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Unread 05/17/2013, 10:52 AM   #1
ahmer1781
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best way to lower nitrate?

I have freshly cycled tank, 90 gallon with 30 sump:

0 -- ammonia
0 -- nitrite
40 -- nitrate

what's the best way to get my nitrates down? i'm running the skimmer.


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Unread 05/17/2013, 10:58 AM   #2
PatW
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Easily the most reliable way to lower your nitrates is to do a couple of very large water changes.


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Unread 05/17/2013, 11:05 AM   #3
bnumair
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water changes are the most economical way and fast way. then u can have a bit more pricey equipment like denitrtors (sulfur, coil or biopellets)


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Water Quality: NO3 0,Phos 0,Cal 440,Alk 7.5,Mag 1300

"Reef Fast, You Crash, Reef Slow, You Pass" Mike's Reef 3:16

Current Tank Info: 350g DT,95g sump, 50g Frag tank, 4800gph return 4x Sea swirls. 6x AI Vega Color. 200# Pukani rock, dual recirculating skimmer, Biopellet, GFO Carbon rx's, Cal rx. Closed loop. 1.5hp chiller, genesis renew. Apex & RKE
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Unread 05/17/2013, 11:07 AM   #4
cvsailer
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What about dosing with vodka? Is this safe/reliable way to lower nitrates?


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Unread 05/17/2013, 11:19 AM   #5
postshawn
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I agree. I just had a high nitrate level. It actually killed a fish and a shrimp of mine because I wasn't monitoring things as closely as I should. I have a 29g and I did about a 8g water change with RODI water I get from my LFS and bam, nitrate levels went down to 10 from around 40. I did another 5g change a week later and now I'm about at 1. So just do a couple good water changes.


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Unread 05/17/2013, 11:24 AM   #6
ahmer1781
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Ill try a water change today, thanks very much folks!


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starting up a 90 gallon with a 30 gallon sump
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Unread 05/17/2013, 11:29 AM   #7
sporto0
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Quote:
Originally Posted by postshawn View Post
I agree. I just had a high nitrate level. It actually killed a fish and a shrimp of mine because I wasn't monitoring things as closely as I should. I have a 29g and I did about a 8g water change with RODI water I get from my LFS and bam, nitrate levels went down to 10 from around 40. I did another 5g change a week later and now I'm about at 1. So just do a couple good water changes.

40 ppm NO3 did not or will not kill anything, I would look elsewhere for the culprit. 10-50 ppm is an acceptable nitrate level for reefs, much, much higher levels for fish only. If you maintain a good water change routine & stop over feeding or over loading your system, nitrates will never be a problem.


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