View Full Version : Reducing nitrate with azno3?
AMD30
08/04/2009, 04:03 AM
Hi, i am looking to reducing my nitrates which are at or over 100ppm. I am transfering over from a 240 to a 300 gal and would like to know if using nu clear filters will help and what kind of filters to put in them and if using an additive called Nitrate Eliminator aka AZNO3 which claims it can lower nitrate from 100ppm to nearly zero. has anyone tried this? what tips or tricks do u have for lowering nitrates? i also have over 400lbs of liverock and 200lbs of livesand.
HighlandReefer
08/04/2009, 06:00 AM
I have not tried the product you have mentioned. There are many ways to reduce your nitrates. Usually with nitrates as high as yours one would suspect that your phosphate is also high, above 0.03 ppm.
The number one reason for high nitrates and phosphates is overfeeding. I would try cutting back on the amount you feed, along with good skimming practices and proper water changes. Water changes are not necessarily the best way to reduce nitrates, but with levels where you are at they may help reduce the levels to a more manageable level.
Many hobbyists with a high bio-load (too many fish) will dose with vodka. Running a refugium with macroalgae will help if you have room.
Rand goes into more detail in these articles:
Phosphate and the Reef Aquarium
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/rhf/index.php
Nitrate in the Reef Aquarium
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/august2003/chem.htm
AMD30
08/04/2009, 01:58 PM
thx!
HighlandReefer
08/04/2009, 05:00 PM
Your welcome. ;)
wooden_reefer
08/05/2009, 12:14 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15469610#post15469610 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by AMD30
Hi, i am looking to reducing my nitrates which are at or over 100ppm. I am transfering over from a 240 to a 300 gal and would like to know if using nu clear filters will help and what kind of filters to put in them and if using an additive called Nitrate Eliminator aka AZNO3 which claims it can lower nitrate from 100ppm to nearly zero. has anyone tried this? what tips or tricks do u have for lowering nitrates? i also have over 400lbs of liverock and 200lbs of livesand.
I suspect some day someone will develop an effective nitrate chemical remover in marine environment. You will know about it.
Nitrate is a part of the nitrogen cycle and is removed by denitrification bacteria. It is a process that requires lower level of dissolved oxygen. New stuffs won't help. Old stuffs with better balance may help.
As you read articles on the subject of denitrification, remember that nitrate is the oxidizing agent, just as oxygen is to fish and humans and nitrification bacteria. Nitrate is functionally analogous to oxygen so the need for "food" is less difficult to understand. This food are frequently organics, like sugars and alcohol, and many other possible organics.
Your system must be rather uniformly well-oxygenated for nitrate to get this high. Generally, high nitrate level pushes denitrification so if there are less well-oxygenated areas denitrification may take place there more readily, then when nitrate level is low.
addicted2reefin
08/05/2009, 02:06 PM
insteadinvesting time energy and money into a "bandaid" cure that will only temporarily fix ur problem, instead i would find a solution to ur problem, and what is causing it. invest in better and more efficient filtration and skimming
wooden_reefer
08/05/2009, 02:38 PM
If you talk to a farmer, denitrification is considered a loss of fertility. It is spoken of negatively in soil science as a curse. Denitrification bacteria is considered a villian.
Environmentalists generally have similar view and value as we do. So for lakes and ponds we both want manageable low nitrate levels. Wastewater treatment people are envirnomentalists are the science of denitrification is also used in wastewater treatment, except that their processes don't have to support lives.
Popeye
08/17/2009, 09:43 PM
Long term, I think you will be better off if you can maintain low nitrate levels without chemical additives,in my opinion. You have to control the things that are adding nitrates (like overfeeding, and maybe your top-off water) and if you don't have one, set up a refugium to absorb nitrates so you can get to an acceptable steady state. If you can achieve a good natural balance you have a good chance of having your tank sustain itself without too much intervention - and, it will be cheaper to maintain.
mark54321
08/23/2009, 08:02 AM
I have used this product once ,it worked great for me,had 50ppm nitrate in my tank,used per instructions and about 3 wks. later zero nitrates and had no problems ever since,
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