External canister filter vs Live Rock to remove Nitrates

[mling]

I’ve been advised, by a LFS staff member, to buy an External Canister filter ( Eheim 2215 ) for my 45G tank because my 45 pounds of live rock together with a protein skimmer is insufficient. That the live rock will not remove Nitrates and I need an external filter to do that. It was either the $145 external canister or I fill up my tank with more live rock. He than suggested that I would need at least another 40 pounds of cured live rock to make up for the lack of the external filter.

Is it true that you need an external filter to remove Nitrates or is this a sales pitch to make a $145 sale ?

My Nitrate level has been under 10 N mg.l since it finished it’s cycle about 2 months ago. I have a ViaAqua Multi-skimmer which has a built in filter. Is this filter enough for an external filter ?

[cich1]

no external filter will remove nitrates, quite the opposite actually it gives nitrates a place the grow thats why most people refer to filters as nitrate factories, a good skimmer and a fair amount of live rock is all the filter i'm using, the same $145 the filter cost should buy you another 20+ pounds of liverock, that would put you at 1.5# per gallon, thats what most people recommend

[Aquaman]

I would agree with cich1, I had a UGF and a HOB and I could never get my Nitrates down, now I only run a skimmer with LR. Good Luck!

[MikeS]

skimmers don't really help much with nitrate...neither does LR. The most common methods of nitrate reduction are DSB denitratification, use of macro algaes (main tank or sump, or both) and water changes.

Mike

[Macbeth417]

"skimmers don't really help much with nitrate."

Mike you vile disseminator of DSB mythinformation! ; ) Technically the skimmer itself does not help in the process of denitratifaction HOWEVER, it does remove desolved organic solids for the water column before they are are broken down, thus eliminating mater that would create nitrates down the road. This subversion of nitrification and denitratification is what lies at the core of the Bare Bottom system. A skimmer IS of benefit in eliminated the net nitrates in your tank.

Mike you sand junkie you! :lol:

-Erik

[MikeS]

hey, I have a skimmer.... :D and I love my sand... :lol:

but the skimmer does not do much to directly remove the nitrates themselves from the tank, does it?

Yes, the skimmer does help remove some of the gunk that will eventually become nitrate...



Mike