Nitrates keep dropping

[dvgyfresh]

Thanks. Random question though, wouldnt that lower my nitrates further by removing it?

I enjoy a good 1-2inch of mulm in my sump , alll about your style

 

[kpreslicka]

This is the way . Without much consumption I think you could dose to your target/10-15ppm NO3 and be set for a while. 14 frags won’t consume much and you didn’t mention a fuge so little to no consumption. 8 cubes of food sounds excessive. Just dose some sodium nitrate to target level and be done .

Awesome thank you! I do have some sps frags (i know it's waaaay too early but they were cheap from the WWC sale) would 10-15 be too high for them?

 

[jonelder68]

Awesome thank you! I do have some sps frags (i know it's waaaay too early but they were cheap from the WWC sale) would 10-15 be too high for them?

https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/optim...oral-reef-aquarium-by-randy-holmes-farley.79/
10-15ppm is the claimed sweet spot but within Randy’s zone is perfect!

 

[Staghorn]

I currently am leaving my socks in longer to keep the nitrates up, I still have some fine-tuning to do but it seems like I will be be able to figure out a Maintenece schedule that will keep nitrates up as long as I don’t change my feeding schedule or the amount of fish, but I will keep adjusting accordingly

 

[kpreslicka]

I currently am leaving my socks in longer to keep the nitrates up, I still have some fine-tuning to do but it seems like I will be be able to figure out a Maintenece schedule that will keep nitrates up as long as I don’t change my feeding schedule or the amount of fish, but I will keep adjusting accordingly

Well that's my problem, socks are in and they are still dropping, no skimmer or refugium

 

[kpreslicka]

You should have posted the Emergency label…haha! Actually not a problem at all, continue feeding and if corals look weak or pale consider feeding more.

So .out of my corals are looking great. I have one montipora that seems like it's starting to bleach, I adjusted my lights (using dalua sps bundle) should I continue to feed even more?

 

[bobnicaragua]

Filter socks do not remove nitrate.

Skimmers don’t directly remove nitrate, either, and the benefits of a skimmer go beyond nutrient control.

It’s far easier to dose sodium nitrate or ammonium bicarbonate. You can outcompete any filtration with enough nitrate or ammonium dosing.

Filter socks remove organics before they breakdown and contribute to nitrates. Maybe I’m missing your point?

 

[Crabs+Shrimps-69]

Sounds good. Do you have any recommendations on cleaning the sump out then? I put my arrow crab and a few bristle worms down there but they aren't keeping up

The arrow crab probably ate the bristle worms

 

[CHSUB]

So .out of my corals are looking great. I have one montipora that seems like it's starting to bleach, I adjusted my lights (using dalua sps bundle) should I continue to feed even more?

Imo no3 test result is not sufficient information to give great advice. I would be very surprised if you would ever have a nitrogen deficiency based on your feeding, fish, coral load, and filtration.
I would never run an aquarium without a skimmer. If you are tests no3 with Salifert, zero is perfect, I always get zero unless I use Hanna LR no3 tester. You are taking advice and running your aquarium based on the most insignificant test in the hobby, no3.
Use your skimmer, manually remove algae, use proper maintenance and don’t overthink.

My no3 with Hanna LR showing adequate nitrate, which is a waste product. Yes that is .07 ppm….

 

[kpreslicka]

You should have posted the Emergency label…haha! Actually not a problem at all, continue feeding and if corals look weak or pale consider feeding more.

So .out of my corals are looking great. I have one montipora that seems like it's starting to bleach, I adjusted my lights (using dalua sps bundle) should I continue to feed even morem

Imo no3 test result is not sufficient information to give great advice. I would be very surprised if you would ever have a nitrogen deficiency based on your feeding, fish, coral load, and filtration.
I would never run an aquarium without a skimmer. If you are tests no3 with Salifert, zero is perfect, I always get zero unless I use Hanna LR no3 tester. You are taking advice and running your aquarium based on the most insignificant test in the hobby, no3.
Use your skimmer, manually remove algae, use proper maintenance and don’t overthink.

My no3 with Hanna LR showing adequate nitrate, which is a waste product. Yes that is .07 ppm….

I've used both salifert and Hanna Hr, phos was .12 last time I checked but I'm not having a huge algae outbreak. I don't want to sound like I'm chasing numbers I'm more concerned with determining if this is how my tank wants to run(on the lower end of n03 or if for whatever reason the bio load requires that much feeding/dosing. It seems like I've really only read about people having trouble keeping nitrates down or they added too much at once(which is possible for me since the tank is only 6 months old). I worry about getting dinos if I turn the skimmer back on or having to feed even more to compensate what the skimmer pulls out of that makes sense.

 

[CHSUB]

So .out of my corals are looking great. I have one montipora that seems like it's starting to bleach, I adjusted my lights (using dalua sps bundle) should I continue to feed even morem

I've used both salifert and Hanna Hr, phos was .12 last time I checked but I'm not having a huge algae outbreak. I don't want to sound like I'm chasing numbers I'm more concerned with determining if this is how my tank wants to run(on the lower end of n03 or if for whatever reason the bio load requires that much feeding/dosing. It seems like I've really only read about people having trouble keeping nitrates down or they added too much at once(which is possible for me since the tank is only 6 months old). I worry about getting dinos if I turn the skimmer back on or having to feed even more to compensate what the skimmer pulls out of that makes sense.

Chasing numbers is fine in my opinion. I test often and make adjustments however, nitrates is something you should not be worrying about unless it’s high or your corals look starved. Turn on your skimmer, Continue with good maintenance, Feed your fish and let your tank develop. If you see Dinoflagellate or any nuisance, remove them with turkey basting, scrubbing, and water change.

 

[RoanokeReef]

My tank has been 0 Nitrates for most of its life (over a year old); I dose ammonium bicarbonate and use bacto balance which has some nitrates in it. Given up trying to raise Nitrates as the tank and corals look good.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Hey guys I'm having a it of a weird problem. I can't keep my nitrates up. For context I have a 12 fish and about 14 corals frags. I have to feed 8 cubes of food daily in order to keep my nitrates from bottoming out. I know I can dose neonitro, which probably be easier, cleaner and cheaper. Would anyone have any ideas as to why this is happening? At one point they dropped to 2.5, I fed heavy and got them up higher. If I feed 8 cubes daily the nitrates will climb up, however if I drop it down to 7 cubes they start to drop. Tank is roughly 6 months old. All other parameters are good.

I’m not sure if you need any more advice, but it does not seem a big issue to me. Nitrate has apparently not fully bottomed out, and is easily raised by feeding more or dosing N in some fashion. I recommend food grade sodium nitrate or ammonium bicarbonate for dosing if you go that route.

 

[kpreslicka]

Thanks everyone really appreciate it!

 

[kpreslicka]

The arrow crab probably ate the bristle worms

Oh I'm sure he did but he's still munching on detritus

 

[Onyxia]

What are you feeding with?

 

[kpreslicka]

What are you feeding with?

Mysis, brine, some seaweed, spirulina, brine