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.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/diy-ammonia-dosing-chart.1123913/

 

[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.