|
|
|
|
#1
12/26/2007, 04:35 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Chaetomorphia and Nitrates
I've heard that chaeto is good for controlling nitrate levels in the tank. If I have enough chaeto in the sump/refugium is it able to keep the nitrates to a minimum? I have an algae problem and would like to find a natural alternative to controlling it. I've also used chemical PRIME nitrate remover to detoxify it but does this mean the nitrate is still in the aquarium or is it removed when I use prime? Thanks
|
|
#2
12/26/2007, 04:49 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Yes, having Chaeto will help in nitrate reduction and better water quality as it will also help remove unwanted proteins.
The prime will help remove it, but you have to look at other things to find out why the algae is continueing to grow. Type of water you use? RO? How much you feed, how often and what type of foods? How often you do water changes? How old the lighting is on the tank, or new? Is the tank newly setup? |
|
#3
12/26/2007, 05:22 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Yes, cheato will remove nitrates. It will also remove phosphates.
Look at cheato as a tool. You use the cheato to export the nitrates from the tank. When the cheato grows too much for your refugium, throw 1/2 of it away. Repeat as often as necessary. Grow it--toss it. A deep sand bed (DSB) will also help to remove nitrates. Read up on DSB theory and look for the words "aerobic" and "anaerobic". As already mentioned: Hopefully you're using RO/DI water. Feed frozen foods--NOT pellets or flakes How is your cleanup crew? What do you have for your cleanup crew? Are you doing 5% or 10% water changes weekly?
__________________
Life is tough. It's even tougher if you're stupid. |
|
#4
12/26/2007, 05:55 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
if you want to use algae as a filter go with a algae turf scrubber
|
|
#5
12/26/2007, 06:25 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
As far as chaeto growth, check with your LFS, they may take it for trade-in.
__________________
-Jeremy "Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum viditur" |
|
#6
12/26/2007, 09:21 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Quote:
 Most of it just goes in the trash. I grow so much of it, couldn't possibly house all the livestock that I could trade for all that cheato.
__________________
Life is tough. It's even tougher if you're stupid. |
|
#7
12/26/2007, 09:30 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Re: Chaetomorphia and Nitrates
Quote:
__________________
some common aquarium nuisances: Bryopsis,Derbesia(hair algae),Cyanobacteria(red slime), Diatoms(golden brown algae), Dinoflagellates(gooey air bubbles),Valonia (bubble algae) |
|
#8
12/26/2007, 10:02 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Cheato is a very good means to control nitrates. I have mine in my refugium with the lights on 24/7. I have had my current setup running for about 10 weeks:
week 3: nitrates 60ppm week 4: nitrates 40ppm week 5: nitrates 20ppm week 6: nitrates 10ppm week 7: undetectable nitrates I have a 120 AGA and do 5% water change per week with a 4-5" deep sand bed. I have a quiet one 6000 for return split to 3 heads. Also have a #3 and #4 koralia for circulation. good luck!! |
|
#9
12/26/2007, 11:00 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
chaeto is just one of the "tools" you control nitrate.
cleaning crews + good water flow + good lights + right amount of foods + efficient protein skimmer + phos reactor can add extra help... and of course - chaeto . |
|
#10
12/26/2007, 11:18 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
sorry, this might sound like a dumb question but how does lights affect nitrates?
|
|
#11
12/27/2007, 12:13 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Light does not directly effect nitrates.
It can cause increased algae due to 1) longer photoperiod = more time for photosynthesis 2) As light bulbs age, the light emmitted moves down into a spectrum more favorable to algae. Lights I guess can indirectly cause a change in nitrates in that if your lighting situation causes more algae growth, then your nitrates in your water will decrease (as it is being sequestered in the algae)
__________________
James BioCube 14 |
|
|
Linear Mode
