Nitrates/Vodka Method

E

Eric81

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Background:

I recently bought a 75g DAS aquarium (Transfered everything, live rock covered with coraline, all water, fish, etc.) as my beginner tank (will be eventually upgrading to a 125 with sump once I cut my teeth). The guy I bought it from had it established for a couple of years. I have had it about 3 weeks. All water levels are perfect except for Nitrates. They are consistently in the 15-20 ppm range. The guy told me that he only did a 20% water change once a month, so I think I have found the problem. I have been doing weekly water changes, which doesn't seem to be helping. The DAS system also has a ton of Bio Balls and a big nasty sponge that has been in the back of it for no telling how long. The guy said not to take it out. I know these house important bacteria, but fear they are a magnet for Nitrates as well. Should I start taking out some Bio Balls, replace the sponge ect.?

Does the Vodka Method work? If so, what doses should I use?

Thanks in advance!
 
Personally, I'd chuck any sponges and bio-balls. You won't get the anaerobic bacteria to grow in those. To much oxygen flowing through them. They will trap detritus, though. That will become a nitrate factory.

If you have had your tank set up for three weeks, I'd first dose Microbacter 7 from Brightwells. Great stuff for establishing the beneficial bacteria. And, honestly, if you didn't start with a lot of well established rock and sand, you should plan on at least four weeks to cycle. Maybe more depending on a lot of factors.

I've done vodka and bio-pellets. They work. But you should first seed your tank with MB-7. And give it a bit more time to cycle. And get rid of the balls and sponges.

Hope that helps.
 
Thanks for the advice. I have had my tank for 3 weeks, but it was established for 2 years before I bought/transferred it, so there shouldn't be a cycle. About 60 lbs. of LR and an inch of established substrate came with it. Should I still add the Microbacter 7?
 
I started with a tank that had a wet/dry with bioballs. I removed about 25% of them every week and when they were all out, replaced it with some live rock. I tested my water regularly to make sure I still had enough beneficial bacteria to take care of Ammonia and Nitrite. I also ditched the big filter sponge and just use filter floss in the drip tray that gets replaced once a week. With water changes and a HOB fuge growing macroalgae my nitrates went from 80ppm to undetectable levels in about a month.
 
I found it used here on the forums but it is a CPR Aquafuge. I setup a 46 gallon bowfront with the medium sized fuge for my dad and my 70 gallon with the large size. Both tanks have about a 2" - 3" layer of live sand and lots of LR. I just keep some sand and macro in the fuges and leave the fuge lights on 24/7. We also both do 10% water changes on our tanks and have skimmers. No nitrates in either tank even with lots of feeding. [smilie=clapping.gif]
 
I now realize that the link greeneyed posted contains a link for the reefkeeping article I posted a link for above.
 
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