Nitrate

[bergshawn]

My Nitrate level has been at 40ppm since about 2 week after I initially setup my tank. My tank has been setup for approx. 2 months now and all my levels have been at 0 for some time now except for my Nitrate level. I know that 40ppm is not deadly but I would be much happier with a Nitrate level of 0ppm . I have been waiting and waiting for it to drop but it doesn't seem to fluctuate much at all. Was thinking about getting an HOT Refugium or In-Tank Refugium to put some macroalgae in to help dicipate the Nitrates, but would rather not do this if it isn't 100% necessary. What do you guys suggest?

 

[thomas712]

Nitrates will build up over time. They will not fall like the ammonia, and nitrites. You will have to have a means of exporting them from the aquarium..ie water changes, Deep sand bed, denitrator coil, fuge with a DSB, maco algae....
I have done the maco algae in the tank before but never again, I would rather it be in a fuge where I can more easly get to it and not have it take over my liverock. The fuge with macor sounds like a good idea to me. also a shallow sandbed with the proper size grain sand can also help.
Thomas

 

[bergshawn]

Will the macro-algae in the HOT refugium ever transfer into the tank? I do not want to put this in and have it lower my nitrates, but then be chasing algae out of my tank full-time, lol. All of the HOT refugiums I've seen are about $90 plus about $60 for a lighting. Don't want to spend the $150 unless I absolutely have to. Would like to try other ways of getting the trates down first.

 

[nm reef]

First I'd be curious about the brand of nitrate test you are using....second I'd wonder if you have had a trusted LFS test your nitrates and compare your results with theirs. Reason being I've used tests that were not accurate...and nitrates was one of them. I currently use saliferts and have much more faith in the accuracy of the results.
As for HOT or in-display refugiums. The seem rather small to be to be very effective......for the money you'd spend on one you could develope one of your own along the lines of a sump....research on line for plans there are tons of places on-line with excellant information on developing a DIY refugium. My refugium system lowered my 10-20ppm nitrates to 0 within a few months and they've never returned.
Other than a stable/mature refugium with macros & DSB the most effective methods of nitrate control would be regular water changes and removal of the source(over feeding and maintain a low bio-load)...best of luck getting yours lower.

 

[bergshawn]

It's a Jungle Test kit.. I will bring water to LFS and test and see what they come up with.

 

[beaslbob]

Originally posted by bergshawn
Will the macro-algae in the HOT refugium ever transfer into the tank? I do not want to put this in and have it lower my nitrates, but then be chasing algae out of my tank full-time, lol. All of the HOT refugiums I've seen are about $90 plus about $60 for a lighting. Don't want to spend the $150 unless I absolutely have to. Would like to try other ways of getting the trates down first.
you could culture the macro algae in some inexpensive container. My 20g macro algae went to 0.0 nitrAtes on about 3 weeks. I then transfer a handful or so to my display tank. Trates in the 55g as around 40 PPM or so and do seem to be falling. And the yellow tang really enjoys the presence of live food (macro algae). I am also cultureing turtle grass which the tang ignores. I hope to get that established as it is a true marine plant.

 

[bergshawn]

The macro-algae won't spread like crazy and become uncontrollable in your display tank? I don't have a tang that would eat it. The clowns and damsels might peck at it if they're hungry, but I'm afraid it would start spreading like crazy and that would be worse than my 40ppm nitrate problem, lol.
It has been suggested on another board that I stop sing the Ehfisubstrat in my Eheim as that nitrates are probably building up in there. They said since I have a quality skimmer (details in my signature) and as much LR and LS as I do that I shouldn't need the Eheim, but that I could just run it without media to keep the same water-flow.

 

[beaslbob]

Originally posted by bergshawn
The macro-algae won't spread like crazy and become uncontrollable in your display tank? I don't have a tang that would eat it. The clowns and damsels might peck at it if they're hungry, but I'm afraid it would start spreading like crazy and that would be worse than my 40ppm nitrate problem, lol.
I understand you concerns. look at this page www.wetwebmedia.com/greenalg.htm . It containes more than I want to type here. Actually it is more than my tang eating the algae. My crabs also like it. Even without the eating, the macro algae would grow until it ran out of nutrients and then slow down or stop the growth. The only question is how much nitrates are being generated to support what mass of algae. If you prefer not having the green plant like algae in the display area, then a refugium makes total sense. I am a "planted" tank freek but that is just my opinion.
It has been suggested on another board that I stop sing the Ehfisubstrat in my Eheim as that nitrates are probably building up in there. They said since I have a quality skimmer (details in my signature) and as much LR and LS as I do that I shouldn't need the Eheim, but that I could just run it without media to keep the same water-flow.
Your nitrates are the end result of the ammonia-nitrIte-NitrAte cycle. With or without the canister filter, you would still have nitrAtes and probably at the exact same level. 40PPP is extremely normal and no danger to fish.

 

[bergshawn]

Thanks for the link, I'll check it out. I know it is no danger to my fish, but I am more worried about the shrimp and anemone. Even above that, I am just striving for as good of water quality as I can possibly ahieve. If what you are saying is true, then pretty much I can put some of this algae in the tank and it will not spread rapidly and get to a point where it is uncontrollable, is this correct? I am going to test with another test kit also as I have heard that Jungle test kits do not have good reviews.
Thanks again!

 

[beaslbob]

Originally posted by bergshawn
Thanks for the link, I'll check it out. I know it is no danger to my fish, but I am more worried about the shrimp and anemone. Even above that, I am just striving for as good of water quality as I can possibly ahieve. If what you are saying is true, then pretty much I can put some of this algae in the tank and it will not spread rapidly and get to a point where it is uncontrollable, is this correct? I am going to test with another test kit also as I have heard that Jungle test kits do not have good reviews.
Thanks again!
Well i guess it depends on what you mean by uncontrollable. I personnally would rather take out a handfull or two of macro algae a week then have to scrape micro algae off the glass. I have heard that anemones do require low nitrAte levels. I also have nitrAtes ar 40 ppm and my anemone is still alive after 2 months. But he is smaller LOL.

 

[bergshawn]

My anenome is actually doing very well. It now moves all over the one side of the tank and is almost always fully extended and opened up, whereas when I first got him had a small jump in ammonia (was a little high at about .25) and he would shrivel up to nothing quite often. I definitely notice a big improvement now that my water quality is better. If I get rid of the nitrates I would hope I would see even more progress. Do the anemones grow and get bigger? Mine is a pretty decent size already.