ion exchange resins help iwth nitrates?

[king kole]

i read mardel pamphlet says ion exchange resins help remove nitrates. i'm fighting high levels and am doing water changes added more circulation and took out protein skimmer cleaned whole unit added prime to new water as directed still higher than should be 30-35 ppm do these resins help? can they be bought for saltwater tanks?

 

[dragonboy]

Hmmmm... I haven't heard of those resin's but I think if you want to lower the nitrates just don't feed too often. But there are many other ways to lower them in a biological way. Try macroalgae in your sump and grow a lot of sponges as well it helps putting them in the sump.

 

[king kole]

macroalgae in my sump? please explain more. won't it affect return pump? what kind or is there only one? thanks

 

[thomas712]

First thing you should do is to find out what exactly is causing these nitrates.
Or combination of things.
You have a wet/dry..so is it dirty bio balls if you are using them.?
Filter pads dirty?
Feeding habits?
Have you checked your water source for nitrates?
Enough natural filtration ie..live rock..sand..
I have used ion exchange resins before myself, problem is you need alot of it and then your locked into repeated purchases... I finally build a large 55 gallon fuge with DSB, Chaetomorphia algae and live rock, and it really helped out.
Thomas

 

[dragonboy]

You put dividers in the sump to keep it from getting it into your return pump and also you put a 20 watt lamp over it to let it grow. Do a search on forums they have plenty of pictures of showing you how its done and this is pretty much old stuff that people been doing for a long time.

 

[king kole]

thanks bio balls are 4mos old and not too bad filters along with skimmer cleaned and changed often water is tap but since we live on island
Pottasium chloride whole house system filters water is neccesary the s.b. is 4"130 lbs gulf and fiji rock. ill research algae for sump.thanks very much

the refugium is probably the right way to go isn't it. the odd thing is all the fish,inverts and lots of corals look fine. whats old to some is new to others. information is a the great leveler.

 

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by Thomas712
http:///forum/post/2542041
Have you checked your water source for nitrates?

Originally Posted by King Kole
http:///forum/post/2542109
Pottasium chloride whole house system filters water is neccesary
Have you checked yet or are you just assuming your tap doesn't have Nitrate?

 

[king kole]

Bang Guy
i used the API kit and the system takes every bad element out of the water. we have to have it because the water is bad here. it is not just a softener system it really cleans the water like a r/o would.

 

[viper_930]

So you did test it for nitrate and it came out to 0?

 

[king kole]

yes i used the API master reef kit and it tested o no3 o nh3 0 nitrites

 

[king kole]

did the resins work? there are four different applications which one did you use and for how long before results? thnx

 

[thomas712]

They were alright and had there uses to help polish and clean the water. I was using Boyd's chemi pure with resins and their carbon when I used my canister filter. I would only use it for up to 3 days. I really have not used it in a couple of years now. I just felt it was not the way to go, unless you had some real trouble going on and had to get control of it right away.
I have had more faith in the poly filter personally. It helps with several things at one time. Nitrates, Phospahtes, copper, and especially found the poly filter great to help pull out toxins from the red flatworms when they die.
Still looking for the cause of your nitrates is what is needed, then a control method to handle them.
Thomas

 

[king kole]

thanks to all for your help ill follow up on it. my other hobby is cooking and my wife is wanting an example of my expertise. its a hobby i dont think i should have become any good at lol ciao