How to tell how high your nitrates and phosphates are without test kits

Sharir · Apr 17, 2020

Hey guys, so this thread was started because I just started a new reef tank (which is about 1 and a half months old) it, all of a sudden, started to grow huge amounts of hair algae all over the rocks. It literally grew in one day. That got me thinking "is there any method that I can use to Guage nitrates and phosphates?"

Now now, before you start with the shaming and booing of why I don't have a test kit... I live in south africa and we are in a second lockdown. Our government has classified reefing gear as" non essential " and therefore all the lfses are closed and my salifert test kits were expired.

I was wondering if any of the" reefing gurus" could chime in on there thoughts or even share personal experiences. ;Pompus

Sharir · Apr 17, 2020

My glass grows thin film algae daily!

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 17, 2020

Algae growth can be an indicator that you have enough (or more than enough), but the reverse is not true since other things may limit algae growth.

Mike N · Apr 17, 2020

Sucks that LFS aren't considered essential where you live.
If there was a reliable way to test Nitrate and Phosphate, the test kit companies would go broke.
Maybe reefers with tons of experience can 'read' it in their corals, but that would be rare.
If you can get ahold of some vibrant, thats a good place to start.