0 nitrates

[Austinp42]

I have a new saltwater tank that has done being cycled for the last month 1/2 and when I test my water I have .25 phosphates and 0 nitrates and I don’t know how to bring it up. I have tried to use GFO to take down the phosphates a little but hasn’t worked

 

[StartingATank]

I would say that phosphates are at a good level. As for nitrates, I would either start feeding more or dose, but that is just me

 

[Spare time]

What test kits are you using?

 

[sgdnycct]

Do you have livestock? And have you confirmed the ammonia spiked and converted to Nitrate at any point?

 

[get-salty]

First off.. id stop with the GFO.
Your p04 is where it should be for a new tank ( dont chase #s ).

what live stocks are in there ?

 

[Austinp42]

What test kits are you using?

Right now just he API test strips

 

[Austinp42]

Do you have livestock? And have you confirmed the ammonia spiked and converted to Nitrate at any point?

Yes I have live stock and yes I made sure the ammonia converted to nitrate

 

[Austinp42]

First off.. id stop with the GFO.
Your p04 is where it should be for a new tank ( dont chase #s ).

what live stocks are in there ?

I have a Fiji blue spotted puffer pair of clowns and a long nose butterfly

 

[Uncle99]

I would doubt nitrate is zero.
API not great.
Retest with salifert, Aquaforest or Hanna first.

 

[sgdnycct]

I would doubt nitrate is zero.
API not great.
Retest with salifert, Aquaforest or Hanna first.

I second this. API is notoriously inaccurate.

If it turns out NO3 are in fact low, I’d start by increased feedings- I feed ridiculous amounts and PO and NO are at or near zero but corals growing great. Minimal flake and pellet as they could introduce a lot of Phos.

 

[exnisstech]

If nitrates are actually zero (not sure how reliable your test method us) I would look into ammonium dosing or feed more. Feeding more never really worked for me but I've had good results dosing ammonium bicarb for 0 nitrate. I wouldn't worry about PO4 right now. Getting a tank to settle into a state of normalcy is more important than trying to obtain a certain number on a test. I think trying to control too much in new tanks causes more problems than elevated PO4 which yours is not IMO I have a tank that pegs my Hanna tester at 0.9 but the tank is algae free.

DIY Ammonia Dosing Chart

Introduction: Many reef tanks have an incredible nitrate demand, and despite the additional fish and coral food, still struggle to make an impact on the nitrate level. This can subject corals, anemones, coralline, macro/microalgae, and clams to nutrient starvation. Any photosynthetic organism...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Your phosphate is not .25, that is not how the API tester works. It gives a range, it means the phosphate is somewhere in between zero and .25. It could be as low as .005 but API isn't accurate enough and basically your phosphate level is a mystery until you get a better tester. The API phosphate tester is the worst of all.

 

[BryanM]

If you have an LFS nearby I would take them a water sample and have them test it.

After that I would invest in better test kits.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Right now just he API test strips

There's your problem. Those test kits are very unreliable. Trash them and get Salifert, Hannas or Red Sea kits.