Running High Nitrates But Zero Phosphate

[N11morales]

I'm still working on this tank, but I think it's headed the right way. I ditched the AquaForrest Reef Salt that seemed to be causing ammonia that was in turn leading to my high nitrate. I using up half a bag of AquaForrest Sea Salt currently, and then I'm going back to Instant Ocean Sea Salt. I used IO salt for years in the past, but switch this time around because I don't care for the (harmless) residue IO leaves in the mixing bucket, but there's really no reason to pay more for salt.

My last tests were just a couple of days ago, and right now nitrates are 33 ppm, which is way down from the >75 ppm I was seeing. I'm feeding Reef Roids and just very recently started to dose sodium phosphate to get the phosphate up. Phosphate is 0.031 ppm now, which is up from zero.

I hope that helps and good luck!

Very nice glad ur tank is heading in the right direction! I was still trying to sort out what I can do to lower my nitrate. My phosphate is low, so was told to increase it. My nitrate stays in the 50s no matter how much water I change it comes right back up.

I use red sea blue bucket as my salt. My rodi system reading 0 on the meter.

 

[Fish Fan]

Very nice glad ur tank is heading in the right direction! I was still trying to sort out what I can do to lower my nitrate. My phosphate is low, so was told to increase it. My nitrate stays in the 50s no matter how much water I change it comes right back up.

I use red sea blue bucket as my salt. My rodi system reading 0 on the meter.

Check your freshly made saltwater for ammonia. In my case, amino acids in the salt mix I was using were creating ammonia, which led to high nitrates. I'd do huge water changes, and the nitrate would go right back up again. It's maybe a small possibility, but check your water just to rule this out.

 

[N11morales]

Check your freshly made saltwater for ammonia. In my case, amino acids in the salt mix I was using were creating ammonia, which led to high nitrates. I'd do huge water changes, and the nitrate would go right back up again. It's maybe a small possibility, but check your water just to rule this out.

I think I still have an ammonia test kit. I'll check when I get home. I have a 5G bucket with mixed saltwater has a high salinity 1.035, but I'll see if its got ammonia

 

[Fish Fan]

I think I still have an ammonia test kit. I'll check when I get home. I have a 5G bucket with mixed saltwater has a high salinity 1.035, but I'll see if its got ammonia

It's worth double checking, it helped me and I was pulling my hair out over the high nitrate.

I just ran a few tests, I'm showing phosphate at 0.035 ppm, nitrate at 25 ppm, so I'm doing better I think.

 

[N11morales]

It's worth double checking, it helped me and I was pulling my hair out over the high nitrate.

I just ran a few tests, I'm showing phosphate at 0.035 ppm, nitrate at 25 ppm, so I'm doing better I think.

i didn't think to test for ammonia. So glad you brought that up! Kinda hoping thats my issue? LOL so i can stop pulling my hair out too

 

[Rocks reef]

How are your nitrates doing?

 

[Fish Fan]

Still high, typically well over 50 ppm and sometimes higher than my Hanna can read (>75.0 ppm).