Nitrates at zero, phosphates are 0.2.... how do I fix ?

[Shawaiz_106]

Tank is 4 months old, corals were happy. Most of them r here from start because they came on the liverock except moast zoas.

All of them had been thriving until last week when I started eSHa Gdex fluke treatment. Now the anenomes r less than half the size and way darker and most zoas aren't opening. Kenya tree opens sometimes but closes very easily and randomly too.

I've gotten my water tested and tested it myself, ammonia is zero, salinity is a little lower at 23.5ppt and nitrates are zero with phosphates at like 0.25 which are my main concerns.

Ice tried feeding easier. It's a flluval evo and I feed it flakes, pellets frozen and over feed to the point food hits floor too.

I only have 1 hermit crab and 1 peppermint shrimp.

I have another tank downstairs with like 25ppm nitrates. I added 100ml of water from that into this tank just so there is atleast some nitrates for now. Should I start dosing neonitro ?

How do I fix this ?

 

[Timfish]

Simplest is feed more and run GFO. FWIW nitrates are corals least favorite form of nitrogen, urea and ammonia being thier preffered forms. Corals also have diazotrophs that can convert free nitrogen into nitrates if they need it. Avoid high levels of nitrates as too much can cause the coral/zooxanthelle mutualism to break down. As for PO4, at .2 mg/l that's what corals can see in the wild with upwelling potentially providing .3 mg/l. Work done be researchers at Southampton University identified .03 mg/l as the minimum to prevent a PO4 deficiency in corals. Here's an intriguing video by Charles Delbeek, curator at the Steinhart Aquraium in San Francisco where they've spawned acros:



Researchers have learned a lot over the decades and ther's a lot more than just nitrates and PO4. Here's some additiona links you may find interesting and educational:

"Coral Reefs in the Microbial Seas " This video compliments Rohwer's book of the same title. Used copies are available on line and it may be free to read on Internet Archive. both deal with the conflicting roles of the different types of DOC (carbon dosing) in reef ecosystems and how it can alter coral microbiomes. While there is overlap bewteen his book and the video both have information not covered by the other and together give a broader view of the complex relationships found in reef ecosystems and are an excellent starting point to understand the conflicting roles of Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC, aka "carbon dosing") in reef ecosystems.


Changing Seas - Mysterious Microbes


Microbial view of Coral Decline


Nitrogen cycling in hte coral holobiont


BActeria and Sponges


Maintenance of Coral Reef Health (refferences at the end)


Optical Feedback Loop in Colorful Coral Bleaching


DNA Sequencing and the Reef Tank Microbiome


Richard Ross What's up with phosphate"


https://response.restoration.noaa.g...um-invasive-algae-then-apply-sea-urchins.html

 

[CHSUB]

salinity is a little lower at 23.5ppt

This is very low, correct asap.

 

[BlueBayouReefHTX]

Feed a little heavier, or dose Neonitro.
I wouldn't worry about the phosphates- one of my tanks has been >.25 since it was setup, even higher than >.70 without any issues to coral or fish. I would bring your nitrate up though to detectable levels and keep it there.
And correct your salinity. Happy reefing.

 

[KStatefan]

This is very low, correct asap.

but slowly

 

[Featherweight]

If salinity is 23.5 not 33.5, that's very low. The other things are not a worry given that

 

[rtparty]

Salinity typo? If not, make sure you to get that number verified and then slowly increase.

Dose ammonia to get more nitrogen in the system. Randy has articles and recipes on here

 

[Shawaiz_106]

If salinity is 23.5 not 33.5, that's very low. The other things are not a worry given that

Sorry meant salinity is 33.5ppt***

 

[Shawaiz_106]

Salinity typo? If not, make sure you to get that number verified and then slowly increase.

Dose ammonia to get more nitrogen in the system. Randy has articles and recipes on here

Yeah, typo.

All tests I got verified at 2 LFS one with hannas, other with red sea and I have salifert test kits.

I'm not too sure if it's the nitrates being too low that the corals and anenomes aren't happy about or any residual fluke medication ( it was fully reef safe and they didn't love it but tolerated it until last few days of the medication when they really got ticked off )

I dosed the medicated for 40L of water which is what I believed my evo holds after licerock etc.

I did a 15L water change on day 8 ( meant to do on day 7 but busy with guests ). Should I do another one or just run more carbon ?,

The 2 rbta have shrunken and darkened up. Kenya tree is iffy, sometimes open sometimes not in middle of day and zoas been closed for last few days.