Very low nitrates

[allof fish]

Hey all. Have a question about my nitrates in my tank. It’s pretty new been running for about 2 months with fish and coral for 1 month. I’m new to reefing and it’s my first reef tank but struggling getting my nitrates up. Ever since I have added coral a couple weeks ago they’ve been virtually 0 every test I have ran. Matches with lfs test also and really want/need to get nitrates up a bit. Atleast to 5 or 10 ppm. Have about 15 frags in tank so far majority is lps and some zoas. They don’t mind the clean water but want to create a more balance with more nitrates. Phosphates sitting around .20. Recently added another fish and looking to add more corals soon but want to get nitrates up first. Running a refugium currently, could that be a problem? Been feeding heavily past week to try and bring them up but nothing yet. Not much algae little string here and there had a little cyano but cuc has helped with it. Thanks for the help!

 

[56longroof]

How big is your tank? I'd add more fish before corals and feed more.

 

[allof fish]

100g just added a wrasse yesterday. Have another fish coming soon but going to qt for a couple weeks. Was trying to take it slow with fish since I didn’t want to overload tank. Are corals just sucking up any nitrates all the time? Or should I take out my macro algae?

 

[jonelder68]

Dose Randy’s Ammonia

 

[jonelder68]

Dose Randy’s Ammonia

DIY Ammonia dosing for low nitrate systems

Some reef aquaria have chronic low nitrogen availability. One indicator is very low nitrate. Nitrate dosing is a fine remedy, but it is possible that ammonia dosing may be more beneficial for some organisms since ammonia can be energetically easier to assimilate than is nitrate. For this...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[allof fish]

I have Dr Tim’s ammonia that I used to cycle but seems scary adding straight ammonia to a tank full of animals

 

[michael giordano]

sounds like your tank is only a couple months old. I would not chase numbers and worry about having low nitrates. Once you start over adding fish and trying to dose nitrate you will most likely overdue it. Then you’ll be chasing nitrates down. Just let your tank mature and see how your corals react to the low nitrates. No rush and no need to worry.

 

[56longroof]

100g just added a wrasse yesterday. Have another fish coming soon but going to qt for a couple weeks. Was trying to take it slow with fish since I didn’t want to overload tank. Are corals just sucking up any nitrates all the time? Or should I take out my macro algae?

How many fish are in the tank now?

 

[jonelder68]

I have Dr Tim’s ammonia that I used to cycle but seems scary adding straight ammonia to a tank full of animals

Read Randy’s articles. You can does up to 1ppm at a time. Ammonia isn’t toxic at low levels and actually very beneficial. I dose 1ppm at 7am and another 1ppm worth at 7pm. Macros and everything are thriving now. I still have zero nitrate detectable.

 

[michael giordano]

Don’t start adding ammonia to your new tank that has fish in it. That could be bad if not adding a tiny amount at a time. The methods are fairly new as well on ammonia dosing. Just chill and enjoy your tank, really patience is a virtue in this hobby. Your macro algea and bacteria are consuming nitrates let it be as long as everything is doing okay.

 

[56longroof]

I'd just add fish slowly and watch everything. Your tank is still young and it will take time. Patience is the key. It will take a couple years to get a tank like the ones you see here. Sit back, relax and enjoy the process.

 

[jonelder68]

Are your macros and corals healthy looking? Growing? With zero nitrates my macros were not growing. Turning white. Even dying off. Started dosing ammonia and the reds have color back and within last month have grown about 4X the size. No fish or cuc lost. Ammonia is ok in low doses. It’s food for coral and the macros that are otherwise possibly starving.

 

[allof fish]

I’ve been feeding pretty heavily within last week or so multiple times a day. Seems scary for me to add straight ammonia to tank when I’m no expert. Currently only 5 fish in tank and all are small. Looking to add some more anthias soon. All corals look healthy and happy. Just moving some things here and there to find perfect amount of flow. I have been feeding AB+ about every other day just to put food in there since nitrates are so low. Broadcast and spot feeding polyps. Was gonna go to lfs to see if any more fish I can add just want to qt them first off.

 

[jonelder68]

I’ve been feeding pretty heavily within last week or so multiple times a day. Seems scary for me to add straight ammonia to tank when I’m no expert. Currently only 5 fish in tank and all are small. Looking to add some more anthias soon. All corals look healthy and happy. Just moving some things here and there to find perfect amount of flow. I have been feeding AB+ about every other day just to put food in there since nitrates are so low. Broadcast and spot feeding polyps. Was gonna go to lfs to see if any more fish I can add just want to qt them first off.

Same. I feed 6-7 times a day and could never get nutrients. 6 fish so far. The macros suck it all up to quick. So that’s why I’ve started ammonia dosing and so far it’s a game changer. Read up on it…tons of articles on it. It’s very cheap to mix up your own and start dosing. Any questions just ask in Randy’s forum on ammonia dosing.
@Randy Holmes-Farley would you agree ammonia dosing could be beneficial here?

 

[exnisstech]

You could just dose nitrate. I used sodium nitrate but I also had low PO4 so I had to dose phosphate as well. After dealing with that for a year I decided to start dosing ammonim bicarb and it was a game changer. I no longer have to add ammonium and my NO3 and PO4 are staying at detectable levels where before they would always return to zero. Feeding more did nothing for this tank.
Could be coincidence but I'm seeing Increased growth on my acros after using ammonium to get N and P levels up. Dosing ammonium following Randy's instructions is not dangerous to tank inhabitants IME

 

[allof fish]

I will look into it just really afraid of over dosing it. Everything looks good except struggling with a goniopora frag and alveopora not opening up here and there not sure it’s because of that or other factors

 

[exnisstech]

Goni and alveopora have been difficult for me even in mature tanks. Not sure why so I just move on.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

What test kit are you using? Nitrate is the end product, it is waste. Corals strip the water of nutrients starting from ammonia before nitrate shows up on your test. Its actually hard work for the coral to consume nitrate. Better to get more fish to get more poop.

If only one coral is struggling, I would review the light and flow before trying to increase nitrate.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Hey all. Have a question about my nitrates in my tank. It’s pretty new been running for about 2 months with fish and coral for 1 month. I’m new to reefing and it’s my first reef tank but struggling getting my nitrates up. Ever since I have added coral a couple weeks ago they’ve been virtually 0 every test I have ran. Matches with lfs test also and really want/need to get nitrates up a bit. Atleast to 5 or 10 ppm. Have about 15 frags in tank so far majority is lps and some zoas. They don’t mind the clean water but want to create a more balance with more nitrates. Phosphates sitting around .20. Recently added another fish and looking to add more corals soon but want to get nitrates up first. Running a refugium currently, could that be a problem? Been feeding heavily past week to try and bring them up but nothing yet. Not much algae little string here and there had a little cyano but cuc has helped with it. Thanks for the help!

It is easy enough to dose some form of N and see if it helps. Ammonia or nitrate would be my recommendation.

 

[skey44]

I also recommend dosing nitrate/ammonia to avoid Dinos. There’s DIY and that’s great but I just used Brightwell neonitro off the shelf. Overtime as you add fish and your tank gets more mature your nitrate numbers will get easier to manage. I’d take any macro algae filters or filter roller off-line until you need them.

I test in the 1 range for Nitrates with Hanna checker now, but can visually tell my corals are getting what they need by looking good and growing without dosing. I do have a pretty high bioaload and feed accordingly.

I did suffer from Dinos early on. I should have been faster to start dosing slowly to avoid bottoming out like I did. Learn from me I guess