Could use some help. Low ALK/Nitrate

[HansonsReef]

Looking for some advice...

Tank is a Innovative marine 100 INT, its a month old. I upgraded/transferred from a 32 biocube, used water and about 30lbs of live rock along with 40lbs of dry macro.
Running a skimmer and Ive done one 20% water about 2 weeks ago and will not do anogher one. I do have diatoms on the new dry rock aquascape, nothing crazy though.

Parameters.
PH 8.3
Alk 6.5 Dosing with carbonate
Phos .06
Nitrate 0.0 One of my issues, started dosing with NeoNitro
Nitrite 0
Ammonia 0
Calcium 450
Mag 1350
salinity 1.024

I have a total of 7 fish, cleaner shrimp, hermits, Emerald crabs . All are doing great, eating plenty and happy.
There decent amount of softies, hammers, etc. Again, all are doing great. No issues.

So the problem is the Nitrate's and ALK levels. Any suggestions? Feed more than the once a day?

 

[fishywishy]

For the nitrates, you could add more fish and feed more, but since your tank is so new, it’s possible that your rock is absorbing it all.

As for alkalinity, I’d just dose alk and do some water changes and it should increase your levels.

By the way, what test kit are you using? It might also be a test kit error.

 

[HansonsReef]

For the nitrates, you could add more fish and feed more, but since your tank is so new, it’s possible that your rock is absorbing it all.

As for alkalinity, I’d just dose alk and do some water changes and it should increase your levels.

By the way, what test kit are you using? It might also be a test kit error.

Right on, I go to the LFS and see what they have in stock. Ill just continue doing what Im doing... The new rock with alage very well could be taking up all the nutrients. But Im using Hanna for most my tests and doing them correctly. Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Right on, I go to the LFS and see what they have in stock. Ill just continue doing what Im doing... The new rock with alage very well could be taking up all the nutrients. But Im using Hanna for most my tests and doing them correctly. Thanks for the suggestions.

Baking soda is a fine alk additive. Commercial alk additives are not necessarily better.