Nitrates and tank updates.

[treesprite]

Your tank is somewhat new. The older it gets, the more "stuff" that grows to help lower nitrates. Microscopic bacteria. Algae on rocks, sand etc Others please help or correct me if I'm wrong I'm new too. The older my tank gets the more my nitrates go down they are finally 0. I did it with mainly PATIENCE with aging, more lighting to get dark spots growing algae, water changes and adding a nice sized refugium. Until 6 months from now.....you must do 20% water changes frequently no slacking. There is no other POSSIBLE way to reduce until your tank is aged like a fine wine. Wish I could speed aging of wine or fish tanks I'd be rich. I'm not yelling the capital letters are for importantce the other suggestions are also great i wont repeat. +2 love this site

I have to disagree with this post. Nitrate is a natural product of the breakdown of waste in the aquarium, and as long as there are things living in the tank, there is going to be waste and therefore nitrate. The trick is to limit the amount of nutrients going into the tank, while also exporting nutrients and nitrate faster than nitrate can build up.  Why would anyone want algae growing all over the tank? Algae won't grow without the addition of/not enough export of nutrients,  and having it everywhere in the tank is a sign of inadequate tank management procedures. If you want to use algae to export nutrients & nitrate, you need to restrict it's growth to a refugium or algae scrubber, and regularly remove portions of it as it grows to make room for more new growth. Other methods of nutrient & nitrate export are protein skimmers, DSBs or denitrators (both serve to house anaerobic bacteria which it the type of bacteria that takes up nitrate), and regular water changes. Addition of bacteria to the tank on a regular dosing schedule can help prevent buildup of nitrate, and addition of a carbon source on a regular dosing schedule will feed the bacteria that is needed to take up nitrate.

[gmerek2]

So a tank fully lighted won't have more nutrient export than a Half lit tank? Algae grows in healthy tanks right? I use tangs crabs and snails to keep it under control and in refugium grows freely. Older tanks don't have more nutrient export? Just trying to learn. I understand that food is creating more free nutrients to break down into nitrate eventually but that was already stated.

[smallreef]

Lighting doesnt have much to do with nutrient export, although cutting lighting while cutting nutrients can cut down on algae, as they both play a part in growth...

older tanks do have better export in my opinion as the bacteria is colonized over many more surfaces than a new tank, but if done correctly or with the help of things like GFO you can bring nitrates down in any system..

but on newer tanks, even though cycled fully, you have to watch as nitrates can easily creep up due to feedings and leaving uneaten food in.

[gmerek2]

Thanks it probably helped me minimally i saw a bunch more coraline algae growth with the lighting but its export is minimal. I focused on export. The refugium, beefed up skimmer and aging is what I now believe got my nitrates undetectable. I have not changed feeding habits. My nitrates were as high as 80ppm. Is live rock only live with lighting? I don't need more but if he adds more can it help with water quality?

[jimlin]

Thanks it probably helped me minimally i saw a bunch more coraline algae growth with the lighting but its export is minimal. I focused on export. The refugium, beefed up skimmer and aging is what I now believe got my nitrates undetectable. I have not changed feeding habits. My nitrates were as high as 80ppm. Is live rock only live with lighting? I don't need more but if he adds more can it help with water quality?

aah, coraline algae. live rock is live when there are things living in it and lights are not required to keep the bacterias and critters alive. more live rock in a tank means more surface area for beneficial bacterias to colonize, but there are other methods he can use other than adding live rocks. you are right, a really good skimmer, refugium and time for bacteria to grow will help keep nitrates low.