Nitrates gone wild

so i have had my tank for about two months and my nitrates are still high so high the hair algae is overrunning my tank and what do you think is the best product or way to polish clean the water?

ph 8.1
phos 0
nitrite 0
nitrate 10
cal 400
alk 300

 

Well I see 10 ppm on NO3 is that the reading now ? How long has the system been up ? Id guess if you counted the days I'd put it at 78 days or so since you added the water and got it cycling or realy close to 78 days or so from what you are saying about the NO3s taking abig jump .

 

yes the current reading what do you think i should do just 10% water changes as i am doing currently

 

I don't think that 10ppm is that bad, doing a 10% water change wont make much of a dent to be honest, in fact it will only reduce it by 1ppm. If you then do another 10% then that will drop it by 0.9! If you want to reduce your nitrates then you really need to do a larger water change, say 50%.

 

Well a water change for nitrates is nothing more then a temporary fix Nitrates are a given they will always be back, Itsb a good sign the system is working as it should , NO3 is the end of the bacterial de-nitrification process and unless the process is stopped then the Nitrates are a natural given

You need to deal with them on their level. Either with a media to bind them up as with Phosphates and other types of DOC's or you can add what many are tying now days dosing the tank with a sugar carbon source like Vodka or Gin even to spur the bacterial growth that will consume the NO3
s as a food source . I simple employ a nitrate coil to clear my NO3's out of the system.. Simple easy to use and it cost nothing t operate and not much maintenance either .

 

what is the nitrate coil i am getting really bad hair algae

 

Just a section of pipe set in or near the sump and then water is siphoned from tank runs through the pipe that house the coil and bio media and as it allows the water to pass through the oxygen is totally depleted and in there grows a anaerobic bacteria that consumes NO3s as a food or energy source .

 

can i build one of these and do you have a pic of anyones and what type of media should i use

 

As for if you can build one ? I guess you can if you have the tools and materials I guess you can
I use Bio Matting But you could use anything from old fishing line to old hair curlers . even old plastic bottle caps ..

Here is a link to a guy's DIY coil .. I think many spend more money in parts then one cost made Not to mention time spent . I'll post photos of ours at ATT later tonight you can have a look in our sponsors form Here is a link to Jakes DIY coil

http://www.3reef.com/forums/i-made/do-yourself-denitrator-49635.html