Nitrate removal

[jemiller]

I have a 90 gal display tank w/ 30 gal sump and 50 gal refugium. The refugium has about 7-8 inches of sand and live plants. I just cant seem to keep my nitrates down. My skimmer is a little small and am currently in the market for a bigger and better but it does work and seems to skim a lot. Any tips would be helpful. Thanks!

[Faisal1976us]

did you have bioballs or canister filter !

[coralreefer2110]

What is your feeding regimen, bioload, etc?
Also fast is the flow going through the fuge?
I have great equipment but was really overfeeding, that helped me out a lot. I also had to make sure the flow through the fuge was slow enough for the proper nutrient exchange to take place.
Good luck!!

[jemiller]

I use a sump but with no Bio-Balls. I have lots of live rock in the display to supliment the bio-balls. As for water flow through the refg I think it is about 300 gal/hr. give or take. My live stock load is low. There are 5 small/med fish and a bunch of cleaners (crabs,snals etc..) As for feeding the fish I feed flake every other day and feed the reef marine snow about once/twice a week.

[zotzer]

What about any media other than bioballs? Filter floss, sponges, bio-media for a QT tank stashed away in the sump, filter socks, etc....?

Tracy

[jemiller]

I have filter sponge in my sump and filter floss. I know that that can absorb so I change it.

[bbehring]

I'd get a higher end skimmer and skim on the wet side then test. Might also get a new nitrate test kit.

[landlord]

Couple of Questions.

1. Where are your Nitrates? How High?
2. How is the main tank set up for flow?
3. How much and how often are you changing your water?

--landlord

[zotzer]

Originally posted by jemiller
I have filter sponge in my sump and filter floss. I know that that can absorb so I change it.

How often?
Tracy