Algae to lower nitrates

ylee0710 · 04/02/2009, 09:21 PM

I have a aquaclear hang on filter for my 20 gallon and I was wondering if I put some Algae plant inside the system like under the foam, will that help at all with my nitrate levels....?

Thanks

redfishsc · 04/02/2009, 09:30 PM

Not under the foam. It HAS to have light or it will not photosynthesize, and then die and pollute your tank even further.

There are some interesting mod methods out there to turn an aquaclear into a refugium.

That, or you can turn a 5.5g or 10g into a nice refugium. Either one of those would go a VERY VERY long way to giving you nitrate free and, to a lesser extent, phosphate "free" water.

The key is lighting it plenty (see Melev's link on lights, exactly what I use, in link below)..... and be ready to dose iron if the algae starts to wither. It can deplete iron fairly quickly.

http://www.melevsreef.com/fuge_bulb.html

odyssey1 · 04/02/2009, 09:59 PM

Have you thought about using a sulphur denitrifier?

They arent too expensive and in 3-4weeks your nitrates are gone. Before I purchased one my nitrates were over 25ppm and 3 weeks after purchasing a Midwest denitrifier my nitrates are less than 5ppm. This is all I use to lower the nitrates besides a better skimmer i purchased 2-3 months ago. The denitrifier has been in my system for 6-7 months and has been maintence free so far. I will need to change the media soon though.

I have a 75 gal. tank with 7 fish and over 30 coral colonies mostly SPS. My system is thriving much better since the denitrifier kicked in. The Growth has been awesome the last 4 months.

ylee0710 · 04/03/2009, 10:34 AM

thanks guys!

Sugar Magnolia · 04/03/2009, 10:39 AM

DIY build for AC fuge. HTH. http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...=how+to+DIY+an

04/02/2009, 09:21 PM	#1
ylee0710 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 26	Algae to lower nitrates I have a aquaclear hang on filter for my 20 gallon and I was wondering if I put some Algae plant inside the system like under the foam, will that help at all with my nitrate levels....? Thanks

04/02/2009, 09:30 PM	#2
redfishsc Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Wake Forest, NC Posts: 3,696	Not under the foam. It HAS to have light or it will not photosynthesize, and then die and pollute your tank even further. There are some interesting mod methods out there to turn an aquaclear into a refugium. That, or you can turn a 5.5g or 10g into a nice refugium. Either one of those would go a VERY VERY long way to giving you nitrate free and, to a lesser extent, phosphate "free" water. The key is lighting it plenty (see Melev's link on lights, exactly what I use, in link below)..... and be ready to dose iron if the algae starts to wither. It can deplete iron fairly quickly. http://www.melevsreef.com/fuge_bulb.html __________________ "The measure of a life is not its duration but its donation." Corrie Ten Boom “The tyrant dies and his rule is over, the martyr dies and his rule begins” -- Søren Kierkegaard Current Tank Info: ghetto grad school reef.....11g rimless tank, 36X9X9, lit by Cree and Rebels scobbled together. Stocked mostly with free stuff I got from panhandling my fellow reefers.

04/03/2009, 10:39 AM	#5
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	DIY build for AC fuge. HTH. http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...=how+to+DIY+an __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

04/02/2009, 09:59 PM	#3
odyssey1 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Bridgewater, Va Posts: 321	Have you thought about using a sulphur denitrifier? They arent too expensive and in 3-4weeks your nitrates are gone. Before I purchased one my nitrates were over 25ppm and 3 weeks after purchasing a Midwest denitrifier my nitrates are less than 5ppm. This is all I use to lower the nitrates besides a better skimmer i purchased 2-3 months ago. The denitrifier has been in my system for 6-7 months and has been maintence free so far. I will need to change the media soon though. I have a 75 gal. tank with 7 fish and over 30 coral colonies mostly SPS. My system is thriving much better since the denitrifier kicked in. The Growth has been awesome the last 4 months.

04/03/2009, 10:34 AM	#4
ylee0710 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 26	thanks guys!