removing nitrates

[drowningoceans]

Thanks for the tip ill have to check them out

 

[qfish]

Hi,

You might consider macroalgae, it's natures way of keeping all the bad stuff out of the water. Macros feed on ammonia, nitrites, phosphates and nitrates, it absorbs it from the system. As all "plants" do, they need to be trimmed/pruned back, and the extra growth removed (called harvesting). When you remove that over growth portion, you export the bad stuff it used to grow on, out of the system, keeping your water pristine. Either a fast unattached grower in a refugium, or opt for some other slow growing decorative type that you could add to the display.

It only costs about $10.00 a pint, and since it grows, you don't need to keep repurchasing it. The stuff is like a miracle for keeping the parameters perfect. If you're interested, check out GOLF COAST ECOSYSTEMS for the decorative type, I think this site sells the type that goes in a refugium. If you are going to be keeping corals, water quality is high priority.

Do you think you could keep macro in a separate small HOB? As a nitrate filter (treat it almost as a filter medium)?

 

[jay0705]

U could if u put a small light on it

 

[qfish]

True you'd have to figure that part out too.

 

[snakeblitz33]

An efficient protein skimmer would remove 80-90% of dissolved organic compounds in the water column. The other 10% or so could be handled by macroalgae easily. Don't forget water changes!