What method for reducing nitrates/phosphates do you use?

[Myka]

In my own tank I just use light stocking and good maintenance. I don't use GFO or carbon dosing. Nitrate is less than 0.25 ppm and phosphate is 0.003-0.009 ppm.

One of my clients' 230-gallon tanks had 750 ppm nitrate and 2.5 ppm phosphate when I started maintaining it. Using a small recirculating biopellet reactor with only 500 mL biopellets the nitrate is down to 20 ppm and phosphate is down to 0.3 ppm. Biopellets can certainly mop up a good mess!

[Animal-Chin]

750? Could you see the fish through the algae?

[rsisvixen]

I use a combination of macro algae (red bubble kelp),PÛRA Complete and NOPOx from redsea.

I feed frozen twice a day and have 12 fish in the tank currently

Nitrates are at such low lvls that its undetectable by my test kits and phosphates are in the low range 0.2ish

[Animal-Chin]

Originally Posted by rsisvixen

I use a combination of macro algae (red bubble kelp),PÛRA Complete and NOPOx from redsea.

I feed frozen twice a day and have 12 fish in the tank currently

Nitrates are at such low lvls that its undetectable by my test kits and phosphates are in the low range 0.2ish

So you like the NOPOx? Works well, no issues?

[rsisvixen]

Originally Posted by Animal-Chin

So you like the NOPOx? Works well, no issues?

I like it, easy to dose, they have a very nice measuring cup that comes with it. Its a mix of bacteria strains that eat nitrates and phosphates and its not a very quick fix, takes about a month of daily dosing to notice a significant impact.

The reason I got it was I had a small cyno issue crop up due to all the power outs and increased bioload, the NOPOx has done a fantastic job of getting rid of it.

[Myka]

Originally Posted by Animal-Chin

750? Could you see the fish through the algae?

You mean could I see through the green hair algae, cyano bacteria, and dinoflagellates? You should have seen the sludge in the sand!

[whatcaneyedo]

225gal display with 100gal sump. I run a fresh cup of GFO each month in a BRS reverse flow reactor for phosphate. My PM Bullet 3 with an Iwaki 70 pump is rated for 400gal by the manufacturer and is perfectly capable at keeping Nitrate undetectable even with heavy feeding. Unfortunately though I do have to run a filter sock (for micro bubbles) on the outflow, it takes up a lot of space, makes a lot of noise and that pump draws a lot of electricity relative to modern pin wheel skimmers with similar ratings.

[soapy]

Originally Posted by kien

You should start a poll. We LOVE polls.

Can we have a poll to see if we really do LOVE polls? Actually nevermind every thread should really have a poll.

btw: skimmer, biopellets, macro fuge. I'm not convinced the macros do anything but I enjoy growing them.

[Reefer Rob]

I have to ask. Is anything suffering with your nutrient levels?

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[somafish]

Originally Posted by Reefer Rob

I have to ask. Is anything suffering with your nutrient levels?

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Have to agree. I understand being proactive with husbandry, but I imagine all these bio pellet/GFO reactors, zeovit regimen must be really expensive and time consuming. I get by on 2 water changes a year(yes year),dosing vinegar and a decent skimmer and just enjoy my tank. Mind you I have lps/softy tanks mostly, but what sps corals i have had over the years have done well for me