Nitrate Level for LPS,Softies,Fish

[PordingPrime]

Hi All,

I need some advice for my peace of mind:

Tank Info:

* 3x1x1.5 display (will post picture soon)

* lights T5 aquazonic 2 actinic and 2 white (planning to change to ATI soon plus addition of some LED)

* with IOS, with rocks and foam(replace every 2 weeks)

* no sump (as of the moment due to space constraints, planning soon)

* with separate canister (have from decom freshwater tank last time, so i just put it in)

* with chiller set to 26ºC, tank thermometer shows 27-28, no foam, only coral chips and some ceramics kind of bio filters

* no skimmer (as of the moment due to space constraints, planning soon)

* currently ammonia and nirite is zero, the problem is nirate ~40

* tank is about 7wks+ and my first marine tank

Need advice:

is the nitrate ~40 detrimental to zoas, octo, glove, mushrooms, gsp, candy, anemone,powder tang, clarkii?

if so, how to reduce? sump, skimmer, etc...?

thanks

[Deron Ng]

Skimmer and macro algae or even biopellets bro I am using aquazonic t5s also just change the bulbs to ati will do.. Lps no problem..

[hammy]

no doctrine or literature will tell you that at 40ppm is ok for your LPS and Zoa.=)

However, my LPS and Zoas thrieve at nitrate 50ppm. just cant to keep my nitrate down last time.

Your canister is a nitrate factory although it is effective to convert ammonia and nitrite down with the biomedia inside.

As for SPS... no way.

Skimmer, biopellet, algae scrubber and water change with DI water will help you lower your nitrate

[PordingPrime]

how about putting rowaphos and/or nitra guard bio cubes in canister? will it help? Anyone had tried this? coz I read some articles that these products reduce nitrates and phosphate and can be placed in a canister instead of reactor. of course reactor will be the best. ..

[blusafe]

Reactors maximize water flow, canisters also have water flow. It will work but efficiency is not as high as a reactor. I would take your reactor money and spend it on a quality skimmer and/or RODI.

RODI was not previously mentioned. You may want to test source water for NO4.

[sherman]

Your canister also act as a mechanical filter. So result in nitrate buildup . Very hard to keep nitrate down in a canister system

[PordingPrime]

Added Bio Pellet Reactor.

After two weeks, my nitrate level down from dark red to orange red. Probably still 20-40 high....

http://youtu.be/AufrGpQLY6Q

So I added Tunze 9004. I need to put inside my display tank... sigh it reduce my space for softies ;(

Initial issues I observed are micro bubbling coming from the outgoing flow. Some review say this micro bubbles will go away after 1-2 wks break-in period. I hope so...will see...

http://youtu.be/JbdAt6zbnxc

[liquidnoise]

if you do not have space in the cabinet. u can try external skimmer like SA2020