Nitrate ?

[MadReefer]

My nitrates are testing at about 35ppm. I know I need to do a water change to lower it. I did a 10g one a few days ago. I need to make more RO water which I do outside and with this rain won't happen soon. My question is should I use tap water or wait until I get more RO made?

Mark

 

[duijver]

I would wait.

So, you made and kept the water outside when it was 20 degrees outside? Why not just get some extra tubing and run a line inside for a day or so? My wife hated it but until a few weeks ago I always made the water in the kitchen...

 

[ricwilli]

Mark, do not use tap water. Just wait. Have you thought about dosing Vodka. You should try it. You can start with 1/2ml-1ml a day and see if your nitrates go down.

 

[concept3]

Mark, do not use tap water. Just wait. Have you thought about dosing Vodka. You should try it. You can start with 1/2ml-1ml a day and see if your nitrates go down.

LOL. I used to use tap water + salt for 2 years in the beginning. Never had a problem but then again each municipality is different.

Careful with the vodka dosing if you plan on doing it. Slowly ramp up to 1/2 to 1mL as Rich mentioned, but follow the recommended guidelines!

 

[MadReefer]

Duijver,
I would make the water outside if the temp was 45f or higher. The one side of the house gets all sun so was able to make 5 or 10 gallons a day. I plan on switching the bathroom or kitchen faucet so the adapter can fit, not sure when that will happen.
Is there any certain alcohol percent I need to know about before dosing?

 

[duijver]

How long does it take you to make that 5 or 10 gallons a day? I can easily make 5gallons in about an hour. And that's in the winter. I normally fill up my 32g brute to the line (maybe 29 gallons) in about 6-6 1/2 hours...

 

[ricwilli]

Hey Merv why did you stop? There is a thread floating around by Wendy (JerseyWendy) about her friend using only tap water for his reef. His setup is very nice. When I started dosing vodka, I was thinking of using tap water as well. Never had the courage though.

Mark if you are going to start dosing vodka, please make sure your skimmer is working up to par. This is very important. Here is a link for you to read. http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-08/nftt/index.php

 

[concept3]

Hey Merv why did you stop?

I wanted drinking water, and I was tired of buying bottled since I didn't like the chlorine taste. Second of all, a buddy showed me his RO system and pointed out his float valve that he T'ed off for his reservoir. I went further and imitated his setup so I have drinking water on tap, drinking water and Icecubes from the fridge, and automated the tank using a JBJ autotopoff connected to a solenoid instead, and had a redundancy system with a float valve, all pressurized and stored in 2 bladders under the sink. Rich helped me out in the beginning since I was so confused in attempting to hook it up. The tank is almost literally automated now except for water changes and feeding.

 

[MadReefer]

Rich,
Thanks for the link. I replaced the Berlin with another called Aquatic Life Systems. Been in for 2 days and is skimming like crazy. I see a difference in the tank already. The Flower nem actually is larger, puffed out but very pale. I will start spot feeding to get it back where it was. As for tap. I always used it and now comparing it to RO/DI I still am not convinced. I run a reactor with phosban and carbon. The only thing I have noticed with RO/DI water is the front glass stays cleaner for an extra 2 days. If the vodka dosing works. I will try and switch back to tap and see if there is difference. It take 2 to 2.5 hours to make 5g of RO/DI with much waste water. I ran a 55g softie tank without the reactor and tap water with no problems. I only have softies and LPS so using tap may not be a big problem. Now if I had SPS then that would big a much bigger consideration.

Also, has anyone tried a Nitrate sponge? I was thinking of link to reactors together. Here is a link
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=4914

Mark