how can i reduce my nitrates quickly?
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burning2nd
Well-known member
proper water changes,
Herefishyfishy
Smart Bass
Depends on where they are coming from, could be from:
New tank setup and cycling
Established tank with a large fish bio load
Die off from some major event
Over feeding
Insufficient filtration
Each cause would require a different solution but yes, water changes never hurts with any nitrate build-up
mmkeeper
Well-known member
Tell us more about your problem and your system. What are your water parameters?
OldFishMan
Well-known member
Hello;
If you have nitrates you have waste somewhere being broken down by your biological filters. Since the bacteria is everywhere in your tank and some nutrient input is needed a solution is needed.
Now, where is the waste ?
Water changes are only a temporary solution. Find out where the waste is and remove it -- may be on your substrate, rock, or in your sump, etc.
This is the main reason I use filters in my tanks --- I use polyester fill to trap small waste in the filter where I can replace the fill and remove the waste once a week. I do not want it blown around inside my tank to collect on my live rock and substrate.
A nitrate sink like a sump with algae on a reverse light schedule is a great permanent help and trapping waste where you can easily remove it is another solution.
You can also increase your skimmer output to a wetter mix for more waste removal.
Enjoy!
If you have nitrates you have waste somewhere being broken down by your biological filters. Since the bacteria is everywhere in your tank and some nutrient input is needed a solution is needed.
Now, where is the waste ?
Water changes are only a temporary solution. Find out where the waste is and remove it -- may be on your substrate, rock, or in your sump, etc.
This is the main reason I use filters in my tanks --- I use polyester fill to trap small waste in the filter where I can replace the fill and remove the waste once a week. I do not want it blown around inside my tank to collect on my live rock and substrate.
A nitrate sink like a sump with algae on a reverse light schedule is a great permanent help and trapping waste where you can easily remove it is another solution.
You can also increase your skimmer output to a wetter mix for more waste removal.
Enjoy!
burning2nd
Well-known member
stop overfeeding. stop doseing unless you test for it..
and check for dead melting things... I dont use any filters...
anything that will catch or block detritus will cause an increse in no3 and ph4
i think cleaning your filters once a week is a waste of time.... look at how long it takes a single small fish down....(24-48hrs)
so my thought it detritus being almost microscopic sometimes.... IMO will brake down in less then 24hr's you might see it building up... but i think the rate at which it catchs to desovles..
your best bet will be dark skinmate and an export of some sort
and check for dead melting things... I dont use any filters...
anything that will catch or block detritus will cause an increse in no3 and ph4
i think cleaning your filters once a week is a waste of time.... look at how long it takes a single small fish down....(24-48hrs)
so my thought it detritus being almost microscopic sometimes.... IMO will brake down in less then 24hr's you might see it building up... but i think the rate at which it catchs to desovles..
your best bet will be dark skinmate and an export of some sort
OldFishMan
Well-known member
Hello;
As you can see there are many schools of thought here. To some nitrates are a problem. I may have to buy some soon.
I have 0 nitrates when tested and I grow algae --- a lot of it. I use an underground filter on the left side of my tank and feed my fish a lot during the day. My tank has over 50 hermits and more snails. I use Flourish to feed my algae and change 2-gallons of water a week when I change my filter floss in my filter.
Reason --- all the different kinds of algae I grow uses all the nitrates and phosphates.
Why I stopped limiting nutrients --- I looked at all my live rock and could see all the different kinds of algae that never really had enough nutrients to grow out and thought if I feed the algae and get it to grow it would consume or be a sink for my phosphate and nitrate. I stopped using RO and started feeding the algae. I then ordered 50-snails and a very large Turbo snail for hair algae. My nitrates and phosphates went to zero and my rocks and have a nice green petina --- the green on pinks and reds makes different shades of blue --- very nice.
I do not recommend anything I do --- I am just saying there are many ways to lower nitrates.
Enjoy!
As you can see there are many schools of thought here. To some nitrates are a problem. I may have to buy some soon.
I have 0 nitrates when tested and I grow algae --- a lot of it. I use an underground filter on the left side of my tank and feed my fish a lot during the day. My tank has over 50 hermits and more snails. I use Flourish to feed my algae and change 2-gallons of water a week when I change my filter floss in my filter.
Reason --- all the different kinds of algae I grow uses all the nitrates and phosphates.
Why I stopped limiting nutrients --- I looked at all my live rock and could see all the different kinds of algae that never really had enough nutrients to grow out and thought if I feed the algae and get it to grow it would consume or be a sink for my phosphate and nitrate. I stopped using RO and started feeding the algae. I then ordered 50-snails and a very large Turbo snail for hair algae. My nitrates and phosphates went to zero and my rocks and have a nice green petina --- the green on pinks and reds makes different shades of blue --- very nice.
I do not recommend anything I do --- I am just saying there are many ways to lower nitrates.
Enjoy!
mike is dead on here
what is it from? what stage is your tank in? what size is your tank? what is the livestock? a new set up or one that has not been takin care of. we need more details about your system than you provided to make a honest conclusion.
here I am going out on a limb here and most would disagree but I am a firm believer in this stuff. hagan makes this stuff called cycle. I use it in every setup i have ever done. fresh or salt. since you cant over dose on it I alway tend to go over board with the stuff but works very well. i cycled 100 lbs of live rock from premium aquatics in a week. 1 week to fully cure the rock. ok ok enough with the product endorsement.
we need more information about your set up before we can help you out
what is it from? what stage is your tank in? what size is your tank? what is the livestock? a new set up or one that has not been takin care of. we need more details about your system than you provided to make a honest conclusion.
here I am going out on a limb here and most would disagree but I am a firm believer in this stuff. hagan makes this stuff called cycle. I use it in every setup i have ever done. fresh or salt. since you cant over dose on it I alway tend to go over board with the stuff but works very well. i cycled 100 lbs of live rock from premium aquatics in a week. 1 week to fully cure the rock. ok ok enough with the product endorsement.
we need more information about your set up before we can help you out
thanks for all the input guys, i think it was comming from the sand. I cleaned out the sand and made two 30% water changes with a 4 day period and it seems to have worked.
Other question is are my rocks supposed to be brown?? looks almost like brown algage? if my rocks are dirty, what do i use to clean rocks?
Other question is are my rocks supposed to be brown?? looks almost like brown algage? if my rocks are dirty, what do i use to clean rocks?
