Nitrates - What to do about it

[TheReefGeek]

What skimmer(s) are you using, and what is your total water volume(s)

In conclusion, the only true way to get rid of nitrates is to add new water

I disagree. I am lazy, I don't keep up on my water changes like I should, and I have never had a nitrate problem (other than one catastrophy due to a bad batch of IO salt), and I keep medium to heavily stocked, well fed tanks.

I would start up a big-ass macro algae refugium, and blast it with a cheap 400w magnetic ballast & bulb from the electrical/lighting store. The macro algae will suck up your nitrates and phosphates.

Another solution to nitrates is a remote deep sand bed. Fill a couple old salt buckets with regular play sand 80% full, install 2 bulkheads above the sand level at each end, and pump water slowly over the top. There is a huge thread about RDSBs on reef central. This is so cheap, why not try it? You already have the buckets, I bet you have a powerhead, all you need to buy is cheap play sand, and some bulkheads. The theory goes that passing water over the top, water will slowly diffuse through the bucket, to anerobic zones where denitrifying bacteria are, and this will strip away your nitrates over time.