How much nitrate reduction?

[Wilioli]

Ive been told that chaeto will help reduce my nitrates in my 20long. How much will it take to reduce 'x' amount of nitrates? can that be estimated or calculated ? And I've been very interested in mangroves -- but I've been told that it takes 'a lot' of mangroves to reduce nitrates.. what is 'a lot'?

 

Also -- people talk about a reverse light system/cycle for chaeto to prevent pH swings. But again, how much chaeto will it take to actually make a pH swing?

 

Thanks in advance.

[SeaMonsters Inc.]

Ive been told that chaeto will help reduce my nitrates in my 20long. How much will it take to reduce 'x' amount of nitrates? can that be estimated or calculated ? And I've been very interested in mangroves -- but I've been told that it takes 'a lot' of mangroves to reduce nitrates.. what is 'a lot'?

 

Also -- people talk about a reverse light system/cycle for chaeto to prevent pH swings. But again, how much chaeto will it take to actually make a pH swing?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

the first answer in my opinion is just to get as much chaeto as possible there is really is no disadvantage to it that I know of (unless you dislike pods)...I have never heard of a formula but there may be one out there...mangroves are slower growing so chaeto is usually preferred...the cheato itself won't cause a ph swing, but in the morning your ph is always going to be a lower ph because your animals are still exhaling co2 but your photosynthetics aren't producing oxygen (and higher co2=lower ph) If you set your chaeto on a reverse cycle your can prevent ph swings.

 

sent from ipod

[Wilioli]

the first answer in my opinion is just to get as much chaeto as possible there is really is no disadvantage to it that I know of (unless you dislike pods)...I have never heard of a formula but there may be one out there...mangroves are slower growing so chaeto is usually preferred...the cheato itself won't cause a ph swing, but in the morning your ph is always going to be a lower ph because your animals are still exhaling co2 but your photosynthetics aren't producing oxygen (and higher co2=lower ph) If you set your chaeto on a reverse cycle your can prevent ph swings.

 

sent from ipod

I see what you're saying.. that makes more sense now regarding ph swings.

 

And i didnt mean just a formula -- like even amount -- if i had a handful of chaeto will that be 'useless' for nitrate reduction for a 20 gallon lets say? would i need min 2 handfuls ? lol.. thats as far from a formula as you can get i guess.. my bad lol

[kevantheman35]

a handful will grow to 2 handfulls in about a week lol

[Wilioli]

a handful will grow to 2 handfulls in about a week lol

haha ,sweet, thats what i wanted to know