What can I do to get my Nitrates down??

smalls383 · 03/27/2008, 04:14 PM

My tank has finished cycling, now in week 7. I can't seem to get my tank to safe levels for a CUC. Last week I did a large 60% water change which did help a bit, dropped from about 80-100 to about 40-50.

Besides more water changes, what else can I do....I am sick of looking into an empty tank!!!!

Aquarist007 · 03/27/2008, 04:19 PM

where did you get your substrate from?
You have good flow in the tank
Does the flow in your sump match the output of your skimmer--if not unskimmed water is being returned to the tank and usually to the bottom layers.
Every other day start to baste your sand and rock work with a turkey baster--get the detrius ect back into the water column where it can be filtered out.
You might want to add a micron filter sock on your drain line to help the skimmer esp when you start basting.

smalls383 · 03/27/2008, 04:23 PM

Yeah I am using a filter sock and it does a great job getting stuff out. How can you tell if the skimmer and return are matched??

smalls383 · 03/27/2008, 04:26 PM

I have a MAG 7, which is T-off because it has too much flow...What about some chatoe (spelling?)

PUGroyale · 03/27/2008, 04:32 PM

You can try this:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...5&pagenumber=1

I'd still recommend water changes but if you're careful this'll do the trick

reefergeorge · 03/27/2008, 04:33 PM

I have found water changes to get nitrates down to be to much hassle. Even at 50% changes it would take 3 more.
I would add a fuge, and skim wet.

If you t off your return back to the sump for no reason you are wasting electricity. You can just add a ball valve, and close it a little.

smalls383 · 03/27/2008, 04:37 PM

I'm no electrician, but I would think that a T'd off return pump going back to the sump would use no extra electricity then a open pump. I decided not to use just a ball valve in the return because I wanted the pump to run freely, ensuring a longer life

So my Mag 7 pumps about 4 feet which lowers the flow to about 480. The sedra pump on my skimmer runs 350gph so with my T in the return, I would think that the water flow in the sump is matched well....And Yes, I know I need more water changes, but damn I have been doing this for so long and nothing seems to really work completly

reefergeorge · 03/27/2008, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by smalls383
I'm no electrician, but I would think that a T'd off return pump going back to the sump would use no extra electricity then a open pump. I decided not to use just a ball valve in the return because I wanted the pump to run freely, ensuring a longer life

If you T off the return, and send the extra back to the sump. You are making the pump work harder. More flow= more work= higher wattage. When you use a ball valve instead the pump is just spinning the extra water in the housing, and using less wattage.

For your nitrates I would set up a fuge. I am at the moment using a five gallon bucket, and clip on light. It has worked so good for me I am in the process of making it permanent with a 20 gallon.

ultimatemusky · 03/27/2008, 05:48 PM

Fuge helped me out, have not had nitrate problems since I set it up. I was always doing water changes to lower nitrates, not any more...nuf said!!

Aquarist007 · 03/27/2008, 07:09 PM

here are two thread with all kinds of ideas for you

setting up a fuge
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1349443

more suggestions for limiting nitrates and phosphates

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1329802

and here is an ongoing thread very similar to yours

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1354581

03/27/2008, 04:14 PM	#1
smalls383 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Saratoga, CA Posts: 483	What can I do to get my Nitrates down?? My tank has finished cycling, now in week 7. I can't seem to get my tank to safe levels for a CUC. Last week I did a large 60% water change which did help a bit, dropped from about 80-100 to about 40-50. Besides more water changes, what else can I do....I am sick of looking into an empty tank!!!!

03/27/2008, 04:19 PM	#2
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	where did you get your substrate from? You have good flow in the tank Does the flow in your sump match the output of your skimmer--if not unskimmed water is being returned to the tank and usually to the bottom layers. Every other day start to baste your sand and rock work with a turkey baster--get the detrius ect back into the water column where it can be filtered out. You might want to add a micron filter sock on your drain line to help the skimmer esp when you start basting. __________________ 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

03/27/2008, 04:32 PM	#5
PUGroyale Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 2,711	You can try this: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...5&pagenumber=1 I'd still recommend water changes but if you're careful this'll do the trick __________________ Dave :~)

03/27/2008, 04:33 PM	#6
reefergeorge Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: St Louis MO Posts: 4,222	I have found water changes to get nitrates down to be to much hassle. Even at 50% changes it would take 3 more. I would add a fuge, and skim wet. If you t off your return back to the sump for no reason you are wasting electricity. You can just add a ball valve, and close it a little. __________________ $35-50 for a <1" frag of some stupid named thing that came from a colony you bought for $40-60 wholesale and chopped into 20-40 pieces? No thanks. "JasonH" Current Tank Info: 125 aggressive reef, DIY led lighting, swc cone skimmer, 33 gallon sump, posiden Ps3 return.

03/27/2008, 05:48 PM	#9
ultimatemusky Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: wisconsin Posts: 462	Fuge helped me out, have not had nitrate problems since I set it up. I was always doing water changes to lower nitrates, not any more...nuf said!! __________________ Goooz--Frabba........Ok, that didn't work I'm still ticked off. Current Tank Info: 75 gal w/lps, zoas, shrooms, RO/DI, 500watt halide+ 108watt t5, 1500+gph flow, 10g fuge w/chaeto/rubble rock, 10gal sump w/rock, 125#'s+ live rock, 3.5" sand bed, 40 gal breeder frag tank w/250 watt halide & 192 watts actinic pc's

03/27/2008, 04:23 PM	#3
smalls383 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Saratoga, CA Posts: 483	Yeah I am using a filter sock and it does a great job getting stuff out. How can you tell if the skimmer and return are matched??

03/27/2008, 04:26 PM	#4
smalls383 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Saratoga, CA Posts: 483	I have a MAG 7, which is T-off because it has too much flow...What about some chatoe (spelling?)

03/27/2008, 04:37 PM	#7
smalls383 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Saratoga, CA Posts: 483	I'm no electrician, but I would think that a T'd off return pump going back to the sump would use no extra electricity then a open pump. I decided not to use just a ball valve in the return because I wanted the pump to run freely, ensuring a longer life So my Mag 7 pumps about 4 feet which lowers the flow to about 480. The sedra pump on my skimmer runs 350gph so with my T in the return, I would think that the water flow in the sump is matched well....And Yes, I know I need more water changes, but damn I have been doing this for so long and nothing seems to really work completly

03/27/2008, 07:09 PM	#10
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	here are two thread with all kinds of ideas for you setting up a fuge http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1349443 more suggestions for limiting nitrates and phosphates http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1329802 and here is an ongoing thread very similar to yours http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1354581 __________________ 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