how much chaeto to reduce nitrate?

spongebob281 · 11/19/2008, 02:57 AM

I have about 2 lbs of chaeto in the fuge. I know it depends on various factors such as detritus/water vol/ bioload etc...but can any guess how much nitrate per lbs of chaeto able to remove?

Michael · 11/19/2008, 07:33 AM

i cant guess that no, dont know if anyone could, perhaps someone will chip in with an answer, but i think your comment about bioload is a good 1

Randy Holmes-Farley · 11/19/2008, 07:57 AM

In general, I think the more you have the better off you'll be in terms of nutrients remaining in the water. I have about as much refugium surface area as I have main tank surface area.

It depends on how fast it is growing, not just on how much is there. if you know how fast it grows in your setup, it is possibly to determine about how much nitrate it can take up, as I discuss here:

Phosphate and the Reef Aquarium
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/rhf/index.php

from it:

For those interested in knowing how much phosphorus is being exported by macroalgae, this free PDF article in the journal Marine Biology has some important information. It gives the phosphorus and nitrogen content for nine different species of macroalgae, including many that reefkeepers typically maintain. For example, Caulerpa racemosa collected off Hawaii contains about 0.08 % phosphorus by dry weight and 5.6% nitrogen. Harvesting 10 grams (dry weight) of this macroalgae from an aquarium would be the equivalent of removing 24 mg of phosphate from the water column. That amount is the equivalent of reducing the phosphate concentration from 0.2 ppm to 0.1 ppm in a 67-gallon aquarium. All of the other species tested gave similar results (plus or minus a factor of two). Interestingly, using the same paper's nitrogen data, this would also be equivalent to reducing the nitrate content by 2.5 grams, or 10 ppm in that same 67-gallon aquarium.

EvMiBo · 11/19/2008, 12:01 PM

randy always has great responses

ReefEnabler · 11/19/2008, 12:12 PM

my cheato has started growing alot faster since I added a powder brown tang to my 220. Funny how one fish can make such a difference.

That brings the total fish to 4: Midas Blenny; Two small Chromis, Powder Brown Tang.

My nitrates have been undetectable for a while now but the cheato wasn't really growing much until the tang was added.

The tang eats almost everything in the tank, like the more solid Turbo Snail poop (gross). But the tang's waste is more liquid and instantly dissolves into the water, so I think the tang is doing a better job of getting the nutrients in the tank into the water, and thus into the algae. And of course I feed a little bit more now.

Michael · 11/19/2008, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by EvMiBo
randy always has great responses

without a doubt, god knows what we in the reefing world will do when he hangs his gloves up

Randy Holmes-Farley · 11/19/2008, 01:04 PM

Thanks guys.

gasman059 · 11/19/2008, 02:56 PM

Not nearly enuff at the usual sizes we run fuges.

spongebob281 · 11/19/2008, 03:56 PM

i feel honor to have a thread visited by Randy. I just wish he'd come out with a line of test kits. That'd be the bomb LOL

sikpupy · 11/19/2008, 04:33 PM

As much as Randy gives to us reefers for free, I am honestly speechless other than saying thanks.

Reefer08 · 11/19/2008, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Randy Holmes-Farley
In general, I think the more you have the better off you'll be in terms of nutrients remaining in the water. I have about as much refugium surface area as I have main tank surface area.

[/B]

So are you saying that if I don't harvest and cut my cheato and it grows huge then im going to be keeping all the nutrients in the water? What percentage of the total amount of cheato would you recommend to cut regularly?

BigJay · 11/19/2008, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Reefer08
So are you saying that if I don't harvest and cut my cheato and it grows huge then im going to be keeping all the nutrients in the water? What percentage of the total amount of cheato would you recommend to cut regularly?

Reefing is about exporting nutrients, i.e. getting them out of the water.

Chaeto locks the nutrients up and holds them. If for some reason the algae dies, the nutrients re-enter the water column.

I'd trim a few handfuls out every couple of weeks. You don't want to leave in so much that there's no room to grow more. At the same time you don't want to remove so much that it doesn't grow back or keep up with your nutrient load.

