Another nitrate question

Sgt Jonny Cat · 05/08/2014, 10:58 PM

Okay, so I've learned from this forum that eventually, my live rock will mature enough to help keep nitrates in check. Does anyone know about how long until the beneficial bacteria establishes itself to help with nitrates? My tank has been up since February.

55 gallon FOWLR tank. Live rock live sand Eshopps PSK 100H Skimmer, and canister filter with Carbon and Sea Chem only. I have 2 clowns, 1 royal gramma and 1 very small blue tang. (I eventually want to grow corals)

thegrun · 05/09/2014, 06:54 AM

Your tank may never develop a strong enough anaerobic bacteria population large enough to lower your nitrates, most do not. The more common methods of reducing nitrates is growing macro algae in a refugium to act as a nitrate export system or some type of carbon dosing (vodka, vinegar, bio-pellets...) to increase the denitrifying bacteria.

05/08/2014, 10:58 PM	#1
Sgt Jonny Cat Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: North of Boston Ma. Posts: 685	Another nitrate question Okay, so I've learned from this forum that eventually, my live rock will mature enough to help keep nitrates in check. Does anyone know about how long until the beneficial bacteria establishes itself to help with nitrates? My tank has been up since February. 55 gallon FOWLR tank. Live rock live sand Eshopps PSK 100H Skimmer, and canister filter with Carbon and Sea Chem only. I have 2 clowns, 1 royal gramma and 1 very small blue tang. (I eventually want to grow corals)

05/09/2014, 06:54 AM	#2
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	Your tank may never develop a strong enough anaerobic bacteria population large enough to lower your nitrates, most do not. The more common methods of reducing nitrates is growing macro algae in a refugium to act as a nitrate export system or some type of carbon dosing (vodka, vinegar, bio-pellets...) to increase the denitrifying bacteria.