nitrates

[jeff fenn]

hey guys

My nitrates are about 10 on my test sheet. What is the best way to get these down. This is on my 55 gallon tank and I am running it with 5 gallons of biological material, that is bio balls and bio bail. Should I take out some of this material. I know that I should do a water change but i am looking for a more perminent and reliable fix.

Thanks guys

Jeff

[Reefland]

Actually, 10ppm isn't too bad. If you want to try and get it lower, I would look at removing the bio media. Reason being is they basically make a trap to catch waste which then is not processed. Cleaning them (bio balls) will remove the waste but then it will probably kill the bacteria that has grown on them; therefore being counter-productive. This is the reason a lot of people simply don't use any type of bio media.

[Bughead]

I'm one of the people who finally took out the bioballs and went to a DSB. In a nutshell, the nitrates in my previous 100 gal FOWLR ran as high as 80, never below 50. Finally I removed all the balls and increased the sand bed to 4"-6". It took awhile to bring the nitrates down. In my now 180 gal I skipped the "bio-media" altogether, have a 6" sand bed and 200 lbs LR and lots of big poopy fish. Nitrates are never above 10ppm. In my reef tank, 55 gal, same set-up nitrates are never above 5. IMO deep sand bed is the answer.

[ChrisPrusha]

Excellent advice given above. In addition to (slowly) removing the biomedia and considering a DSB (not CC, BTW!), please continue to do regular water changes. I apologize if I sound like I'm preaching, but I believe regular water changes are a very important part of aquarium maintenance.

JMO!

Chris

[afishybusiness]

Please excuse my ignorance if this member's setup is common knowledge to everyone, but shouldn't we find out what kind of equipment he is dealing with before telling him to remove his bio media? In a reef tank... no, you wouldn't want bio media. In a fish only tank with no live rock or deep sand bed... you deffinitely would not want to remove your bio media. Deffinitely go with some live rock and a deep sand bed if 10 ppm is bothering you. Otherwise... just keep doing whatever it is you are doing. Assuming your other parameters are in check, sounds to me like you have things under control!

[ChrisPrusha]

In a fish only tank with no live rock or deep sand bed... you deffinitely would not want to remove your bio media.

That's very true. Jeff...do you have live sand and/or live rock in your tank at this time? Do you have a skimmer? If you're looking for a permanent and reliable fix, I think the above is the way to go...but you don't want a disaster in your tank on your way to this fix!

Chris