Best way to maintain nitrate and phosphate

[adamsfour]

All
I haven’t successfully found a way to maintain phosphate and nitrate. I constantly find myself increasing the levels with dosing until it too high and then lowing until to low. I find it impossible to keep at a steady level above zero. Any recommendations

 

[lapin]

Maybe increase at a slower rate. Instead of let’s say 1 week maybe increase over 4 weeks

 

[bobnicaragua]

Can you add more fish and an auto feeder?

I have an auto feeder with pellets for the morning and feed frozen and nori in the evenings.

I find it easy to maintain when you keep the same routine.

 

[adamsfour]

Maybe increase at a slower . Instead of let’s say 1 week maybe increase over 4 weeks

I totally agree it’s just both react slow to dosing so it’s hard to control changd

 

[X-37B]

I totally agree it’s just both react slow to dosing so it’s hard to control changd

Just feed the fish more. Reduce WC to once a month. As long as the fish are fed well low po4 and no3 are not a problem.
I had zero no3 and po4 in my current 15g for almost 7 months since startup.
Yesterday's test.
Po4 .07
No3 .08.
First time no3 was not zero and po4 is now in my <.1 range.

2 fish 30+ mixed reef corals
I feed 4 times a day.
Tanks 8 months.

 

[adamsfour]

Thanks. Sounds like what your doing works for you but I am not a big fan of over feeding

 

[adamsfour]

Thanks. Sounds like what your doing works for you but I am not a big fan of over feeding

 

[X-37B]

Thanks. Sounds like what your doing works for you but I am not a big fan of over feeding

Lol! I feed heavy, most underfeed. Most would be shocked but I practice heavy in//out. No issues in any of my 5 systems.
My current ovefed ext 170, lol.
Dont be afraid to feed your system.

 

[CodyBot Verified Sponsor]

Reduce the concentration of the dosing solution. Most tanks below maybe 75 gallons really should not be dosing full strength. A 1mL dosing difference on say a 20 gallon tank is a larger percentage change of impact versus a heavily stocked 300 gallon tank.

If you take your concentration and dilute it by half (using RO or distilled water) then you're allowing for more precision when dialing in dosing levels. Keep in mind, there is no such thing as a set it and forget it way of dosing anything in your tank, because the demand is always changing. However, if the solution potency is reduced, then the adjustments are more subtle and allow you to stay in target range easier.

 

[bobnicaragua]

Look at the pics and nutrient levels X-37B is running. He isn’t over feeding at all.

 

[adamsfour]

That’s an excellent idea. But what I see is level will hover at a very low number and all of sudden start to rises. It continue to rise. Once it reaches a point I think is right I back off dosing. It then hovers and starts to drop. With other parameters it’s easy to dial in as changes are seen within 24 hours. My tank is 115 gallons.

 

[arcwaveaquatics]

All
I haven’t successfully found a way to maintain phosphate and nitrate. I constantly find myself increasing the levels with dosing until it too high and then lowing until to low. I find it impossible to keep at a steady level above zero. Any recommendations

That’s a really common situation, so you’re not alone. Most of the swing usually comes from trying to manually “chase numbers” instead of letting the system do some of the work.

First thing is to simplify export. If you’re running aggressive filtration like heavy skimming, GFO, large refugium, or multiple nutrient methods at once, it’s very easy to strip nutrients too fast. Reducing or pausing one export method often stabilizes things more than more dosing.

For keeping nutrients above zero, consistency matters more than the exact number. Slightly heavier, regular feeding is usually more stable than dosing nitrate or phosphate in bursts. If you do dose, do it daily in small amounts rather than correcting big swings.

Also make sure test timing is consistent. Testing at different times of day can make it look like nutrients are swinging more than they really are. Aim for a small detectable baseline rather than a target number, and resist correcting every reading. Stability usually improves once you stop reacting to every test and let the tank settle into its own equilibrium.

 

[adamsfour]

Thanks. I am filtering and will try your advice. I do dos small amounts but guessing I am over filtered

 

[rishma]

All
I haven’t successfully found a way to maintain phosphate and nitrate. I constantly find myself increasing the levels with dosing until it too high and then lowing until to low. I find it impossible to keep at a steady level above zero. Any recommendations

I don’t advocate it’s necessary, but I maintain very stable nutrients over long periods of time. Why I do it is long story, but I’ve learned a few things along the way that might be helpful.

few questions:
How old is the tank?
What size tank?
live rock? Dry rock? Sand?

What nutrient levels are you targeting?

 

[Uncle99]

Are you chasing numbers a bit too fast?

IMM Nitrate and Phosphate is better understood with weekly tests over many weeks.

Establishing the “trend” (rise, fall, stable) and then using either more export, or more import to stop the trend.

Anywhere in the 3-15ppm nitrate and 0.1-.2ppm phosphate is fine, provided, it’s stays close, week over week.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I don’t think there should be any issue with unstable N and P if you make changes slowly. Dose the same dose for a week before changing it.

 

[adamsfour]

I don’t advocate it’s necessary, but I maintain very stable nutrients over long periods of time. Why I do it is long story, but I’ve learned a few things along the way that might be helpful.

few questions:
How old is the tank?
What size tank?
live rock? Dry rock? Sand?

What nutrient levels are you targeting?

I have 113 gallon tank with Live rock. The tank is at least 12 year old. I would like to maintain around 10 for Nitrate and .2 ish for phosphate

 

[adamsfour]

I don’t advocate it’s necessary, but I maintain very stable nutrients over long periods of time. Why I do it is long story, but I’ve learned a few things along the way that might be helpful.

few questions:
How old is the tank?
What size tank?
live rock? Dry rock? Sand?

What nutrient levels are you targeting?

Tank is at least 10+ years old
113 gallons
Live rock

 

[adamsfour]

Are you chasing numbers a bit too fast?

IMM Nitrate and Phosphate is better understood with weekly tests over many weeks.

Establishing the “trend” (rise, fall, stable) and then using either more export, or more import to stop the trend.

Anywhere in the 3-15ppm nitrate and 0.1-.2ppm phosphate is fine, provided, it’s stays close, week over week.

I totally agree the problem is reaching and maintaining a steady state

 

[rishma]

I have 113 gallon tank with Live rock. The tank is at least 12 year old. I would like to maintain around 10 for Nitrate and .2 ish for phosphate

Ok, great. A range of values will serve you well. Would you be good with 0.1-0.3 phosphate and 5-15 nitrate?