Nitrate reduction?

[fish4rudy]

I live on the Ocean and a few months ago after one of the many Caribbean stores washed past Florida, a slew of mangrove sticks began to wash up. I chose 6 nice looking ones rinsed them and “planted” these mangrove sticks in my sand bed. They began to grow little shoots, or leaves out of the top of their stocks. They were doing well. Then I learned that the root system on these things could actually take hold and break even a glass tank. Since I did not want to see this first hand, I placed them in a cup with some sand and put that into my make shift fuge. The unfortunate part is I still the same nitrate issue that I had before. If you go the mangrove way just keep this in mind. I would be interested in learning more about this sugar dosing as a means of lowering nitrates.

 

[b-diddles]

Originally Posted by LedZep fan
http:///forum/post/2856449
A method that I have found really useful is to dose sugar. Thats right, pure sugar. Let me explain, I have had a 120 gallon tank for about 5 years. Everything was going good, but when I wanted to try to add anything new to the tank, it would not make it past a week. When I tested the water, the problem was nitrates, they were so high, I couldn't match them to the chart you get with the test kit...I began doing water changes in attempt to rid my tank of the excess nitrates. After about a month of doing water changes, I still found no change in the amount of nitrates. I then turned to the internet to find some solutions to my problem. One of them being dosing sugar. After about 2 weeks, I went from high nitrates, to no nitrates. All the fish are more active and the nuisance alage that once controlled my tank, was gone.
Thats what I would recommend other than trying water changes. I put about half a teaspoon into a cup with some tank water, stir it up so that the sugar dissolves, and add directly into the tank.
HTH
~LedZep fan
WOW! no nitrates, algae gone and fish more active what more could you want? You did about half a teaspoon for 120 gallons. So should I do about a fourth of a teaspoon for 55g? Are there any negatives to adding sugar?

 

[b-diddles]

I just wanted to thank all you guys for your help. I added some cheato, did a 20% water change, added some live bacteria, changed some filtration, and added some nitrate chemical reducter. Just tested my nitrates this morning, 0ppm!!!! Yes!! I saw a trend of it going from 20 to 40 to 60 to 80 to 70 to 60. 60 was just last week so I might have a temperary fix. Now in order to maintain that I will do some research. Thank you again for helping me lower it. It is apreciated!

 

[b-diddles]

I just wanted to thank all you guys for your help. I added some cheato, did a 20% water change, added some live bacteria, changed some filtration, and added some nitrate chemical reducter. Just tested my nitrates this morning, 0ppm!!!!

Yes!! I saw a trend of it going from 20 to 40 to 60 to 80 to 70 to 60. 60 was just last week so I might have a temperary fix. Now in order to maintain that I will do some research. Thank you again for helping me lower it. It is apreciated!

 

[mskylie7]

Ok you said you use sugar? How often did you use it? Once? Daily? Weekly? Has anyone else tried this?

I'm struggling with my nitrates and I got some tips that I'm going to try but I am curious about this....

 

[b-diddles]

I didn't use sugar. I was asking about the use of sugar. I have heard: milk, vodka, sugar and salt. I don't know if I want to put any of these in my tank unless I find some really good info. It does sound intriging though.

 

[locoyo386]

Originally Posted by LedZep fan
http:///forum/post/2856449
A method that I have found really useful is to dose sugar. Thats right, pure sugar. Let me explain, I have had a 120 gallon tank for about 5 years. Everything was going good, but when I wanted to try to add anything new to the tank, it would not make it past a week. When I tested the water, the problem was nitrates, they were so high, I couldn't match them to the chart you get with the test kit...I began doing water changes in attempt to rid my tank of the excess nitrates. After about a month of doing water changes, I still found no change in the amount of nitrates. I then turned to the internet to find some solutions to my problem. One of them being dosing sugar. After about 2 weeks, I went from high nitrates, to no nitrates. All the fish are more active and the nuisance alage that once controlled my tank, was gone.
Thats what I would recommend other than trying water changes. I put about half a teaspoon into a cup with some tank water, stir it up so that the sugar dissolves, and add directly into the tank.
HTH
~LedZep fan
I wonder what florida joe has to say about this method of lowering NITRATES.

 

[slf125]

Do not doas sugar or vodka. Yes this will feed denitrifying bacteria but it will also feed all other bacteria strands including ones trying to infect your corals and fish, if one fish or coral is not at optimal health it would easily get infected. Better off going with algae scruber, macro algae etc.