Hanna Nitrate tester does not like my readings

[rc1]

Started at 10mil first week, 2nd week 20mil and I am to 25mil but no changes using No3 Po4-X

 

[brclark82]

You got any more info for us? How old is the tank, what's in the tank, what is your current nutrient export like (filtration, skimmer etc)

 

[rc1]

210 plus 48 gallon sump, Reefer 900 skimmer and a refugium with Cheato. Got rid off roller mat, only fish in the tank are in the picture plus 1 diamond goby and 2 black cardinals.
I feed the tangs 2 sheets of Nori a day and some pellets on and off, every other day I feed 2 cubes of mysis so the smaller fish can eat. Tank will be 2 years old in May

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

75 ppm is maxed out. The NOPOX may be working fine, but you are still above the quantifiable range.

 

[rc1]

75 ppm is maxed out. The NOPOX may be working fine, but you are still above the quantifiable range.

So should I stick with the 25 mils for now since that’s what it calls for a dose?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So should I stick with the 25 mils for now since that’s what it calls for a dose?

I would. I’d also take some new salt water and use it to dilute tank water to get a reading.

 

[rc1]

I would. I’d also take some new salt water and use it to dilute tank water to get a reading.

What’s the reason for mixing new saltwater with used tank water to take a reading?

 

[purpfish]

What’s the reason for mixing new saltwater with used tank water to take a reading?

So it’s not maxed out because you dilute it

 

[purpfish]

So if you halfed it with fresh sw and it read 50 ppm your at 100 ppm I believe

 

[rc1]

So if you halfed it with fresh sw and it read 50 ppm your at 100 ppm I believe

I tested it with CPI, Salifurt and now Hanna which I got today and with CPI and Salifurt I was topping the 100 ppm, just have not seen a decrease in the last 3 weeks

 

[Shirak]

Is the Chaeto growing well? Tank looks pretty clean. If the algae isn’t growing like crazy at those nitrates perhaps something else is lacking and reducing nitrate usage?

 

[Tangdora]

@Shirak beat me to the question. How long you run your light May want to make it to 16 hours a day. In reverse lighting. Also what spectrum is that light is it a grow bulb. Your cheato ball looks awfully small given that ppm.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So if you halfed it with fresh sw and it read 50 ppm your at 100 ppm I believe

Yes, that’s the idea, so you can see if it is moving down.

 

[rc1]

@Shirak beat me to the question. How long you run your light May want to make it to 16 hours a day. In reverse lighting. Also what spectrum is that light is it a grow bulb. Your cheato ball looks awfully small given that ppm.

DT lights are on 10 hours, fuge light comes on at 9pm and goes off at 8:30 am, cheato has not shrunk or died yet just not growing probably because of the No3 Po4x. Picture is current 100 watts growing light. I run the DT lights mostly bluish with white light around 20% and yes tank is pretty clean with the exeption of the white film on glass from dozing and the whole sump is crystal clear with no algea. Cheato has never really done much in my tank but calurpia has always grown like weeds.