Struggling with nitrates

jva · 04/16/2009, 10:46 PM

Is it possible to get your nitrates to 0 without a refugium? I have just started a deep sand bed. Does anyone know how long it takes to start working? Ive been doing 10% water changes with RO filtered water every other day for weeks but can't get them below 5-10 parts ppm.

davewbush · 04/16/2009, 11:02 PM

Mine are at 0 without a no refugium. How much live rock do you have and are you running a skimmer? You may get beat up on here by a few people saying you have the DSB. There's been a lot of talk about them lately. I have one and have no nitrates. How old is your tank also?

PRDubois · 04/16/2009, 11:16 PM

What is your skimmer rated for?

singold · 04/17/2009, 12:49 AM

How often do you feed? What kind of filtration do you have?

Sisterlimonpot · 04/17/2009, 07:23 PM

If you have a descent skimmer, and over 21 I would say the easiest solution is vodka. My nitrates and phosphates are now down to 0 with 0 algae as well.

1602reefer · 04/18/2009, 10:53 AM

I have 0 nitrates in my 55. I have about 60+ lbs of live rock in my tank. In your 100 gallon tank you should have over close to or over 100lbs of live rock for a proper reef set up. Once you have that it should be no problem keeping your nitrates at 0. If its a new tank also it may take about 6 weeks with the live rock to mature and the nitrogen cycle to complete and balance. Live rock is what is your tank most likely needs. I live in San Diego too. Go to Pet Kingdom on Sports Arena blvd, and they will help you out with a good deal on live rock. I think its $6 a lb for Figi rock and $4 a lb for normal base rock and if you buy over 20 lbs at once the price goes down to $4 a lb. Unless your over feeding or there is a dead fish that is your problem. Were you at scripps last nite?

Aquarist007 · 04/18/2009, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jva
Is it possible to get your nitrates to 0 without a refugium? I have just started a deep sand bed. Does anyone know how long it takes to start working? Ive been doing 10% water changes with RO filtered water every other day for weeks but can't get them below 5-10 parts ppm.

the dsb is one variable---how many fish do you have in your tank and how many times a day are you feeding them.

Sisterlimonpot · 04/18/2009, 10:37 PM

capn... always pushing that dsb

and me............. I'm pushing vsv

jva · 04/19/2009, 07:07 PM

Sorry Iwas so long in replying ,I was away. The tank is about 4 months old, has about 90lbs. fiji live rock and 150 lbs. live sand. skimmer is a 125 G capacity I run a Sedra 12000 main pump(cycles aprox.10x an hr.) two korallia 600's for circulation and a uv steralizer. 4 small fish 1-2 in. a nudi, a fireshrimp, cocoworm and six assort. corals. I'm glad to find out I don't need a refugium tho. Thanks

jva · 04/19/2009, 07:14 PM

Hey 1602 reefer . Nope wasn't at Scripps and thanks for the info on Pet Kingdom.

Aquarist007 · 04/19/2009, 09:30 PM

You don't need a refugium but you still can have chaeto algae growing in your tank and receive the benifits of its nitrogen and phosphate reductionL
In my frag tank I use these soap dishes at 1 dollar a piece. The larger one is just held up their for comparison---the one with the chaeto is in the tank.

04/16/2009, 10:46 PM	#1
jva Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: San Diego,CA. Posts: 6	Struggling with nitrates Is it possible to get your nitrates to 0 without a refugium? I have just started a deep sand bed. Does anyone know how long it takes to start working? Ive been doing 10% water changes with RO filtered water every other day for weeks but can't get them below 5-10 parts ppm.

04/16/2009, 11:16 PM	#3
PRDubois Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chester, VA Posts: 3,626	What is your skimmer rated for? __________________ http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2534403 Current Tank Info: 225 gal Reef, 60 gal reef & 40b frag tank

04/17/2009, 12:49 AM	#4
singold Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Lake Saint Louis, Missouri Posts: 1,827	How often do you feed? What kind of filtration do you have? __________________ "If there is no wind.....row." Current Tank Info: 75gal Reef w/29gal Refugium

04/17/2009, 07:23 PM	#5
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	If you have a descent skimmer, and over 21 I would say the easiest solution is vodka. My nitrates and phosphates are now down to 0 with 0 algae as well. __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

04/18/2009, 10:53 AM	#6
1602reefer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 93	I have 0 nitrates in my 55. I have about 60+ lbs of live rock in my tank. In your 100 gallon tank you should have over close to or over 100lbs of live rock for a proper reef set up. Once you have that it should be no problem keeping your nitrates at 0. If its a new tank also it may take about 6 weeks with the live rock to mature and the nitrogen cycle to complete and balance. Live rock is what is your tank most likely needs. I live in San Diego too. Go to Pet Kingdom on Sports Arena blvd, and they will help you out with a good deal on live rock. I think its $6 a lb for Figi rock and $4 a lb for normal base rock and if you buy over 20 lbs at once the price goes down to $4 a lb. Unless your over feeding or there is a dead fish that is your problem. Were you at scripps last nite? __________________ want to learn. Current Tank Info: 55 gallon reef tank, 4 x 54 watt t5 light, 60+ lbs of figi live rock, backpack2 skimmer, 2 korallia 3's.

04/16/2009, 11:02 PM	#2
davewbush ... Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: California Posts: 739	Mine are at 0 without a no refugium. How much live rock do you have and are you running a skimmer? You may get beat up on here by a few people saying you have the DSB. There's been a lot of talk about them lately. I have one and have no nitrates. How old is your tank also?

04/18/2009, 10:37 PM	#8
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	capn... always pushing that dsb and me............. I'm pushing vsv __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

04/19/2009, 07:07 PM	#9
jva Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: San Diego,CA. Posts: 6	Nitrates at 10ppm Sorry Iwas so long in replying ,I was away. The tank is about 4 months old, has about 90lbs. fiji live rock and 150 lbs. live sand. skimmer is a 125 G capacity I run a Sedra 12000 main pump(cycles aprox.10x an hr.) two korallia 600's for circulation and a uv steralizer. 4 small fish 1-2 in. a nudi, a fireshrimp, cocoworm and six assort. corals. I'm glad to find out I don't need a refugium tho. Thanks

04/19/2009, 07:14 PM	#10
jva Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: San Diego,CA. Posts: 6	Hey 1602 reefer . Nope wasn't at Scripps and thanks for the info on Pet Kingdom.

04/19/2009, 09:30 PM	#11
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	You don't need a refugium but you still can have chaeto algae growing in your tank and receive the benifits of its nitrogen and phosphate reductionL In my frag tank I use these soap dishes at 1 dollar a piece. The larger one is just held up their for comparison---the one with the chaeto is in the tank. __________________ I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock