Nitrate and phosphate

[fishyfishfish]

Hi all I’m currently running the red sea max e 260 (rear sump), all my parameters are good. Just a-bit unsure on my phosphate and nitrate. Are these reading ok?
Phos:0.03
Nitrate: 9.8

I dont want to start chasing numbers if not needed. Have noticed some green algae growing on live sand. Tank is 6 months

 

[edsbeaker]

Hello and welcome!!!

Algae is not a bad thing in a tank if it doesn’t get out of control, and 6 months in is still a very young tank still going through the process of balancing itself out. Do you have a CUC that is helping you out with the algae?

Regarding the phosphates and nitrates, I wouldn’t worry about them since both are within an acceptable range. The only thing I would suggest is to maybe get phosphate up a bit so you aren’t so close to bottoming out. You don’t want to have 0 phosphates ever. When that happens you aren’t supplying your corals with the nutrients they need, especially true if you are keeping softies and LPS. Maybe just increase your feeding a bit and you should be good. .05 - .1 is a good range to target. Don’t panic, though, if they get even higher. Many people run great healthy tanks at higher phosphates.

 

[fishyfishfish]

Hello and welcome!!!

Algae is not a bad thing in a tank if it doesn’t get out of control, and 6 months in is still a very young tank still going through the process of balancing itself out. Do you have a CUC that is helping you out with the algae?

Regarding the phosphates and nitrates, I wouldn’t worry about them since both are within an acceptable range. The only thing I would suggest is to maybe get phosphate up a bit so you aren’t so close to bottoming out. You don’t want to have 0 phosphates ever. When that happens you aren’t supplying your corals with the nutrients they need, especially true if you are keeping softies and LPS. Maybe just increase your feeding a bit and you should be good. .05 - .1 is a good range to target. Don’t panic, though, if they get even higher. Many people run great healthy tanks at higher phosphates.

Many thanks - appreciate it :)

Cuc: hermit crab, cleaner shrimp, turbo snail and 4 nassarius so far

 

[gmavrom]

I have the same issue with a 110 waterbox. Zero zero and hair algae galore on rocks. Will Microbactor seven assist at all? I added a 2nd emerald crab may need more snails. I have a scopus, Tomi, and a Foxface, but they have not made much progress. I can't really clean the rocks as they have corals on them

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I have the same issue with a 110 waterbox. Zero zero and hair algae galore on rocks. Will Microbactor seven assist at all? I added a 2nd emerald crab may need more snails. I have a scopus, Tomi, and a Foxface, but they have not made much progress. I can't really clean the rocks as they have corals on them

Nutrients are not generally a good way to control algae. Herbivores are usually the best bet. Reef Cleaners is a good source of an expanded clean up crew. :)