What should i do about 0.0 nitrate/phosphate

[Rooles]

Hi! I have a 3 month old 32.5g aio softy/lps tank.

My phosphates and nitrates are 0.0 and i am wanting to know what the best way to raise them slowly is. I have thought about feeding more to increase the ammonia in turn raising nitrate but idk if thats the way to go.

Rest of parameters:
Temperature: 77.3
Salinity: 1.0261
Ammonia 0.0
Nitrite 0.0
Ph 7.8

Thanks!

 

[sgdnycct]

Do you have any fish?

 

[Rocks reef]

Randy has some great DIY NO3 and PO4 recipes so you can start dosing those.

 

[Dan_P]

Hi! I have a 3 month old 32.5g aio softy/lps tank.

My phosphates and nitrates are 0.0 and i am wanting to know what the best way to raise them slowly is. I have thought about feeding more to increase the ammonia in turn raising nitrate but idk if thats the way to go.

Rest of parameters:
Temperature: 77.3
Salinity: 1.0261
Ammonia 0.0
Nitrite 0.0
Ph 7.8

Thanks!

I think most aquarist underfeed their animals. If true, feeding more would be the humane way to go Then if that doesn’t raise nitrate, add nitrate. Ditto phosphate.

 

[Rooles]

Do you have any fish?

Yes, i have a clownfish pair, yellow watchman goby, purple firefish, and a lawnmower blenny

 

[Rooles]

Randy has some great DIY NO3 and PO4 recipes so you can start dosing those.

Thank you ill check them out

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I agree that feeding more is the easiest way to go.

Dosing N and P is a fine plan if for some reason you cannot feed more.

 

[Rooles]

I think most aquarist underfeed their animals. If true, feeding more would be the humane way to go Then if that doesn’t raise nitrate, add nitrate. Ditto phosphate.

Will do! I think mine are chunky. Ill feed a little more and see how it goes

 

[Rooles]

I agree that feeding more is the easiest way to go.

Dosing N and P is a fine plan if for some reason you cannot feed more.

I will feed more! I am happy to feed my little water piggies =)

 

[sgdnycct]

Do you have any fish?

Yes, i have a clownfish pair, yellow watchman goby, purple firefish, and a lawnmower blenny

Great. I second the suggestion to increase feeding. Fish eat constantly in the wild so add a couple of feedings per day. Also, look at your maintenance regimen. If you do water changes maybe cut back in that a little as well. Lots of options to address this while improving conditions for the inhabitants. Would need to know what equipment for specifics but generally speaking increase feeding and cut back a little on filtration. That should bump up nutrients AND make your critters happier.

 

[mook1178]

My opinion is the tank is too young to start dosing, in turn your time in the hobby. Feed more is the way to go. Give your tank time to mature as well as your knowledge in the hobby, then start dosing nutrients if needed.

Dosing can cause it's own issues if done wrong.

 

[BryanM]

What test kits? I've been having problems testing phosphate w/hanna lately. Usually takes me 3 tests to get a reading.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I see that you have a pellet feeder on the tank, and very little coral load. Personally I wouldn't be concerned with the 0-0 reading, although its not mentioned what type of test kit you use, some test kits provide a range ,not a number. Its not mentioned how often you food, but me personally I feed 3-4 times per day.

 

[sgdnycct]

My opinion is the tank is too young to start dosing, in turn your time in the hobby. Feed more is the way to go. Give your tank time to mature as well as your knowledge in the hobby, then start dosing nutrients if needed.

Dosing can cause it's own issues if done wrong.

Did I miss where the age was stated?

This is a great point. I’d expect a young tank to be low on nutrients.

 

[mook1178]

Did I miss where the age was stated?

This is a great point. I’d expect a young tank to be low on nutrients.

Yes. He stated 3 months old in the OP

 

[sgdnycct]

Did I miss where the age was stated?

This is a great point. I’d expect a young tank to be low on nutrients.

Yes. He stated 3 months old in the OP

Literally first sentence.

+1 what @mook1178 said

 

[Uncle99]

Are you positive you those zeros are correct?

 

[CHSUB]

Over feeding without increased export is not a good plan. Food rots and adds pollution; algae and bacteria, two things you don’t want more of, feed on excess nutrients and begin to overwhelm most closed systems. You could over feed for weeks before rotting food appears as no3 and now your filthy aquarium is over run with algae and bacteria. You might then blame this on the myth of “zeros”?

 

[Rooles]

Great. I second the suggestion to increase feeding. Fish eat constantly in the wild so add a couple of feedings per day. Also, look at your maintenance regimen. If you do water changes maybe cut back in that a little as well. Lots of options to address this while improving conditions for the inhabitants. Would need to know what equipment for specifics but generally speaking increase feeding and cut back a little on filtration. That should bump up nutrients AND make your critters happier.

Will do! Currently im running filter floss as my only means of mechanical filtration. I also have seachem matrix and purigen in filter chambers.

Im doing 5 gallon water changes weekly. Should i go biweekly or go with a smaller amount of water weekly?

 

[Rooles]

What test kits? I've been having problems testing phosphate w/hanna lately. Usually takes me 3 tests to get a reading.

I am using salifert