How to lover the Nitrates?

Discussion in 'Water Chemistry' started by szogun, Feb 29, 2004.

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  1. Land_Fish

    Land_Fish Guest

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  3. szogun

    szogun Feather Duster

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    o yes some LR as well as calurepa which is growing like crazy also I noticed lots of criters. I also have a question about what can I put In there, I know I have couple of snails but what about hermit crabs are they good for refu?
     
  4. szogun

    szogun Feather Duster

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    Ok i just got the alk test from fasTest it is around 8.5 DKH is this good?
     
  5. tdevil

    tdevil Feather Duster

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    [quote author=szogun link=board=Water;num=1078119845;start=0#11 date=03/02/04 at 19:42:29]o yes some LR as well as calurepa which is growing like crazy also I noticed lots of criters. I also have a question about what can I put In there, I know I have couple of snails but what about hermit crabs are they good for refu?[/quote]


    IMO, hermits are not good for a fuge, because crabs are opertunistic feeders and you not only want a fuge for nutrient export, but you also want it for the increased pod population which will help corals and certin fish
    with that said it is your choice, i just don think that they are needed in a fuge ;)

    with your calcium, 500 is a bit high, IMO, but not bad, some people with a lot of hard corals and clams have theirs at this level, but most people have theirs at 400-450

    with your alkalinity, 8.5, IMO, is a good level, since your calciun is at 500 you dont want your alk very high, this is where most people get their tank in a imbalance, where they want both the calcium and alk at the high levels, which is not good, if you need me to explain this a bit more, let me know ;)

    td
     
  6. szogun

    szogun Feather Duster

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    Thanks alot Tdevil OK first I don't have lots of corals. I started to add calcium 3 days before I got the test for it My mistake. so I don't add anything in for now. OK so later when my calcium goes down I should add calcium only? what about my alk does this go lower also, or you add a buffer anyway as you add calcium.
    See I don't really get the balanced tank idea I see that many people add both at the same time why?
    O and one more thing MY NITRATE ARE GOING DOWN!! [smiley=2thumbsup.gif]
    they are about 5. now :)
     
  7. Land_Fish

    Land_Fish Guest

    If you leave the tank alone for some time it will settle down and your Nitrates are getting down and looking good.
    Alk is fine now. and Calcium if at 500 will come down if it has not already done so.
    ALK Cal & pH all effect each other.
    What is your pH reading?

    read this page and then re-read this page.
    http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm
     
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  9. tdevil

    tdevil Feather Duster

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    [quote author=szogun link=board=Water;num=1078119845;start=0#14 date=03/03/04 at 14:04:59]Thanks alot Tdevil OK first I don't have lots of corals. I started to add calcium 3 days before I got the test for it My mistake. so I don't add anything in for now. [/quote]

    you did what? j/k, everyone makes mistakes, i like to call them learning curves ;)

    ok, yes, you can add a buffer to keep the alc level up, i havent had to do this, with regular maint i find that most of the levels stay where they need to be, the only thing that i add is Kalkwasser (which can help keep the alk stable), i drip it at night because the only bad thing about using Calcium hydroxide: AKA “Kalkwasser" is that it will raise the pH, dosing at night tempers pH swings from inevitable drop from respiration by photosynthetic dynamics, basically when the lights go out the pH will drop and the Kalk will help to keep it more stable through out the night

    now there are ways to add both at the same time with a 2 part supp, but i havent used these, i know that a lot of people do, i just choose not to use them, the Kalk works just fine for me until i get a calcium reactor

    good to here, it will be just fine, i learned a long time ago that there is no need to panic when something gets a BIT out of wack, most of the time you can just do a water change to correct it, and with a tank as young as yours, there is no need to worry, just keep testing and keep up on the maint and you will ba able to enjoy this hobbie w/o loosing all of your hair;)

    HTH

    td

    PS, here is a link to wet web media, i have red this over and over, there is a lot of info here ;)
    http://www.wetwebmedia.com/calcalkmar.htm

    edited to fix the last quote (i cant spell) and fix the link ;)