nitrate high

[zemuro114]

What is the best way to lower nitrate.. i know water changes, but tap water is a crappy.. and i read that changing high nitrate water with crappy tap water doesnt do anything.... so what else is there?

 

[viper_930]

Setting up a fuge for macro algea, R/O water, and/or making a DSB or plenum is all I can think of off the top of my head right now.

 

[condork12]

if you donot have a skimmer already i would get one.:yes:

 

[zemuro114]

viper.. can u explain what u said in english i'm a little new to the whole situation.. lol thanks i've never had high nitrate

 

[viper_930]

A fuge (short for refugium) is a plumed part attached to the main tank that will hold macro algea (plants). Then the macro algea absorbs all the nitrates as they grow.
R/O is reverse osmosis. You can buy your own R/O unit to filter tap water to clean it and use if for your tank, or your LFS probably sells premade water for like $1 a gallon.
Then a DSB is a deep sand bed. Not too familiar with it, but I think it helps a lot to reduce the nitrates.
I use the plenum system. It has an empty space of water with no current, and all the nitrates goes down there and stays there.
You can do a search for refugium, macro algea, DSB, and plenum for more info.

 

[zemuro114]

thank u