What the.... my NO3 is thru the Roof and PO4=0

[pelagic]

I haven't tested NO3 for like 3 years now.. I always thought if I have good PO4 and NO3 should be in check too.

I tested my NO3 today.... and it's through the roof. It is totally unepected.. advise? lol

PO4: 0 (Hanna 736)
ALK: 7.84 (Hanna 755)
PH 8.1
CA: 420 (ELOS)
NO3: 25+ (ELOS)

Temp: 80-81F
Total amount of water: 300Gal (doesn't include the live rocks)
NP pellets
Carbon
Skimmer
A lot of live rocks
Wave Makers: MP40x2 WP40x2
two part dosing
No other equipments

Thank you,

Cheng

 

[bknapp]

What's the flow rate of your pellets? How many are you running? It seems that you're getting backwards results, most people running pellets have higher phosphates. The solution maybe as simple as upping the amount of water changes while adding pellets and waiting for the new ones to seed with bacteria.

Also, if it's been that long since you tested your test maybe expired. Everything else looks good.

 

[pelagic]

Brandon, the test kit is new. I bought it when BRS had the sales. It expires on NOV 2015.
I have about 1.5 cups of the pellets and the reactor is driven by maxi jet 1200 (295 GPH).

My guess is I might have phosphate deficiency, and the NP pellets are not getting enough phosphate to process the nitrate. thought?

Thanks

 

[pelagic]

by the way, all the corals are doing great. I only have softies and a policipora. I am very confused. lol

 

[iiluisii]

I will say add more pellets. or like Brandon said faster tumble

 

[bknapp]

General thought is actually reverse of that Cheng, it's usually when your nitrates get too low you can no longer depend on the pellets to remove phosphates. Although, there are threads out there where people dosed phosphate, but the actual reasoning and thoughts behind why escape me at this moment.

Are you no longer running an algae scrubber?

What is your fish bioload and feeding regiment like?

 

[NeveSSL]

I'm thinking you may not be feeding enough. As strange as this sounds, maybe you could feed some food known to have phosphates? Those pellets get hungry, and they work best when you give them what they want.

Brandon

 

[pelagic]

Thank you all for the advise. I am doing a few things to fix it after some researches and comments here
1. Feed more
2. getting the zeolite reactor back online
3. turn skimmer really wet

hopefully this will help..

 

[pelagic]

Also I think my rocks absorbed a lot of no3 from the period of time I didn't do water change for 6+ months. They are releasing it back to the water and Now Im paying for it. Hah

 

[iiluisii]

Have you consider ecobak or Dr tim pellets

 

[pelagic]

I have ecobak. Sorry I call them all np pellets or bio pellets lol

 

[Dowtish]

Feed More!