[bongobrian]

Does anyone know if nitrate levels interfere with the calcification of corals/coraline? how does everyone control their nitrate levels? does anyone have a tank w/o a refugium that has low nitrate levels? know of any good articles out there? muchos gracias.

[naser]

just a big skimmer usually works. i have undetecable nitrates without a refuguim.

[RobG]

My nitrates are undetectable and I have no sump or refug. I have a DSB and a mediocre skimmer (Berlin Turbo HOB)...

[bongobrian]

Do you guys have fish in these tanks? how often do you feed and what do you feed? how does your tank export nitrates?

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

In my tank, nitrate levels are primarily kept down with macroalgae growth, despite also having a deep sand bed and a big skimmer. Without the macro growth, nitrates are managed by the sand bed. Without the sand bed or macroalgae, the skimmer did not keep them at low levels.

[bongobrian]

does anyone use any kind of denitrate product or nitrate sponge? do they work? any opinions or recommendations?

[reef120]

Use either a strong skimmer or if you are not using a very strong skimmer then a refuguim would defenity help along with your monthly water changes.

[naser]

i have 7 fish fed twice a day.

[mrok12]

Have a leng mud system (before I knew it is 70% beech sand) and a ton of macroalgea growing in it. Turbulent water for gas exchange and a 5-6 inch sand bed (southdown) and premium cured live rock about 70 # in our 65 gallon. I do a 5 % h20 change every 7-10days and replace evaporated water with kalk I also drip Kalk slowly 24-7. All water is RODI. Nitates have been undetectable since the fourth day the tank was up.

MROK12

[reefhead]

Dr. Shimek style

[eses]

I've used the Kent brand nitrate "sponge" comes in chip form, looks like gravel basically. Takes about 5-6 weeks for it to start to work, and it took my nitrates down a bit, but not much.

Also built a "denitrafacation chamber", they are sold in petwarehouse as "Nitragone" for $50-60. It is just about 50' of black airline tubing coiled into a container, you run a siphon of water through it, and denitrafying bacteria grow in the chamber as the slow-flowing water drains through it.

When I put it on I had a constant 20 ppm, after about 4 weeks my nitrates dropped to 10 ppm where they stay pretty constant as my tank is either slightly over-loaded, or my cheap skimmer just doesn't work well enough.

A good skimmer is the #1 answer I think though.

[newreefman1]

Because of my anemone, my tank has always been highly fed. Especially with 4 fish and an anemone in an 18 tall but I counter this with my refugium and a large crop of caulerpa in proportion to the tank size.

Does a heck of a job. I keep it lit 24x7


http://members.home.net/jasonco6

[David]

I know they are not popular around here but I am a plenum guy. Works for me. That and a ton of macroalgae. No detectable nitrate.

[bongobrian]

Thanks guys! now I have some follow-up questions.

eses~ do you use your nitragone in a sump? or is there a way to hook it up without a sump? I think this may be a possibility for my tank, but I don't currently have a sump.

mrok12~ is this "mud system" you have in a sump? or is it one of those hang-on style refugiums? I've been considering purchasing a hang on style refugium by ecosystems called the "ecosystem40" I know it's a bit undersized for my tank, but I think it would work well to bring my levels down. Does anyone have any experience with this product? any opinions out there?

I don't think my skimmer is a problem. I have a cpr bakpak2 on a 46 gal tank. It's supposed to be a sweet skimmer. It seems like it does a pretty decent job.. I'm cleaning the skimmate daily of nasty, dark protein.

My problem isn't THAT serious, my nitrates are at 20ppm and phosphates at 0.2ppm, but you know how us aquarists are... we're not happy until everything is absolutely perfect. I'm just trying to find a way to hammer out these few details. Thanks again for your help guys!

[scubadude]

IMO the best way to control nitrates is to never let them get out of hand (over 5ppm) and that is directly relative to how u feed the tank....this can be very tricky when you are trying to establish a tank...its like a catch 22 cuz you need to feed good but cant overfeed....there is a VERY fine line there and its hard to stay right on it! Im going Ecosystem all the way...and choose animals that are compatible w/an ecosystem. Herbivores are great...Just got a Lawnmower blenny for my tank cuz i was starting to get some hair algae (big patches) thats in check now!

[bongobrian]

David~ I have to ask a stupid question. What is a plenum? I know I've heard that term before and I've probably seen one, but I must have forgotten what it is.

[eses]

brian - you can, it is much harder. with a sump, all you do is start the siphon, it drains from your tank into your sump and you have no worries or extra equipment. You can't even see where my line comes into the tank.

Without a sump you'll need to hook it up to a small pump, either have it draw vacuum through the tube, like hooking it up to the air-inlet of a powerhead, or actually getting a very small powerhead to pump through it. I wouldn't use one if that were your case though, wait until you setup a sump (if you do.)

If you have not already, I would purchase a good skimmer, feed less, and do more frequent water changes.

I also forgot to mention that I have also used Kent's nitrate resin, it is a deionizing resin and it does work pretty well also.

[naser]

the bakpak isnt a good skimmer. i had the same thing on my old 55 gallon. i had the highest nirtates ever. so i replaced it.

[bongobrian]

Any tips for me to start looking into setting up a sump? I havn't ever set one up so I don't know much about them. I have a 46 gal glass tank. How do I cut the hole? can you do it when the tank is already set up? or should I wait and get everything out of the tank? I might be moving soon, so it should be a perfect time to do something like this. What size sump should I consider? I don't know how to set up the plumbing either. I'm starting to think a sump is the best answer to my problems.

[bongobrian]

What skimmer do you recommend naser? does anyone out there have aol instant messanger?