FINALLY BEATING NITRATES! OMG!

[Clownreef]

WHAT A GREAT DAY!

Finally, after many a-battle with nitrates.. The algae scrubber wasn't doing It, bio pellets weren't doing it, feeding less wasn't doing it, DIY NoPox wasn't doing it, and fuge wasn't doing it...

Until. $10.00 VODKA came around.

A little info..

260 gal. total system. Below are the metrics. Today for the first time its at 37.0 (Hanna checker)

2025

Nitrate 75.0 +

Nitrate 51.1 on 2/2

Nitrate 66.7 on 2/5

Nitrate 50.2 on 2/10

Nitrate 48 on 2/13

Nitrate 48.2 on 2/16

Started 50 ml vodka 2/17

Nitrate 54.7 on 2/19

Nitrate 54.4 on 2/21

Nitrate 37 on 2/25!!!!!

The war isnt won but we are in there fight!!!

 

[seaschiz]

WHAT A GREAT DAY!

Finally, after many a-battle with nitrates.. The algae scrubber wasn't doing It, bio pellets weren't doing it, feeding less wasn't doing it, DIY NoPox wasn't doing it, and fuge wasn't doing it...

Until. $10.00 VODKA came around.

A little info..

260 gal. total system. Below are the metrics. Today for the first time its at 37.0 (Hanna checker)

2025

Nitrate 75.0 +

Nitrate 51.1 on 2/2

Nitrate 66.7 on 2/5

Nitrate 50.2 on 2/10

Nitrate 48 on 2/13

Nitrate 48.2 on 2/16

Started 50 ml vodka 2/17

Nitrate 54.7 on 2/19

Nitrate 54.4 on 2/21

Nitrate 37 on 2/25!!!!!

The war isnt won but we are in there fight!!!

I've been dosing vodka too! Tanks a 20G, I've been doing 1 ml every other day or when I remember - I'm trying my best! Nitrates started at 25 and I'm currently around 15 a month into it.

 

[Clownreef]

Congrats to you too! Per my last ICP last month, nitrates were at 125.

 

[dakoop]

One shot for the tank, one for me.

 

[Clownreef]

One shot for the tank, one for me

This vodka is pretty bad!

Phosphates are checking in at 1.7

I dont think I need to do anything there..

Thoughts?

 

[scotty333]

This vodka is pretty bad!

Phosphates are checking in at 1.7

I dont think I need to do anything there..

Thoughts?

Depends what your keeping

 

[bubbgee]

I've also finally got a handle on my nitrates.. oddly when I started dosing Aquaforest Life Source once a week. Maybe something in the bacterial colony in the mud? NoPox never really worked for me.

For phosphates I use Brightwell Phosphate-E into the roller mat. One dose halves my phosphates overnight.

Then 10-15% water change every week since I am able to manage it.

 

[KrisReef]

WHAT A GREAT DAY!

Finally, after many a-battle with nitrates.. The algae scrubber wasn't doing It, bio pellets weren't doing it, feeding less wasn't doing it, DIY NoPox wasn't doing it, and fuge wasn't doing it...

Until. $10.00 VODKA came around.

A little info..

260 gal. total system. Below are the metrics. Today for the first time its at 37.0 (Hanna checker)

2025

Nitrate 75.0 +

Nitrate 51.1 on 2/2

Nitrate 66.7 on 2/5

Nitrate 50.2 on 2/10

Nitrate 48 on 2/13

Nitrate 48.2 on 2/16

Started 50 ml vodka 2/17

Nitrate 54.7 on 2/19

Nitrate 54.4 on 2/21

Nitrate 37 on 2/25!!!!!

The war isnt won but we are in there fight!!!

Fight on!

 

[Lavey29]

This vodka is pretty bad!

Phosphates are checking in at 1.7

I dont think I need to do anything there..

Thoughts?

1.7 is ridiculously high for phosphate which also causes your high nitrates not to come down. You need weekly water changes and much less input to the tank and more export.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

This vodka is pretty bad!

Phosphates are checking in at 1.7

I dont think I need to do anything there..

Thoughts?

1.7 or .17? 1.7 is really really high for phosphates. I would start doing water changes or using a phosphate remover if they are that high

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Nitrate 37 on 2/25!!!!!

The war isnt won but we are in there fight!!!

IMO, it is close to done.

Randy’s Thoughts on Nutrient Target Ranges

Thoughts on Nutrient Target Ranges by Randy Holmes-Farley Almost nothing in the world of reef aquarium chemistry causes as much discussion as selecting and maintaining ranges for nitrate and phosphate. Some aquarists want low targets, some want...

www.reef2reef.com

4. What targets seem reasonable? Of course, that depends on all the other factors at play, such as types of corals, availability of ammonia, particulate foods, etc. However, for a mature mixed reef, this would be how I personally would run it:

• Let nitrate float between 5 ppm and 50 ppm. I’d use gentle export in this range, such as growing macroalgae.
• Above 50 ppm, I’d begin to focus more on reducing it, by organic carbon dosing, turf or macroalgae, etc.
• Below 5 ppm, I’d begin to dose ammonia or feed more. The target level might drop lower if dosing ammonia, just like the heavy in/heavy out scenario where nitrate may not be as needed.
• Let phosphate float between about 0.06 ppm and 0.3 ppm. This range is higher than I’ve recommended in the past. I’d use gentle export in this range, such as growing macroalgae.
• Above about 0.3 ppm, I’d begin to focus more on reducing it, by turf or macroalgae, or a binder such as GFO or lanthanum (has its own risks to tangs). If a binder: GO SLOW. Turf and macroalgae will typically be slow enough.
• Below 0.06 ppm, I’d begin to dose sodium phosphate or feed more to get the level up.

