High Nitrates

[Aerwen]

I’m sure this question has been answered a bunch of times, but I'm hoping for some help with my nutrients.

I have a 40b with a diy AIO that’s been running for about 8 months. It was set up with rock, water and sand from my previous tank to speed up the maturing process.

Current stocking is two clowns, a lawnmower blenny, a flame angel, two btas (originally one, but it split in my previous tank so I moved both into this one), a handful of small LPS, leathers and a small monti.

My phosphates have been high for a while, around 1.0, but I've been doing 25% water changes every other week, most recently on Sunday, and it's finally come down to 0.05. My nitrates are around 30 though and I'm not sure how to bring that down slowly without crashing my phosphate. I test with an API test kit (kh and pH), salifert (mag and phos), and Hannah checkers (calc, phos and nitrate).

Parameters:
pH: 7.8-8
Alk: 8
Mag: 1080
Phos: 0.05
Nitrate: 29.5
Calc: 410

Any help is appreciated!

 

[TX_REEF]

Are you having any issues with the tank caused by 30 nitrates? It wouldn’t concern me if not.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I’d do nothing special.

Randy’s Thoughts on Nutrient Target Ranges

Thoughts on Nutrient Target Ranges by Randy Holmes-Farley Almost nothing in the world of reef aquarium chemistry causes as much discussion as selecting and maintaining ranges for nitrate and phosphate. Some aquarists want low targets, some want...

www.reef2reef.com

4. What targets seem reasonable? Of course, that depends on all the other factors at play, such as types of corals, availability of ammonia, particulate foods, etc. However, for a mature mixed reef, this would be how I personally would run it:

• Let nitrate float between 5 ppm and 50 ppm. I’d use gentle export in this range, such as growing macroalgae.
• Above 50 ppm, I’d begin to focus more on reducing it, by organic carbon dosing, turf or macroalgae, etc.
• Below 5 ppm, I’d begin to dose ammonia or feed more. The target level might drop lower if dosing ammonia, just like the heavy in/heavy out scenario where nitrate may not be as needed.
• Let phosphate float between about 0.06 ppm and 0.3 ppm. This range is higher than I’ve recommended in the past. I’d use gentle export in this range, such as growing macroalgae.
• Above about 0.3 ppm, I’d begin to focus more on reducing it, by turf or macroalgae, or a binder such as GFO or lanthanum (has its own risks to tangs). If a binder: GO SLOW. Turf and macroalgae will typically be slow enough.
• Below 0.06 ppm, I’d begin to dose sodium phosphate or feed more to get the level up.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I agree 30 nitrate is not a concern..... but at the same time, only 4 fish in a 40 breeder creating 30 nitrates tells me the filtration is not adequate. Either you are massively overfeeding or there is no nutrient export in your filtration system.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Just out of curiosity what is your feeding routine for your fish?