What level do you target for nitrates?

[AllSignsPointToFish]

With carbon dosing, my nitrates usually run less than 1 ppm. However, I'm beginning to think that this may be too low for an non-ULNS. While I don't have nuisance algae, I do contend with bacterial flocs, and I certainly can't grow Chaetomorpha at those levels. What nitrate target level do you strive for?

 

[BigJim]

My tank seems to do best with nitrate around 8-10 ppm.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

My tank seems to do best with nitrate around 8-10 ppm.

Do you have nuisance algae at those levels?

 

[BigJim]

Do you have nuisance algae at those levels?

I have a little bryopsis growing between some zoas. I hit it with hydrogen peroxide a couple times a week and it doesn't spread. I do have to clean film algae off the glass every three or four days.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

I have a little bryopsis growing between some zoas. I hit it with hydrogen peroxide a couple times a week and it doesn't spread. I do have to clean film algae off the glass every three or four days.

I have the same issue with film algae on the glass even though my nitrates usually run <0.5 ppm and phosphates are always around 0.03 ppm. It could be possible that it is some sort of bacterial growth and not film algae as it is not the green film algae I've had in the past.

 

[AdamNC]

Having an sps dominated tank I try to keep my No3 about 3ppm and my Po4 about 0.02ppm.

 

[Ocelaris]

I have the same issue with film algae on the glass even though my nitrates usually run <0.5 ppm and phosphates are always around 0.03 ppm. It could be possible that it is some sort of bacterial growth and not film algae as it is not the green film algae I've had in the past.

When my nitrates go below 2ppm my film algae on the glass goes up, I've tested this theory a few times and it's repeatable. Once I start dosing nitrates again the glass algae basically disappears for days. I have a 110 with 40 sump and a huge chaeto ball, medium skimmer and carbin/gfo. Phosphates stay at. 04 or less.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

When my nitrates go below 2ppm my film algae on the glass goes up, I've tested this theory a few times and it's repeatable. Once I start dosing nitrates again the glass algae basically disappears for days. I have a 110 with 40 sump and a huge chaeto ball, medium skimmer and carbin/gfo. Phosphates stay at. 04 or less.

I have to say my observations confirm this. I've been running my nitrates between 2-4ppm and the film algae on the glass grows WAY more slowly then when nitrates are less than 1ppm.

 

[TbyZ]

I once had NO3 above 60 & PO4 at 3. Put in a algae scrubber a year ago & now they both read zero. Cyno & other algae growths on the rocks completely disappeared, but the film algae growing on the glass never changed. Have to clean it every couple of weeks.