Running High Nitrates But Zero Phosphate

Randy Holmes-Farley

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I’m not sure there is anything more to the N source than from foods. The dry base rock may absorb a ton of phosphate before that sink stops taking it up, making it look like excess N, when perhaps it is not.
 

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I feel like it was asked, but have you checked nitrate with a different kit?
I did use a Red Sea kit a while back to confirm and it seemed to confirm what I'm getting with the Hanna HR Nitrate Checker, however admittedly the Red Sea test kit's reagents were expired. The Hanna reagents I'm using are not expired.

I also have the Hanna Low Range Nitrate, but I believe my concentration here would be outside the range of that Checker. I can try to get another kit if you think it would help, but please know that after a big water change I can get like 18 ppm nitrate, and then in a few short days it's way up again, like 50 ppm. So I do believe the Checker is working well.

Thanks again, I really appreciate your input here!
 
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I’m not sure there is anything more to the N source than from foods. The dry base rock may absorb a ton of phosphate before that sink stops taking it up, making it look like excess N, when perhaps it is not.
But I'm hardly feeding anything here. I don't have any fish. I did have a bit of hair algae early on, so I added some CUC critters, and I do occasionally now target feed them since the algae is largely gone. I am adding a pinch of Reef Roids nearly daily in an effort to raise phosphates (and I understand this will also raise nitrate), but I had high nitrates and low phosphate from the beginning, even before I had corals, a CUC or was adding Reef Roids. So I'm quite puzzled here, I've never personally been in this situation (high nitrate, but low phosphate).

Thank you again for your help here!
 
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That could be useful.
I got the Nitrite checker by mistake when I was trying to buy a different checker from another reefer (he sent me the wrong one by mistake lol!). I've never ver used it, and would have to see if the reagents are still good, but I can try to test for nitrite if you think it would help.
 

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If the rocks were cycling and you added them to the new tank with different water parameters there is always a possibility of a small die-off I would assume. That can cause some nitrates.

Also, some salt mixes do have an ammonia/organics source in them so a water change can potentially add to the nitrates. I don't think it happens often but I have read a couple of threads on here that were saying they tested their source water and their freshly mixed salt water and their tank water - higher in the mixed salt than the tank and 0 in the source. Water changes were raising their nitrates.
 
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Unless there is something decaying on the rock, I have no idea.
That's all I can think of too, but again only 50% of my rocks were totally dry, new base roc, the other 50% was well cycled from another tank. And this tank has been running since late February, so wouldn't the organics be exhausted by now?

I do have one theory here, but it may not be accurate. I started this tank with some TBS live rock rubble in the back filter section, and temporarily added a few pieces of TBS rock to the display area when I first started the tank. I then did a 2-3 month "dark" cycle before turning on the lights and stocking the tank. During the dark cycle, I have an explosion of pineapple sponges all over the rocks in the display area. Once I turned the lights on, those sponges died. I am wondering if the song die off is causing my problems here. I am thinking that the pineapple sponges are just a little blob of protein that's now creating the high nitrate, but not adding much for phosphate as these are non-photosynthetic sponges. I have no idea if that's true though, but it's all I've got here.
 
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If the rocks were cycling and you added them to the new tank with different water parameters there is always a possibility of a small die-off I would assume. That can cause some nitrates.

Also, some salt mixes do have an ammonia/organics source in them so a water change can potentially add to the nitrates. I don't think it happens often but I have read a couple of threads on here that were saying they tested their source water and their freshly mixed salt water and their tank water - higher in the mixed salt than the tank and 0 in the source. Water changes were raising their nitrates.
Interesting! I check my newly mixed water for Alk, but never thought the check for nitrate.

Thank you for the idea!
 
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Thank you for your help here!

Unfortunately, this is a small AIO, and I would like to keep it bare bottom, so no room to add sand (at least not much). I do have some TBS rock rubble in the back 'fuge section.
In the refugium section, under the rock you could place a decent layer of sand - or even in just a small bag have some (that’s what I do in the coral trays if they’re small - a thin layer of sand in the back or a small bag of it if it’s only got a back chamber)
 
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In the refugium section, under the rock you could place a decent layer of sand - or even in just a small bag have some (that’s what I do in the coral trays if they’re small - a thin layer of sand in the back or a small bag of it if it’s only got a back chamber)
I could do that, I could also add a small bag of sand in my media caddy too. But could I please ask, how would this help my situation? Would you expect phosphate to be bound to the sand?

Thanks again for your time and help!
 

Randy Holmes-Farley

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I started with AquaForrest Sea Salt and have now switched to AquaForrest Reef Salt mix.

While I think it an unlikely source, the person in the main forum with unusual nitrate issues also uses Aquaforest.

 
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While I think it an unlikely source, the person in the main forum with unusual nitrate issues also uses Aquaforest.

OK, maybe I'll check my newly mixed saltwater, I'm running out of other ideas here lol!

Thanks again, Randy!
 

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While I think it an unlikely source, the person in the main forum with unusual nitrate issues also uses Aquaforest.

I was JUST about to comment this!

I'm using Aquaforest Reefsalt +


Unlikely, yes, but very suspicious.
 
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I was JUST about to comment this!




Unlikely, yes, but very suspicious.
Interesting!

Their Reef Salt I'm using does say they add amino acids, maybe that's got something to do with this?
 

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Interesting!

Their Reef Salt I'm using does say they add amino acids, maybe that's got something to do with this?
If it were me, I’d switch. I’d not bother testing it. I would use a salt that’s proven to not have any nitrate issue, like Instant Ocean purple, Red Sea, Tropic Marin, etc.

I really enjoy eliminating variables.
 

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