Filtering an entire lake?

[dkelly]

I was researching nitrate filters this morning and stumbled across this article.

 

[raisingtwo2006]

lol..oh to have a tank that big..

 

[ouling]

Phosphate can be filtered out safely in a saltwater tank but I am extremely certain that there is no easy way to reduce nitrates in a saltwater tank. I use to do 50-80% water changes to keep it down. There are other methods to help keep the nitrates low tho. If you have a mature tank of at least 8 months and have alot of live rock and a 2-4'' sand bed, a efficient skimmer and modest feeding, your nitrate should be at 0.

 

[cameron]

Sulfur Denitrification is showing some real positive results and isn't quite as finicky as some of the past denitrification schemes. DSB in a fuge is always an option. Here is another that I plan on playing with some day. Using a LiterMeter along with the water exchange module. Basically, a dosing pump that removes X liters or ml per day and replaces it with fresh saltwater. Water changes have proven over time to be the most reliable way of stabilizing a tank and preventing old tank syndrome. With this later method, you basically mix up a salt vat about once a month and the rest is done for you.

 

[ouling]

Old tank majig don't happen to everyone but I somehow find it relative to the sand bed since it have so much more surface area than live rocks. I find that to be the no1 cause of old tank problems. This is also one of the reasons i'm leaning towards a BB and a sandbed sump. It'll be much easier to clean since the sump have a drain, and i can just shut off the return pump, stir up the sand like crazy, and drain all the murkey water out and put clean one in. This is a good way to prevent alot of problems.