nitrate question

None of the products have ever really worked for me. Try 50% water changes weekly or bi-weekly until you get the results you want.

My understanding is the only things that can reduce nitrates are; a DSB (Deep Sand Bed), an algae scrubber or weekly water changes.

i have the same problem with my nitrae 2 man. mine is at like 80 ppm my **** is mad high i need 2 do a water chang with Ro water but my LFS still does not have it yea.:thud: :thud: :thud: :thud: :thud: :thud:

water changes... do you stir up your sand bed?.. that ushually realeases nitrates

Couple of things:

1. The filter floss you mentioned above ... well, it can actually turn into a nitrate factory if not kept clean. I have some in mine and I make it a point to clean it out every other day or so otherwise it gets brown and gunky, which leads to nitrates shooting up.

2. Bioballs ... same as above, if left to become gunky, they turn into nitrate factories as well. IMHO you'd be better off replacing the bioballs with LR rubble. LR works much better for mechanical filtration than the balls.

3. Do you have any room to add some macro algar like Chaetomorpha? If so, that will REALLY help in reducing your nitrates as they eat up the nitrates.

Cheers!
Yash

brent6969 said:

i have 14 pounds live rock and about a 1 inch deep sand bed. Also i have an aquaclear 20 filter which i run carbon and those other little rock thingys i think that are for biological or chemical filtration.

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add a skimmer or replave your carbon often.
what size tank is this on?
i would also like to know if you are using RO and your bioload.