Running High Nitrates But Zero Phosphate

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Interesting!

Their Reef Salt I'm using does say they add amino acids, maybe that's got something to do with this?
https://aquaforest.eu/en/products/seawater/marine-salts/reef-salt/

Oh, definitely. Stop using that if you want less N accumulating.

 

[Troylee]

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.

I experienced higher phosphates after a wc with reef crystals but nitrates are always lower.

 

[rishma]

It seems goofy that AF would put enough aminos in there to result in high nitrate, but agree I’d stop using it for now.

 

[Fish Fan]

Guys, when I have a chance today, I'm going to test some newly mixed saltwater and see what that shows. Again, when I first do a water change, the nitrate does indeed go down, so I'm not sure the salt mix is the issue here, but definitely worth looking into

Thanks again everyone!!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It seems goofy that AF would put enough aminos in there to result in high nitrate, but agree I’d stop using it for now.

Might be too much was added by mistake.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Guys, when I have a chance today, I'm going to test some newly mixed saltwater and see what that shows. Again, when I first do a water change, the nitrate does indeed go down, so I'm not sure the salt mix is the issue here, but definitely worth looking into

Thanks again everyone!!

Amino acids won’t show right away. In the other persons situation, nitrate rose in new salt water only after a few days of sitting.

 

[i cant think]

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!

Your nitrates will be helped with more surface area, you’ll get more nitrifying bacteria. The bacteria will also increase phosphate input in a sense, not enough to do a huge dent but it will at least help to balance your nitrates back down, thus reduce the chances of Dinos or other bacteria forming.

 

[Fish Fan]

Amino acids won’t show right away. In the other persons situation, nitrate rose in new salt water only after a few days of sitting.

Would nitrate show in my mixing bucket if I have the saltwater mixed and circulating for several days?

 

[Fish Fan]

Your nitrates will be helped with more surface area, you’ll get more nitrifying bacteria. The bacteria will also increase phosphate input in a sense, not enough to do a huge dent but it will at least help to balance your nitrates back down, thus reduce the chances of Dinos or other bacteria forming.

Interesting! But for denitrification, wouldn't the sand have to be quite think to create a hypoxic or anoxic zone for denitrifying bacteria? I've always thought that was the case, but maybe I'm mistaken; wouldn't be the first time

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Your nitrates will be helped with more surface area, you’ll get more nitrifying bacteria. The bacteria will also increase phosphate input in a sense, not enough to do a huge dent but it will at least help to balance your nitrates back down, thus reduce the chances of Dinos or other bacteria forming.

Nitrifiers make nitrate. How would more surface area for them help?

How do bacteria add phosphate?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Interesting! But for denitrification, wouldn't the sand have to be quite think to create a hypoxic or anoxic zone for denitrifying bacteria? I've always thought that was the case, but maybe I'm mistaken; wouldn't be the first time

Unless there’s an organic source, I would not assume one can boost denitrification significantly. I’m also not entirely convinced denitrification is an important process in most reef tanks, even those dosing organic carbon.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/i...trification-in-ordinary-reef-aquaria.1101143/

 

[Rocks reef]

Hey fish! After reading Randy's reply, I really don't have much to add. Carbon dosing will help and like he said dosing phosphate. It's in the mail, let me know when you get it.

 

[tbrown]

I experienced higher phosphates after a wc with reef crystals but nitrates are always lower.

Same, but I'm fairly positive it was my source water. My TDS out of the DI was 3. My pool and freshwater aquarium both turned green and my reef Phosphates went up. Checked the pool - high for Phosphates. Dosed LaCl to the pool and crystal clear water almost overnight... I had to do 3 90% water changes on the freshwater tank.

 

[tbrown]

Guys, when I have a chance today, I'm going to test some newly mixed saltwater and see what that shows. Again, when I first do a water change, the nitrate does indeed go down, so I'm not sure the salt mix is the issue here, but definitely worth looking into

Thanks again everyone!!

You'll need to check ammonia, not nitrates.

 

[tbrown]

I think...

 

[Fish Fan]

You'll need to check ammonia, not nitrates.

I see what you're saying, maybe I should check both.

Hey fish! After reading Randy's reply, I really don't have much to add. Carbon dosing will help and like he said dosing phosphate. It's in the mail, let me know when you get it.

Thank you again, that's really nice of you and I appreciate it!!

Unless there’s an organic source, I would not assume one can boost denitrification significantly. I’m also not entirely convinced denitrification is an important process in most reef tanks, even those dosing organic carbon.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/i...trification-in-ordinary-reef-aquaria.1101143/

Thanks again, I'll take a look at the link you provided!

 

[Fish Fan]

Unless there’s an organic source, I would not assume one can boost denitrification significantly. I’m also not entirely convinced denitrification is an important process in most reef tanks, even those dosing organic carbon.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/i...trification-in-ordinary-reef-aquaria.1101143/

Then do you see any value to things like a deep sand bed for denitrification? Is it even possible to create a low oxygen environment to foster those bacteria, and do you think it's effective at denitrification, or more likely a detritus sink and a potential latent tank crash in the making?

Thank you!!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Then do you see any value to things like a deep sand bed for denitrification? Is it even possible to create a low oxygen environment to foster those bacteria, and do you think it's effective at denitrification, or more likely a detritus sink and a potential latent tank crash in the making?

Thank you!!

I had a deep sand bed for a while, and removed it because I did not think it did anything pro or con.

There may be some scenarios where denitrification occurs, but it’s not something I would count on to solve a problem.

 

[Miami Reef]

Denitrification in a reef tank is a paradox.

In order to have it, you’d need flow so low that O₂ won’t significantly get in, but if you are limiting O₂’s entry point, how do you expect nitrate to get into those deep zones?

 

[Fish Fan]

Denitrification in a reef tank is a paradox.

In order to have it, you’d need flow so low that O₂ won’t significantly get in, but if you are limiting O₂’s entry point, how do you expect nitrate to get into those deep zones?

Great point!