitrate from my tank. I use two canister filters with wool and have a tank full of live rock and 3 power heads. I do water changes every week 10% and i dont have a sump and i cant grow algae in my tank (tang).Oh and my water prams are spot on bar the nitrate.Is there anything i could ad to the water that would be safe? Like tetra nitraban ect.

SaltyDr · 03/22/2007, 12:55 PM

I am sure that I am going to open up a big can of worms here but you can dose with sugar or vodka (or atleast I have read about it here on RC). There are those that swear by it and others that will curse you for even thinking about it. Just a suggestion to read up about it. Good luck.

Nyles · 03/22/2007, 12:55 PM

I guess to start would be to ask about import issues if you have nitrate issues, starting with do you use RO/DI water. If so then I would feed less consider a upgrade to a skimmer or reduce fish population. Running chemicals is not a good permanent solution.

Nyles · 03/22/2007, 12:56 PM

Sugar wont do much good if you dont have a skimmer to remove it, canisters wont do it.

irishsea · 03/22/2007, 12:59 PM

Sorry i have a skimmer running and i use ro/di water. What kind of sugar and how to does?Vodka ? of course i have Vodka im irish

and i have about 10 fish in a 100g tank.

Nyles · 03/22/2007, 01:13 PM

If you have a skimmer why are you running canister filters? Carbon polishing?

irishsea · 03/22/2007, 01:17 PM

Long story more or less lfs told me a few years ago .Still want to keep them for water flow but want to get rid of the wool maybe just use carbon.

Nyles · 03/22/2007, 01:19 PM

If the wool is not changed ALOT you can get nitrate there, I would start tere but its difficult to say without a full rundown on the system. Keep a close eye on what your importing into the system (over feeding) and keep the canisters clean.

03/22/2007, 12:44 PM	#1
irishsea Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Eíre Posts: 317	Natural ways 2 rid nitrate? Im looking for natural ways to rid nitrate from my tank. I use two canister filters with wool and have a tank full of live rock and 3 power heads. I do water changes every week 10% and i dont have a sump and i cant grow algae in my tank (tang).Oh and my water prams are spot on bar the nitrate.Is there anything i could ad to the water that would be safe? Like tetra nitraban ect.

03/22/2007, 12:55 PM	#2
SaltyDr Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Southwest Florida Posts: 1,191	I am sure that I am going to open up a big can of worms here but you can dose with sugar or vodka (or atleast I have read about it here on RC). There are those that swear by it and others that will curse you for even thinking about it. Just a suggestion to read up about it. Good luck.

03/22/2007, 12:55 PM	#3
Nyles Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cottage Grove, Or Posts: 80	I guess to start would be to ask about import issues if you have nitrate issues, starting with do you use RO/DI water. If so then I would feed less consider a upgrade to a skimmer or reduce fish population. Running chemicals is not a good permanent solution.

03/22/2007, 12:56 PM	#4
Nyles Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cottage Grove, Or Posts: 80	Sugar wont do much good if you dont have a skimmer to remove it, canisters wont do it.

03/22/2007, 12:59 PM	#5
irishsea Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Eíre Posts: 317	Sorry i have a skimmer running and i use ro/di water. What kind of sugar and how to does?Vodka ? of course i have Vodka im irish and i have about 10 fish in a 100g tank.

03/22/2007, 01:13 PM	#6
Nyles Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cottage Grove, Or Posts: 80	If you have a skimmer why are you running canister filters? Carbon polishing?

03/22/2007, 01:17 PM	#7
irishsea Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Eíre Posts: 317	Long story more or less lfs told me a few years ago .Still want to keep them for water flow but want to get rid of the wool maybe just use carbon.

03/22/2007, 01:19 PM	#8
Nyles Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cottage Grove, Or Posts: 80	If the wool is not changed ALOT you can get nitrate there, I would start tere but its difficult to say without a full rundown on the system. Keep a close eye on what your importing into the system (over feeding) and keep the canisters clean.