The easiest way to get perfect nitrate reading

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
I have had a scrubber running since Sept. on my 125 fresh tank. I am keeping Muskies which can't tolerate any nitrates at all. So, this seemed like the best choice for filtration. Yes, unbelievably, my nitrates and ammonia are still at zero, despite my tap water being 35-40 ppm nitrates. (water changes obviously don't help me)

I designed the scrubber so that the screen tube is easily removed for cleaning. I feel this is the most important feature as you really do need to clean it once a week, and making that convenient is definitely beneficial. It takes me about 5 mins from start to finish for maint.

The build was pretty easy. Check that out here....

http://www.algaescrubber.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=313&sid=09520a7bd77ff0d9ebb62c88f37aecae

and here....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09QkOfmxFCY

I am using a Quiet One 3000 pump and an overflow box I got off of ebay for 40 bucks (I think). Drilling the tank was remarkably easy, given that I have never drilled a tank before.

I am also running an XP3 on this tank for mechanical filtration, as well as two Maxi Jet 1200's with sponges on the intakes.

I would definitely do this again on another tank. I can't believe that more people haven't caught on to this. I guess its the diy part that scares them off.

I will say that there was almost no info that I could find pertaining to a fresh setup when I was building this. So I was kinda shooting in the dark at the start. Its kickin a** now though. :)
 
Good info, but the sump/scrubber seems like a pain in the ass. Is there any other way to to keep nitrates down?

Hows the fluval nitrate remover doing?
 
Err;3701079; said:
Thats not true...I know a number of planted tank owners includeing myself that use NO3 heavy water from predatory tanks to feed their planted aquariums. Also there are some tanks with planted refugiums/algae scrubber that never have NO3 given their fuge/scrubber uses NO3/PO4 ect faster than the inhabitants can produce it.
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we are not talking about heavily planted set ups. We are talking about a fish tank. Not a plant tank.

While what you say is right. It has no real meaning in this situation.
 
vfc;3703489; said:
Toddo,
The scrubber is basically acting as a heavily planted sump tank; only (hopefully) less work to maintain.
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Exactly. And if you design your scrubber well, maintenance is a breeze.

Fluval Lab Grade Nitrate Remover worked well during my initial cycling. Once the scrubber was established I stopped using it.
 
for my heavily stocked GF tank, i used Seachem Denitrate, in an old canister filter at low GPH, normaly the nitrate was at 100-150ppm, but now is at 20-30ppm, the only thing is that when it goes arround 30-40 i have to change the media.
 
hybridtheoryd16;3703471; said:
we are not talking about heavily planted set ups. We are talking about a fish tank. Not a plant tank.

While what you say is right. It has no real meaning in this situation.
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I understand what you mean, and maybe I should have been more elaborate. Incorperate a bunch of fast growing free floating plants in your fuge or add an algae scrubber...ta da! no NO3 to worry about. :headbang2
 
JK47;3700340; said:
I used the nitrate resin in the sacks, not the media.
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well thanks for saving me money then :) I guess ill put that money into an algae scrubber.
 
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