My nitrates hit zero

[wildman0516]

Unfortunately my tank has always had lower nitrates and they hit zero and I don’t have a lfs what can I do to bring it back up? The only thing I found petco near me has is seachem flourish. Immediately unplugged my skimmer. How worried should I be for my system crashing? Everything seems fine except my fox coral

 

[PolypPocket]

Could you feed more generously maybe? Leave some extra food in the tank (not too much of course).

 

[EnterName]

Nitrates are not zero, they are just below your tests detection limit. Corals don't care much for nitrate as long as they have ammonia available (also below detection limits usually). Nitrate has to be reduced back to ammonia using energy and enzymes that require trace elements. This makes nitrate uptake inefficient over other nitrogen sources like ammonia directly or amino acids.

In natural coral reefs you can have something like 0.1ppm nitrate without issues. I don't think your tank will crash.

I would recommend the following DIY solution to increase nitrogen availability if it keeps bottoming out. Note that if you are experiencing some kind of nuisance algae growth at the moment I wouldn't dose ammonia. As long as there is growth, there is enough ammonia available.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/diy-ammonia-dosing-for-low-nitrate-systems.987087/

Also plug your skimmer back in and set the foam level low instead. You want it running for gas exchange.

 

[wildman0516]

Nitrates are not zero, they are just below your tests detection limit. Corals don't care much for nitrate as long as they have ammonia available (also below detection limits usually). Nitrate has to be reduced back to ammonia using energy and enzymes that require trace elements. This makes nitrate uptake inefficient over other nitrogen sources like ammonia directly or amino acids.

In natural coral reefs you can have something like 0.1ppm nitrate without issues. I don't think your tank will crash.

I would recommend the following DIY solution to increase nitrogen availability if it keeps bottoming out. Note that if you are experiencing some kind of nuisance algae growth at the moment I wouldn't dose ammonia. As long as there is growth, there is enough ammonia available.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/diy-ammonia-dosing-for-low-nitrate-systems.987087/

Also plug your skimmer back in and set the foam level low instead. You want it running for gas exchange.

The test I am using isn’t the best so I would say your right. Working on fixing it at the moment. API which ins known for accuracy in the saltwater hobby. I also thought about the skimmer and plug it back up right after I made the post. Thank you for the advice. I definitely have ammonia coming in. I have a pair of clowns, bristle tooth, cardinal fish and a dotty back. The tank is 8 to 9 months old and has did really good.

 

[DiegoReefs]

DO NOT add Seachem Flourish to your tank!

Flourish is a freshwater plant fertilizer and contains heavy metals, including copper, which is DEADLY to corals, snails, and invertebrates. Adding it will crash your reef.

Here is what you should do right now to raise Nitrates safely without an LFS:

1. Keep the Skimmer OFF: Unplugging your skimmer was a great move. Leaving it off for a few days immediately stops active nutrient export.
2. Feed your fish slightly more: Since you don't have an LFS nearby for pure sodium nitrate (like Brightwell NeoNitro), the safest way to raise Nitrates is to feed your fish a bit more dry or frozen food. Fish waste breaks down into natural, safe Nitrate.
3. Remove Filter Floss / Socks: Take out your mechanical filtration for 3-4 days so organic waste stays in the system longer to break down.
4. Don't Panic: A temporary drop to 0 NO3 won't crash your entire tank overnight, but sensitive LPS like your Fox Coral deflate quickly when water gets too clean.

Keep the skimmer off, pull out filter socks, feed extra, and your Nitrates will gently climb back to 3-5 ppm safely without risking chemical poisoning!

 

[exnisstech]

As mentioned above I dose ammonium bicarb on my tanks with low nitrate. It works well and coral look good and grow pretty well.
Here's a thread with Randy's recipe along with a convient dosing chart the late MiamiReef was kind enough to put together. I use bakers amminium bicarb from Amazon


https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/diy-ammonia-dosing-chart.1123913/

 

[get-salty]

Def do not add Seachem Flourish.
What is your p04 look like ?