best method for nitrate removal or reduction?

[ahmedess]

I am setting up my new tank and i would like to know from your experience, which is the best and easiest way to remove nitrates from the water?

- DSB
- growing algae in refugium
- Denitrator
- Other???

[Saltcity]

Water changes!!

[spamreefnew]

LOTS of water changes i mean LOTS! there is a chart online somewhere that explains just how many w/cs you need to do to reduce nitrates,,its a insane amount imo,,,,so i use vodka dosing

[MazdaSPD3]

Try some "AZ-NO3," I'm on day 3 and the test shows a noticably reduction. Keep the tank well oxygenated and have a skimmer running.

[qfrisco]

I can't say it's the most effective way because I haven't tried other methods, but macroalgae (chaeto) in the refugium has successfully kept my nitrates at 0 in my 90g. Just make sure you give it enough light.

[MazdaSPD3]

+1 on macroalgae also.

[ahmedess]

will growing macroalgae in refugium cause some to spread in the display tank?

[qfrisco]

Originally posted by ahmedess
will growing macroalgae in refugium cause some to spread in the display tank?

It shouldn't, unless fragments of the macro break off and make their way to your display. The nice thing about chaeto (as opposed to other macro like the various types of caulerpa) is it pretty much just floats in the water and doesn't attach to your rocks. So even if some make it to your display, and it grows, it'll grow into one nice clump that should be easy enough to move back to your refugium.

[wizzbane15]

I use AZ-No3 too. It has worked well for me. Also, unless you are on the very experienced end of the spectrum, I would not mess with a denitrator. They rely on principals that are tricky to master and can have dire consequences if not managed correctly.

Your other ideas are good components to an overall nitrate fighting plan.

[Sisterlimonpot]

Originally posted by ahmedess
will growing macroalgae in refugium cause some to spread in the display tank?

Chaeto is one of the macro algae’s that don't go sexual so you won't have to worry about it out breaking into your display tank.


To answer your original question: schedule water changes, microalgae and good husbandry (meaning tank maintenance, not overfeeding, change filters/socks regularly etc) is a good way to keep N03 down.

and once you have a handle on everything and nitrates are still a problem you can explore more advanced methods of nitrate remover.

[thegrun]

+1 on the water changes and Cheato. I had problems keeping my nitrate level down much below 5 PPM until I added a refugium with Cheato and it rarely rises above 0 now.

[wooden_reefer]

Originally posted by ahmedess
I am setting up my new tank and i would like to know from your experience, which is the best and easiest way to remove nitrates from the water?

- DSB
- growing algae in refugium
- Denitrator
- Other???

I believe frequently many tanks will have haphazardly occuring pockets of less oxygenation where denitrification can take place.

Denitrification does not need very high degree of deoxygenation.

[MazdaSPD3]

I was reading the other day that 100lb of LR can only effectively remove 4-5ppm of nitrate a day. In most cases, if you have a tank big enough for 100lb of LR, you will most likely be stocking and feeding so much that, that in itself will raise nitrates more so than the LR can remove.

But a DSB, lots of LR, Macro, Skimming and Vodka/Sugar dosing can help lower nitrates. To a lesser degree I read that clams can also lower nitrate indirectly.

[wooden_reefer]

Originally posted by MazdaSPD3
I was reading the other day that 100lb of LR can only effectively remove 4-5ppm of nitrate a day. In most cases, if you have a tank big enough for 100lb of LR, you will most likely be stocking and feeding so much that, that in itself will raise nitrates more so than the LR can remove.

But a DSB, lots of LR, Macro, Skimming and Vodka/Sugar dosing can help lower nitrates. To a lesser degree I read that clams can also lower nitrate indirectly.

Rigorously ppm is a concentration not an amount, so it depends on how much water the 100 pounds of live rock is supporting.

I have doubt that live rock is this efficient in denitrification, even for 30 gals of water.

[Roy G. Biv]

What I have..

Lots of live rock.
Large refugium with chaeto.
Remote deep sand bed.

I routinely don't do many water changes. Nitrates 0-5 always.