Nitrates Dropped to zero

[bjeffries]

I just checked my water and my nitrates have dropped to zero. They were 4.9 last week. I added Phosguard and Charcoal to the rack in my 50 gallon AIO. I do this once a month. Could Phosguard and charcoal make my Nitrates zero? Thanks. Brian

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

No those are not likely a big factor. Both will bind organics that may not then release N that could become nitrate, but they do not bind it directly.

 

[Wbreef]

How long has your tank been running ?
Typically you add those chemical medias with a specific goal in mind or to solve a specific problem. I wouldn’t just put them in the back of the tank just because.

I have something similar going on in my tank with nitrates dropping from 15 to 0 over the course of a few weeks but I have no chemical medias whatsoever in the tank. I have come to the conclusion that a.) my coral and photosynthetic algae’s in my tank are consuming nitrate and b.)starting with dry rock can deplete these nutrients until they become saturated for the first few months of the tanks life as talked about in this video…

 

[bjeffries]

How long has your tank been running ?
Typically you add those chemical medias with a specific goal in mind or to solve a specific problem. I wouldn’t just put them in the back of the tank just because.

I have something similar going on in my tank with nitrates dropping from 15 to 0 over the course of a few weeks but I have no chemical medias whatsoever in the tank. I have come to the conclusion that a.) my coral and photosynthetic algae’s in my tank are consuming nitrate and b.)starting with dry rock can deplete these nutrients until they become saturated as talked about in this video…

My tank has been running for 7 years. About 2 months ago the same thing happened. I had high phosphates but they are .06 now. Not sure what’s happening. I’m setting up a new 125 gallon on Friday. Didn’t need this result tonight. Haha

 

[bjeffries]

No those are not likely a big factor. Both will bind organics that may not then release N that could become nitrate, but they do not bind it directly.

Thank you

 

[Wbreef]

How long has your tank been running ?
Typically you add those chemical medias with a specific goal in mind or to solve a specific problem. I wouldn’t just put them in the back of the tank just because.

I have something similar going on in my tank with nitrates dropping from 15 to 0 over the course of a few weeks but I have no chemical medias whatsoever in the tank. I have come to the conclusion that a.) my coral and photosynthetic algae’s in my tank are consuming nitrate and b.)starting with dry rock can deplete these nutrients until they become saturated as talked about in this video…

My tank has been running for 7 years. About 2 months ago the same thing happened. I had high phosphates but they are .06 now. Not sure what’s happening. I’m setting up a new 125 gallon on Friday. Didn’t need this result tonight. Haha

Ohh wow it’s been running a while. I would look at filtration and feeding. Maybe over filtering , underfeeding or a combination of sorts?

Are you struggling with algae that could be sucking up nutrients or maybe large coral colonies?

 

[bjeffries]

How long has your tank been running ?
Typically you add those chemical medias with a specific goal in mind or to solve a specific problem. I wouldn’t just put them in the back of the tank just because.

I have something similar going on in my tank with nitrates dropping from 15 to 0 over the course of a few weeks but I have no chemical medias whatsoever in the tank. I have come to the conclusion that a.) my coral and photosynthetic algae’s in my tank are consuming nitrate and b.)starting with dry rock can deplete these nutrients until they become saturated as talked about in this video…

My tank has been running for 7 years. About 2 months ago the same thing happened. I had high phosphates but they are .06 now. Not sure what’s happening. I’m setting up a new 125 gallon on Friday. Didn’t need this result tonight. Haha

Ohh wow it’s been running a while. I would look at filtration and feeding. Maybe over filtering , underfeeding or a combination of sorts?

Are you struggling with algae that could be sucking up nutrients or maybe large coral colonies?

I don’t really have an algae issue I did cut back my feeding to try and lower the Phosphates. I vacuumed the back of the AIO really good during my water chance on Sunday afternoon

 

[Skippy The Meh]

I wouldnt look too far into it, just dose some neo nitro and move on. Thats just me, im smooth brained tho:)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

. I have come to the conclusion that a.) my coral and photosynthetic algae’s in my tank are consuming nitrate and b.)starting with dry rock can deplete these nutrients until they become saturated for the first few months of the tanks life as talked about in this video…

FWIW, dry rock readily binds phosphate, but not nitrate at all.

 

[bjeffries]

I wouldnt look too far into it, just dose some neo nitro and move on. Thats just me, im smooth brained tho:)

Thank you