11/19/2008, 02:57 AM	#1
spongebob281 Moved On Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 305	how much chaeto to reduce nitrate? I have about 2 lbs of chaeto in the fuge. I know it depends on various factors such as detritus/water vol/ bioload etc...but can any guess how much nitrate per lbs of chaeto able to remove?

11/19/2008, 07:33 AM	#2
Michael NTTH Rookie Help Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gloucester, England,UK Posts: 7,808 Blog Entries: 6	i cant guess that no, dont know if anyone could, perhaps someone will chip in with an answer, but i think your comment about bioload is a good 1 __________________ Don't be afraid to ask questions, we in the new to the hobby are here to help you [For My Tank Spec,Photo Album,Articles and website, click on my name] MY Very Kindest and Warmest Regards , MIKE Current Tank Info: I have a 92 gal Corner Tank, and way too many pieces of equipment to list really, (proud member of the reef central corner club)

11/19/2008, 07:57 AM	#3
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	In general, I think the more you have the better off you'll be in terms of nutrients remaining in the water. I have about as much refugium surface area as I have main tank surface area. It depends on how fast it is growing, not just on how much is there. if you know how fast it grows in your setup, it is possibly to determine about how much nitrate it can take up, as I discuss here: Phosphate and the Reef Aquarium http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/rhf/index.php from it: For those interested in knowing how much phosphorus is being exported by macroalgae, this free PDF article in the journal Marine Biology has some important information. It gives the phosphorus and nitrogen content for nine different species of macroalgae, including many that reefkeepers typically maintain. For example, Caulerpa racemosa collected off Hawaii contains about 0.08 % phosphorus by dry weight and 5.6% nitrogen. Harvesting 10 grams (dry weight) of this macroalgae from an aquarium would be the equivalent of removing 24 mg of phosphate from the water column. That amount is the equivalent of reducing the phosphate concentration from 0.2 ppm to 0.1 ppm in a 67-gallon aquarium. All of the other species tested gave similar results (plus or minus a factor of two). Interestingly, using the same paper's nitrogen data, this would also be equivalent to reducing the nitrate content by 2.5 grams, or 10 ppm in that same 67-gallon aquarium. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

11/19/2008, 12:01 PM	#4
EvMiBo VictoriaConcordiaCrescit Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Ft. Myers, FL Posts: 1,929	randy always has great responses __________________ Evan \| DSA 135g Peninsula

11/19/2008, 12:12 PM	#5
ReefEnabler Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 3,760	my cheato has started growing alot faster since I added a powder brown tang to my 220. Funny how one fish can make such a difference. That brings the total fish to 4: Midas Blenny; Two small Chromis, Powder Brown Tang. My nitrates have been undetectable for a while now but the cheato wasn't really growing much until the tang was added. The tang eats almost everything in the tank, like the more solid Turbo Snail poop (gross). But the tang's waste is more liquid and instantly dissolves into the water, so I think the tang is doing a better job of getting the nutrients in the tank into the water, and thus into the algae. And of course I feed a little bit more now. __________________ - Ryan B "that is enough skimmate to ruin lives." - GSMguy Current Tank Info: 220g Display, 70g sump, 35g frag, 50g fuge, 2x250w MH, 1x400w MH, 2x80w T5, 2x140w VHO Actinic

11/19/2008, 01:04 PM	#7
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	Thanks guys. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

11/19/2008, 02:56 PM	#8
gasman059 The OG mad scientist Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: SOFLA Posts: 10,308	Not nearly enuff at the usual sizes we run fuges. __________________ There's a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness". 1985-present Current Tank Info: Officially lurking!

11/19/2008, 03:56 PM	#9
spongebob281 Moved On Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 305	i feel honor to have a thread visited by Randy. I just wish he'd come out with a line of test kits. That'd be the bomb LOL

11/19/2008, 04:33 PM	#10
sikpupy Moved On Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 1,431	As much as Randy gives to us reefers for free, I am honestly speechless other than saying thanks.