Nitrate question

[jesterns2]

I bought my tank used and it was set up. i took the fish to a LFS keeping 75lbs of rock and ever since I have had 20ppm of Nitrate. I have 2 captive bred Ocellaris Clownfish. I know that level does`nt bother them but I do eventually want to go reef. Question is what do I do to get rid of the Nitrate?
Thanks in advance

[Don-Coraleone]

have you done water changes?

[jesterns2]

Yes. The guy I bought the tank from had nitrates of 160ppm and thats why I tossed out his water. I think I introduced it into my tank with the live rock and sand

[spleify]

Just keep up on water changes, cut feedings back.
Do you have a skimmer? Do you have a refugium?

[jesterns2]

Just got a skimmer going a few days ago its a coralife super skimmer 125g on a 75g tank. I am gonna start working on a 20g sump with refugium. Most likely just consiting of LR, unless you have a better suggestion?

[spleify]

The skimmer, water changes, smaller feedings will definitely help. If you can incorporate a refugium, that will prove to be one of your best nutrient exporters.

HTH

Spleify

[jesterns2]

Now I hear about people using cheeto, not quite sure what it is but I believe i`ve heard it helps with the Nitrates? If so should I incorporate that into the refugium??

[spleify]

Yes definitely, sorry I should have explained better. A refugium with chaetomorphia(macro algae) in it will be your best nutrient export option IMO.

[jesterns2]

ok cool thanks, I appriciate it.

[kraze3]

Clean all filter socks, pads, and sponges regularly. I clean mine at least once a week, I shoot for twice.

I have added a RDSB and so far it is working great for me.

[fender4string]

Just as a quick note, for your cheato you should provide a high flow environment with a lightbulb that emits light in the 5500K-6500K range. They make great bulbs that use low wattages but have the light output of much higher bulbs. Melev's Reef gave me the idea for that light and my cheato grows like crazy.

Also if you light your refugium on a reverse schedule from your main tank it helps keep pH stablilized. Something to do with the processing of Carbon Dioxide.

[jesterns2]

Cool thanks, as far as flow i`m gonna use a 20g tank for my sump so for what you think the refugium size will be like 5 gallons i think would a koralia 2 be strong enough? If not familiar then where should the GPH be?

[fender4string]

I'm not sure exactly . My sump has a split drain. The drain pipe handles about 500-600 gph total. About 300 of that goes to the skimmer section and maybe 200-250 gph to the cheato section which is probably about 5 -7 gallons of water volume.

A Koralia 2 pushes like 600 gph. That'll definitely be more than enough. I'm not sure if cheato can have too much flow though....

[spleify]

General rule of thumb is 3-5 X tank turn over through the sump per hour. I, personally, have never used a pump in my refugium, just the natural flow through the sump.

[jesterns2]

ok cool, my only problem will be where to get the cheeto. although i dont think that will be hard

[fishox]

Jesterns2, I would recommend a lot more reading. It will save you money and heart ache. Try to buy Fenner's Conscientious Aquarist or something similar. If you're not too far away you might want to try the Pittsburgh Marine Aquarium Society before you spend too much more money.

[jesterns2]

Im not far away at all I live real close to Monroeville. I tried to register several times on there website and want to be a member and get into some of the groups activities