Nitrate Reactors

[stefday]

Hi,

I seem to be having a problem with nitrate levels recently. I have a RED Sea Max 250.

The tank was runing at a constant 0-10 level but now seems to be runing at 20-50.

I have been doing 10-20% water changes weekly,have reduced feeding and improved my skimmer but the levels seem to be rising.

I was thinking of adding a nitrate reactor and wondered if anyone has had any experience with these?

Thanks for any advice.

 

[seffieuk]

Hi,

The tank was runing at a constant 0-10 level but now seems to be runing at 20-50.

Thats pretty normal

I have been doing 10-20% water changes weekly,have reduced feeding and improved my skimmer but the levels seem to be rising.

10% water change isn't really going to make much difference - try a 25% change weekly

I was thinking of adding a nitrate reactor and wondered if anyone has had any experience with these?

Would like to hear peoples views also, but I'm thinking at those levels its worth it

Thanks for any advice.

Seffie x

 

[Morri]

I have tried a nitrate reactor with little succsess also you run a risk of them souring and causing more problems

The best solution is to find whats causing the issue.

How much LR have you got?
How much flow ?
How heavily stocked are you what fish have you got in the tank?
have you recently rescaped or disturbed your sand?
have you got high phosphates?
have you lost and stock recently?
Do you use a macro algae to reduce nitrate and phosphates?
Are you runni8ng a skimmer is it working correctly?

Lots of questions but would help identfying the issue

 

[stefday]

Thanks.The answers to the questions are:


Approximatly 90lbs. Also running a Aqua 1 Aquis 2450 cannister filter uv filter.

1x 1200 lph pump 1x 2400 lph pump, a Koralia 2 and a Vortech MP40.

Fish = yellow tang, rabbitfish, yellow tail dwarf angel,fairy wrasse,peacock wrasse,royal gramma,blue cheek goby and 3 caribbean bass. Also have high number of soft and hard corals.

No, but a LFS toldme to do this with water changes.

Phosphate 0

Lost a fairy wrasse about two weeks ago. Jumped into back and was sucked into external filter.

Waiting for LFS to gt some in.

Running a Deltec MC500 skimmer which appears to be working well.

Would welcome any advice.


[b]Just noticed that there are some hulo hoop type media in the back of the tank. Should I remove this?

 

[Morri]

The Hula Hoops can create a Nitrate farm it may the source if you are going to remove this do it slowly so not to shock your system.

Did you manage to get the dead fish out of the system?

 

[stefday]

Thanks.

Just took the hula hoops out. The fish was in the external filter so managed to take it out and clean it.

Lets hope the nitrates settle down again.

 

[steelhealr]

Do you have a refugium? SH

 

[stefday]

No.

Wanted to add one but after talking to numerous professionals was unable to retro fit one.

 

[pmb_67]

No.

Wanted to add one but after talking to numerous professionals was unable to retro fit one.

I guess it's tricky to add one now the tank is set up. If you're prepared to (a) do a full strip down and (b) drill your tank, you can add the Tunze overflow that is designed to be fitted through the side wall of a tank. I have their over-the-back-wall model (the 1074), it works fine once you had an additional overflow pipe; with the in-wall one you shouldn't have any such problems. Kind of wish I'd gone that way myself now as the 1074 occasionally loses syphon when I forget to monitor it for a while

Did you solve your nitrate issues at all? I'm thinking of adding one and am trying to choose between a sulphur-based model, Aqua Medic's deniballs/denimar model and an alcohol-based model (Aquaripure or Deltec). Former is cheapest, but am worried about the sulphuric acid coming out of the filter - washing the outflow over calcium carbonate before returning to tank might solve the acid problem, but means high volume water changes to avoid sulphate build-up... Any filter that uses growing some sort of bug to trap the nitrate (e.g. alcohol-based reactor) simply locks the nitrate somewhere in the system, where it can be released any time the filter goes belly up for some reason.

Paul

 

[Sunny22]

I keep goldfish which are notorious waste produces. A few years back our tap water was registering nitrates, so between that and all the waste in the tank I couldn't change the water fast enough the keep the nitrates below 40! I bought a resin made by Fluval and it worked quite well. But the danger is when it is "used up" it will release the nitrates, so you have to still be vigilant about water parameters. It really is only good for a short term fix.

 

[stefday]

Hi,

I bought the Deltec NFP509(P)and I am in the process of setting it up so will let you know how I get on in a couple of weeks. Must say though that the customer care from DD Solutions has been first rate. Tony has sent me replies to e-mails both at the weekend and during the evening. would deffinately recommend them.

I have previously bought a protein skimmer from them and the quality is excellent.

Stef