 

[Dom]

WHAT A GREAT DAY!

Finally, after many a-battle with nitrates.. The algae scrubber wasn't doing It, bio pellets weren't doing it, feeding less wasn't doing it, DIY NoPox wasn't doing it, and fuge wasn't doing it...

You didn't mention water changes. Water changes will help with elevated Nitrates.

But if you are going to dose, why waste Vodka?

Distilled white vinegar works very well too.

 

[bakbay]

My 90g's nitrate was 252 and 149 as of last week. I haven't tested this week (maybe tonight) but hoping I'll come down to double-digits. Carbon dosing (vinegar & vodka) didn't work for me after 5 weeks. I'm doing sulfur-based denitrator and confident that nitrate will come down -- the reactor's effluent is already 65. Nothing is dying and no signs of algae so I'm just taking it slow...

So "high nitrate" is all relative to me.. lol

 

[Lavey29]

My 90g's nitrate was 252 and 149 as of last week. I haven't tested this week (maybe tonight) but hoping I'll come down to double-digits. Carbon dosing (vinegar & vodka) didn't work for me after 5 weeks. I'm doing sulfur-based denitrator and confident that nitrate will come down -- the reactor's effluent is already 65. Nothing is dying and no signs of algae so I'm just taking it slow...

So "high nitrate" is all relative to me.. lol

Extremely high nitrates can cause fish death if left uncorrected but it generally takes awhile.

 

[bakbay]

IMO, it is close to done.

Randy’s Thoughts on Nutrient Target Ranges

Thoughts on Nutrient Target Ranges by Randy Holmes-Farley Almost nothing in the world of reef aquarium chemistry causes as much discussion as selecting and maintaining ranges for nitrate and phosphate. Some aquarists want low targets, some want...

www.reef2reef.com

4. What targets seem reasonable? Of course, that depends on all the other factors at play, such as types of corals, availability of ammonia, particulate foods, etc. However, for a mature mixed reef, this would be how I personally would run it:

• Let nitrate float between 5 ppm and 50 ppm. I’d use gentle export in this range, such as growing macroalgae.
• Above 50 ppm, I’d begin to focus more on reducing it, by organic carbon dosing, turf or macroalgae, etc.
• Below 5 ppm, I’d begin to dose ammonia or feed more. The target level might drop lower if dosing ammonia, just like the heavy in/heavy out scenario where nitrate may not be as needed.
• Let phosphate float between about 0.06 ppm and 0.3 ppm. This range is higher than I’ve recommended in the past. I’d use gentle export in this range, such as growing macroalgae.
• Above about 0.3 ppm, I’d begin to focus more on reducing it, by turf or macroalgae, or a binder such as GFO or lanthanum (has its own risks to tangs). If a binder: GO SLOW. Turf and macroalgae will typically be slow enough.
• Below 0.06 ppm, I’d begin to dose sodium phosphate or feed more to get the level up.

I love this last section, @Randy Holmes-Farley . Understand that ymmv depending on various tanks & organisms but having a good range that reefers can target is wonderful!

 

[bakbay]

Extremely high nitrates can cause fish death if left uncorrected but it generally takes awhile.

Agreed but I don't want to find out what that magic number is. My ammonia is zero though. I have 4 tangs, 4 clowns, and 5 damsels in this 90g frag tank and they have been fine the whole time. What I can tell you with high nitrates -- the anemones love it! Anyway, the tank has been neglected but will be corrected soon enough.

 

[bakbay]

This vodka is pretty bad!

Phosphates are checking in at 1.7

I dont think I need to do anything there..

Thoughts?

I bought the 1.75L of Costco vodka at $12 - pretty darn cheap. Mine was on a Versa pump doing 25ml/day on a 90g but that didn't work so I've switched to bio-denitrator and will likely switch back to vodka when Nitrate is back on track. Good luck with yours!

Like others have mentioned, I would double-check your Phosphate level -- typo at 1.7? Mine was 1.2 and I've reduced down to 0.5'ish using PhosphateRx.

 

[Clownreef]

I bought the 1.75L of Costco vodka at $12 - pretty darn cheap. Mine was on a Versa pump doing 25ml/day on a 90g but that didn't work so I've switched to bio-denitrator and will likely switch back to vodka when Nitrate is back on track. Good luck with yours!

Like others have mentioned, I would double-check your Phosphate level -- typo at 1.7? Mine was 1.2 and I've reduced down to 0.5'ish using PhosphateRx.

I strongly believe people dont dose the right amount. I was following a chart I saw here a few weeks ago and it said something to the extent of dosing 9.4 ml per day on week one.

That did ABSOLUTELY nothing. It wasn't until I was aggressive at 50 ml. That it began to lower.

Do the liquid phosphate removers work? I currently have phosban going in a reactor but I think its depleted.

 

[Clownreef]

You didn't mention water changes. Water changes will help with elevated Nitrates.

But if you are going to dose, why waste Vodka?

Distilled white vinegar works very well too.

I do (or attempting to restart Moonshiners method). I did weekly 50 gal. water changes for three weeks in order to lower nitrates..

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Do the liquid phosphate removers work? I currently have phosban going in a reactor but I think its depleted.

Yes, but so does GFO and going fast should be avoided. It causes more problems than it solves, IMO.

Lanthanum solutions also present a risk to tangs, for reasons that are not 100% clear.