Joeys Tank
Well-Known Member
Hmmm, the LFS selling something to "kick-start" the process of lowering nitrates ....
When someone uses the term kick-start, what they usually refer to is the assisting the natural process. The natural process of eliminating nitrates from a system is 1) consumed along with phosphates in the growth of vegetable matter (i.e. algae) or 2) denitrifying bacteria. For a new tank, you are definitely in for some algae blooms. Refugiums with macro algae are great ways to naturally lower nitrates where you (pseudo) control algae growth with lighting and water flow in a location other than your display tank.
Denitrifying bacteria break down nitrates into nitrogen gas. This process; however, takes a much longer time than the cycle to generate nitrifying bacteria. Thus, reefers are continuously doing water changes to keep nitrates in check (as well as replenish several minerals necessary for coral growth).
Other than that (and water changes discussed at length), temporary additives can be provided to a tank to reduce nitrates. Carbon dosing, vodka dosing, NO3-PO4-x dosing are some examples of methods to reduce nitrates. At this stage in the game, a good piece of advice is to lower nitrates by water changes ... not to buy another product to add to your system (which brings along its own set of complications).
When someone uses the term kick-start, what they usually refer to is the assisting the natural process. The natural process of eliminating nitrates from a system is 1) consumed along with phosphates in the growth of vegetable matter (i.e. algae) or 2) denitrifying bacteria. For a new tank, you are definitely in for some algae blooms. Refugiums with macro algae are great ways to naturally lower nitrates where you (pseudo) control algae growth with lighting and water flow in a location other than your display tank.
Denitrifying bacteria break down nitrates into nitrogen gas. This process; however, takes a much longer time than the cycle to generate nitrifying bacteria. Thus, reefers are continuously doing water changes to keep nitrates in check (as well as replenish several minerals necessary for coral growth).
Other than that (and water changes discussed at length), temporary additives can be provided to a tank to reduce nitrates. Carbon dosing, vodka dosing, NO3-PO4-x dosing are some examples of methods to reduce nitrates. At this stage in the game, a good piece of advice is to lower nitrates by water changes ... not to buy another product to add to your system (which brings along its own set of complications).
