Why is my tank low in nitrates?

[FlameangelLover]

Hey so with my tank I like to understand the why of problems while I’m fixing it. I understand I can dose nitrates but I would like to know the chemical reason why I would have undetectable levels of nitrate in my reef tank (salifert test). I have NO PROBLEM getting high Po4 lol i actually struggle to keep Po4 low lol. Any thoughts on why I would have low nitrates that my salifert test can’t pick up?

 

[Gumbies R Us]

What are you feeding your tank, and how much are you feeding? What does your filtration look like as well?

 

[Kooma]

Corals? Mine were nitrate sponges, hard to keep them elevated enough at times.

 

[FlameangelLover]

What are you feeding your tank, and how much are you feeding? What does your filtration look like as well?

Only frozen mysis and I have a hang on back skimmer and filter

 

[FlameangelLover]

Corals? Mine were nitrate sponges, hard to keep them elevated enough at times.

Omg duhhhhhh I have ***** softies and a lot of corals in general in a relatively small tank! Your right! But wouldn’t Po4 be low to them?

 

[gabriellar]

Only frozen mysis and I have a hang on back skimmer and filter

How powerful is your protein skimmer? Any chance of bioload being removed by the protein skimmer too effectively before it gets a chance to be broken down to nitrates by bacteria?

 

[FlameangelLover]

Corals? Mine were nitrate sponges, hard to keep them elevated enough at times.

Ignore

 

[FlameangelLover]

Only frozen mysis and I have a hang on back skimmer and filter

How powerful is your protein skimmer? Any chance of bioload being removed by the protein skimmer too effectively before it gets a chance to be broken down to nitrates by bacteria?

I have no idea I kinda just let it go . But wouldn’t Po4 be low as well if that’s the case?

 

[CHSUB]

why I would have undetectable levels of nitrate in my reef tank (salifert test).

The simple answer is your no3 is below the detectable level. You likely have more than enough no3. I would call your aquarium lightly populated with corals, not an insult. I would not worry about nitrogen being limited.

 

[FlameangelLover]

why I would have undetectable levels of nitrate in my reef tank (salifert test).

The simple answer is your no3 is below the detectable level. You liking have more than enough no3. I would call your aquarium lightly populated with corals, not an insult. I would not worry about nitrogen being limited.

So ignore it and keep going with my normal maintenance? I thought corals needed it to grow

 

[CHSUB]

So ignore it and keep going with my normal maintenance? I thought corals needed it to grow

Yes they do, however I see fish and algae in your aquarium. Flame Angel is one of my favorites. I’m more than certain your tank is not nitrogen limited.

 

[FlameangelLover]

So ignore it and keep going with my normal maintenance? I thought corals needed it to grow

lol okay cool . My corals do look fine to my eyes and the small amount of algae I have doesn’t bother me so you’re right I’ll relax. I just hit 1 year so i decided to take this whole reefing thing more serious and noticed this potential problem

 

[KrisReef]

Your reply to measuring low nitrate, that is might be a potential problem is a good one. You seem to be aware that numbers may not tell the whole story, and chasing them can become a real problem very quickly.

 

[FlameangelLover]

Your reply to measuring low nitrate, that is might be a potential problem is a good one. You seem to be aware that numbers may not tell the whole story, and chasing them can become a real problem very quickly.

Your right I’ll relax and keep doing what I’m doing and moderatly check numbers. My corals look fine and my main parameters (salinity alk and calc) are all within acceptable ranges so I’ll definitely just relax a bit . I almost went to the store to buy stuff to dose nitrate

 

[exnisstech]

I worry more low levels than high. I've had dinos and nuisance algae in tanks that tested at or near zero N and or P. Ive never had a problem at higher levels. Zero makes me nervous so I'll dose when I test low.

 

[FlameangelLover]

I worry more low levels than high. I've had dinos and nuisance algae in tanks that tested at or near zero N and or P. Ive never had a problem at higher levels. Zero makes me nervous so I'll dose when I test low.

Is 1ppm cool to stay at ?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

i agree there is a fair amount of algae there. With hair and bubble algae growing, I would not worry about nutrients being low, green algae doesn't grow because the nutrients are low know what I mean

 

[FlameangelLover]

i agree there is a fair amount of algae there. With hair and bubble algae growing, I would not worry about nutrients being low, green algae doesn't grow because the nutrients are low know what I mean

lol yall making me embarrassed I promise it’s not that bad in person and my coral and fish are happy lol. I promise I don’t just keep a dirty tank for fun

 

[NanoSteam]

lol yall making me embarrassed I promise it’s not that bad in person and my coral and fish are happy lol. I promise I don’t just keep a dirty tank for fun

I'd rather have all that algae in my tank than Dino's so you're all good. I would only be worried if you had a sterile tank AND 0 nitrates/Phosphates... then you've created prime real estate for the really bad stuff to move in.

 

[FlameangelLover]

lol yall making me embarrassed I promise it’s not that bad in person and my coral and fish are happy lol. I promise I don’t just keep a dirty tank for fun

I'd rather have all that algae in my tank than Dino's so you're all good. I would only be worried if you had a sterile tank AND 0 nitrates/Phosphates... then you've created prime real estate for the really bad stuff to move in.

lol no . I have a hard time keeping Po4 low and I’ve never tested nitrates . I do weekly water changes but I added the skimmer so I could hopefully stretch that out to biweekly. I’m a year in and I would much rather prefer biweekly . My elements barely move enough to dose anything besides alk