Low phosphate high nitrate

[ta88brian]

My phosphate are.46 while my nitrate is 66.00 how can I lower the nitrate 65 gallon tank. Already did 25 gallon water change

 

[Catawba_Valley_Reef]

I would say your nitrate and phosphate are considered fairly high.

You did a roughly 38% water change…so in theory the most/best case nitrate you would have pulled would be 25 ppm.

Have you tested the nitrate after the water change or is 66 the current number?

You need to do a few 50% water changes in my opinion.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Do you export nutrients in any way, such as growing macroalgae?

 

[ta88brian]

Do you export nutrients in any way, such as growing macroalgae?

Have refugium. No luck chaetilo dies in about a week

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Have refugium. No luck chaetilo dies in about a week

Seems like there’s a problem if the chaeto dies. Have you dosed iron and or other trace elements to help it?

 

[ta88brian]

Seems like there’s a problem if the chaeto dies. Have you dosed iron and or other trace elements to help it?

No like I said low phosphate..high nitrate less than half ppm phosphate

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

No like I said low phosphate..high nitrate less than half ppm phosphate

Less than 0.5 ppm phosphate is a strange way to say low. If it were 0.005 ppm, I’d agree it was low, 0.05 ppm is borderline. Anything from 0.05 to 0.5 ppm is not low enough to kill chaeto.

 

[BZOFIQ]

My phosphate are.46 while my nitrate is 66.00 how can I lower the nitrate 65 gallon tank. Already did 25 gallon water change

.46 phosphate is not low.

 

[BryanM]

My phosphate are.46 while my nitrate is 66.00 how can I lower the nitrate 65 gallon tank. Already did 25 gallon water change

You're going to want to re-evaluate what most of us consider normal numbers.

How are you testing / what test kits?

I agree something else is wonky if cheato dies in a week.... Its more like a weed, kind of hard to kill.

 

[ta88brian]

My phosphate are.46 while my nitrate is 66.00 how can I lower the nitrate 65 gallon tank. Already did 25 gallon water change

You're going to want to re-evaluate what most of us consider normal numbers.

How are you testing / what test kits?

I agree something else is wonky if cheato dies in a week.... Its more like a weed, kind of hard to kill.

Hannah checkers

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Those values are high for both N and P and are not a reason for chaeto issues.

I’d suggest adding a trace element supplement and see if that helps it grow.

 

[ta88brian]

What do you consider for low nitrate. .10. .20 .30. Im at less than 1ppm phosphate

 

[ta88brian]

Meant phosphate. What do you consider low

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

This is my opinion:

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.