Very low nitrates

[CHSUB]

All corals look healthy and happy

So because an inaccurate, low resolution hobby test kit show a color reading you don’t like, you think there is a problem?

My 1.25 year old tank has never had a no3 reading and po4 today was .01, highest in a month, mostly 0.0 on Hanna.

 

[skey44]

There was mention certain corals weren’t doing well. Goni and Alveopora not opening could be an indicator of truly bottomed out nutrients.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

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.

If you follow the recipe and dosing guidelines, it is no risk. Same as adding more fish.

Companies making money off real and fake ammonia treatments have frightened people unnecessarily.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So because an inaccurate, low resolution hobby test kit show a color reading you don’t like, you think there is a problem?

My 1.25 year old tank has never had a no3 reading and po4 today was .01, highest in a month, mostly 0.0 on Hanna.

If a coral is suffering, the op cannot easily determine whether lack of N is a contributing cause without checking, and by far the easiest way is to provide more n and see if it helps.

 

[CHSUB]

There was mention certain corals weren’t doing well. Goni and Alveopora not opening could be an indicator of truly bottomed out nutrients.

0 no3 and po4 .01…

 

[CHSUB]

If a coral is suffering, the op cannot easily determine whether lack of N is a contributing cause without checking, and by far the easiest way is to provide more n and see if it helps.

All corals look healthy and happy

I can only judge what OP states….

 

[jonelder68]

I can only judge what OP states….

He stated Goni’s and few others were having issues….could it be from low N? Possibly. As Randy suggest won’t know until trying out dosing some N and see what occurs.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I can only judge what OP states….

Right. And the statement in no way indicated that there was enough N. Maybe there is and maybe there isn’t.

Your corals do not thrive on zero nitrate plus nothing else. They have a source of N.

Are you sure enough that the op tank has a similarly sufficient source?

 

[CHSUB]

Everything looks good except struggling with a goniopora frag and alveopora not opening up here and there

Op states everything good except 2 corals occasionally not opening…I’m not changing anything until I see a more obvious problem. I think “wait and see” is more appropriate…especially for a new hobbyist that next month will be asking how to solve dinos, GHA or cyano.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Op states everything good except 2 corals occasionally not opening…I’m not changing anything until I see a more obvious problem. I think “wait and see” is more appropriate…especially for a new hobbyist that next month will be asking how to solve dinos, GHA or cyano.

Waiting is a second and also fine approach. But it’s not what I would do in that situation since adding some N carries no real risk.

 

[allof fish]

I use all salivary test kits. Have had no issues with them being accurate have even taken multiple water samples to lfs and they said low nitrates as well. I wouldn’t say corals are doing bad. All of them have only been in there for a month or even less. The goni frags are about 2-4 weeks old and I wouldn’t say there aren’t opening. Some parts of day one has polyps extended other times no. I have being messing with placement and flow for some just bc I added another pump and trying to get flow right for torches and gonis at same time. It seems like for some reason mine don’t like the same flow the torches get even though they are much lower than them. I definitely wouldn’t say anything is suffering. Looking at it now’s polyps are out more than earlier. I know patience is key to this so I might just leave them alone for a couple more weeks. 2 goni frags are very small so doing well for that. I know I’m new to reefing and maybe got too many corals too fast but I feel like I’m in a good spot. All torches look very healthy and frogspaen and hammers too. I know gonis can be difficult sometimes but I don’t want to start adding stuff if not needed right now or risk messing up tank. I dose 3 part and all parameters are good and stable. Should I wait it out a bit more? Add more fish soon?

 

[allof fish]

First Goni is one that is 50/50 of it opens or not in last 2 weeks. Other one is oldest frag but I believe it’s encrusting variety not sure exactly.

 

[CHSUB]

I use all salivary test kits. Have had no issues with them being accurate have even taken multiple water samples to lfs and they said low nitrates as well

Doesn’t matter if it’s the LFS or your buddies and 5 other hobby test kits, none are very accurate and definitely not more accurate then visually healthy corals…imo if your hobby test kits show undetectable or low nutrients it’s and invitation to feed more, which is the best thing possible. Corals and fish love food!

Here is a leather coral that has done nothing in months…I’m just waiting it out.