DI water and nitrates.

[Mark Cooper]

I have just switched over to DI water for my 55 gal. FOWLR.

NH3 = 0
NO2 = 0
PO4 = 0
NO3 = 30 ppm

I have cut down feeding to every other day for a couple weeks now.
60 lbs LS, 50 lbs LR. Stocked with 1 percula clown, 1 springer dottyback,
1 watchman goby, 2 green chromis, 1 C.B. shrimp, 1 brittle star, 1 C.C.
star, 1 Hawaiian featherduster, cleaning crew of 15 hermits, 20 some
assorted snails.

While the tap water I was using did not have any measurable nitrates or
phosphates, I am wondering what sort of other compounds might be
contributing to nitrates?

I was most concerned with pesticide/herbicide runoff, bein' in the middle
of farm country. (Iowa)

Thanks,
Mark

[Ray Martini]

I suppose you could try a nitrate sponge but I find that the best way to
keep mitrates down is with water changes. How often do you do partial water
changes?


"Mark Cooper" > wrote in message
.. .
>I have just switched over to DI water for my 55 gal. FOWLR.
>
> NH3 = 0
> NO2 = 0
> PO4 = 0
> NO3 = 30 ppm
>
> I have cut down feeding to every other day for a couple weeks now.
> 60 lbs LS, 50 lbs LR. Stocked with 1 percula clown, 1 springer dottyback,
> 1 watchman goby, 2 green chromis, 1 C.B. shrimp, 1 brittle star, 1 C.C.
> star, 1 Hawaiian featherduster, cleaning crew of 15 hermits, 20 some
> assorted snails.
>
> While the tap water I was using did not have any measurable nitrates or
> phosphates, I am wondering what sort of other compounds might be
> contributing to nitrates?
>
> I was most concerned with pesticide/herbicide runoff, bein' in the middle
> of farm country. (Iowa)
>
> Thanks,
> Mark

[Mark Cooper]

"Ray Martini" > wrote in
:

> I suppose you could try a nitrate sponge but I find that the best way
> to keep mitrates down is with water changes. How often do you do
> partial water changes?
>
>
>

I have been doing weekly changes of about 10%.
I did a larger change with DI water on Sunday, and now the nitrates are
down to 20. I'll continue doing 10% changes and see if the DI makes a
difference.

I think probably I was overfeeding a bit and the DSB/LR couldn't handle
the nitrate load.


Mark

[Marc Levenson]

Mark, if you want lower nitrates, do larger water changes.

Take a look at this article, in case you have other things
adding to this situation:
http://www.melevsreef.com/reducing_nitrates.html

Marc


Mark Cooper wrote:
>
> I have been doing weekly changes of about 10%.
> I did a larger change with DI water on Sunday, and now the nitrates are
> down to 20. I'll continue doing 10% changes and see if the DI makes a
> difference.
>
> I think probably I was overfeeding a bit and the DSB/LR couldn't handle
> the nitrate load.
>
>
> Mark

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