Nitrate 0.00

[SaltyCrew4u]

My nitrates have been zero for a week. I have been dosing NeoNitro which usually works. Any suggestions? Last week my phosphate shot way up to .29 which may have been my fault. Water change and Microbacter7 brought it down. Currently at

Alk: 9.1 (added alk yesterday) usually 8.3
Phos: .04
Nitrate: 0.00
Ammonia: .07
Salinity: 1.025

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Dose more or feed more.

When the neonitro runs out, switch to food grade ammonium bicarbonate or chloride, or sodium or calcium nitrate.

 

[SaltyCrew4u]

Dose more or feed more.

When the neonitro runs out, switch to food grade ammonium bicarbonate or chloride, or sodium or calcium nitrate.

Almost out. Could you give example of what you recommend Randy? I added 36 ML of NeoNitro yesterday and tested today with 0.00.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Almost out. Could you give example of what you recommend Randy? I added 36 ML of NeoNitro yesterday and tested today with 0.00.

Sure:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/diy-ammonia-dosing-for-low-nitrate-systems.987087/

 

[SaltyCrew4u]

Thank you. So I tested my water today to see my phosphate now at .39 and Nitrate 0.00, I'm going to test again, maybe I didn't mix it well enough. What would cause nitrate to be 0 and phosphate so high?

Sure:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/diy-ammonia-dosing-for-low-nitrate-systems.987087/

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thank you. So I tested my water today to see my phosphate now at .39 and Nitrate 0.00, I'm going to test again, maybe I didn't mix it well enough. What would cause nitrate to be 0 and phosphate so high?

There are many things that could do that, such as denitrification lowering nitrate and not phosphate.

They really are not tied together as strongly as many people believe. The simple fact that one food type, reef roids, is popularly suggested for boosting phosphate points that out as well.

 

[SaltyCrew4u]

There are many things that could do that, such as denitrification lowering nitrate and not phosphate.

They really are not tied together as strongly as many people believe. The simple fact that one food type, reef roids, is popularly suggested for boosting phosphate points that out as well.

Do I just perform a water change? I don't want a dino outbreak due to 0 Nitrate and .39 phos.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Do I just perform a water change? I don't want a dino outbreak due to 0 Nitrate and .39 phos.

Getting nitrate up is the goal. I'd feed more or dose N as ammonium or nitrate.

 

[Chuck_e]

Microbacter7 is a denitrifier. That may be a contributing factor...

 

[rishma]

Do I just perform a water change? I don't want a dino outbreak due to 0 Nitrate and .39 phos.

Are you carbon dosing? I have had nitrates go to zero with higher phosphates when carbon dosing

 

[Sdoutreefer]

I had this issue for a little as well. I went with NeoNitro to get my No3 up and feeded heavily. That was about a month ago, and am now sitting happy around 5.3ppm.

I do still dose Microbacter7, in hopes to get the bacteria saturated in my system.

 

[SaltyCrew4u]

I had this issue for a little as well. I went with NeoNitro to get my No3 up and feeded heavily. That was about a month ago, and am now sitting happy around 5.3ppm.

I do still dose Microbacter7, in hopes to get the bacteria saturated in my system.

Yea i got it up to 15-20. It sat at 5-7 for a minute. Now i gotta find a balance with Phosphate.

 

[bubbgee]

Yea i got it up to 15-20. It sat at 5-7 for a minute. Now i gotta find a balance with Phosphate.

Unfortunately, the best way to raise Nitrates at this point is NeoNitro. You can shut down skimmer, carbon dosing or remove filter socks or any other way that reduces Nitrates for the meantime along with feeding until you see the Nitrates be detected.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Unfortunately, the best way to raise Nitrates at this point is NeoNitro. You can shut down skimmer, carbon dosing or remove filter socks or any other way that reduces Nitrates for the meantime along with feeding until you see the Nitrates be detected.

I cannot agree. I think that even if you want to dose nitrate, there are better alternatives than neonitro (cheaper, with known composition and purity assurance).

Beyond that, I think many folks would be better off dosing ammonium bicarbonate than any nitrate form.