Zero Nitrate & Phosphate readings, what now?

[blecki]

The smell doesn't mean the rock can't be used. Just that it needs to cure for a bit.

 

[CallMeLloyd]

Okay, they were only in stagnant water for 24 hours. I ended up putting a powerhead in there last night. Do I just leave them in there for awhile or what? I guess it could just be the old algae dying off, I do still have a mushroom on one of the rocks.

 

[CallMeLloyd]

From what I'm reading to cure rocks I just treat it like a normal tank. Heater, Flow, Water changes, sprinkle in fish food every couple days. Keep doing this until they no longer stink.

 

[CallMeLloyd]

So I just tested water since cleaning the tank here are the results.

TEST KIT	HANNA CHECKER	HANNA CHECKER		HANNA dKH	SALIFERT	SALIFERT	HANNA HR	HANNA ULR
DATE	SALINITY	TEMP	PH	ALK	CAL	MAG	NITRATE	PHOS
11/1/23	34.8	79.3		10.3	450	1380	0.3	0.03

Only PH testing a could do would be with a API so I didn't test it. Also thought my nitrate would be a little higher, but I think the hanna checkers use light when doing the readings. My wife turned out the lights when it was counting down so maybe that had something to do with the low reading? But hey I don't have 0.0 phos & nitrate!
My next question is should I do daily testing for the rest of the week then switch to once a week?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

So I just tested water since cleaning the tank here are the results.

TEST KIT	HANNA CHECKER	HANNA CHECKER		HANNA dKH	SALIFERT	SALIFERT	HANNA HR	HANNA ULR
DATE	SALINITY	TEMP	PH	ALK	CAL	MAG	NITRATE	PHOS
11/1/23	34.8	79.3		10.3	450	1380	0.3	0.03

Only PH testing a could do would be with a API so I didn't test it. Also thought my nitrate would be a little higher, but I think the hanna checkers use light when doing the readings. My wife turned out the lights when it was counting down so maybe that had something to do with the low reading? But hey I don't have 0.0 phos & nitrate!
My next question is should I do daily testing for the rest of the week then switch to once a week?

I don't see any reason to test daily.

 

[CallMeLloyd]

I don't see any reason to test daily.

So here is todays results. And this is before my daily fish feeding and before feeding corals Reef Roids. I will be feeding reef roids 2x a week. Noticed my nitrate is back down to 0. Any suggestions?

TEST KIT	HANNA CHECKER	HANNA CHECKER		HANNA dKH	SALIFERT	SALIFERT	HANNA HR	HANNA ULR
DATE	SALINITY	TEMP	PH	ALK	CAL	MAG	NITRATE	PHOS
11/1/23	34.8	79.3		10.3	450	1380	0.3	0.03
11/7/23	34.8	79.6		9.8	430	1350	0.0	0.04

*I did a 10% WC this past Sunday (2 days ago)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

So here is todays results. And this is before my daily fish feeding and before feeding corals Reef Roids. I will be feeding reef roids 2x a week. Noticed my nitrate is back down to 0. Any suggestions?

TEST KIT	HANNA CHECKER	HANNA CHECKER		HANNA dKH	SALIFERT	SALIFERT	HANNA HR	HANNA ULR
DATE	SALINITY	TEMP	PH	ALK	CAL	MAG	NITRATE	PHOS
11/1/23	34.8	79.3		10.3	450	1380	0.3	0.03
11/7/23	34.8	79.6		9.8	430	1350	0.0	0.04

*I did a 10% WC this past Sunday (2 days ago)

I'd either up the feeding, or dose nitrate (or ammonia). I recommend 2-10 ppm nitrate, with values higher than that range better than values below it.

 

[CallMeLloyd]

I'd either up the feeding, or dose nitrate (or ammonia). I recommend 2-10 ppm nitrate, with values higher than that range better than values below it.

Okay and should I skip a water change to let levels rise?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Okay and should I skip a water change to let levels rise?

Unless you plan a huge water change, it's not a driving factor in nutrient levels.

 

[CallMeLloyd]

Unless you plan a huge water change, it's not a driving factor in nutrient levels.

Hmm Guess I’ll keep up with my weekly wc and try feeding more. I’ll post my next weeks readings so we can see results. Thanks

 

[CallMeLloyd]

@Randy Holmes-Farley

TEST KIT	HANNA CHECKER	HANNA CHECKER		HANNA dKH	SALIFERT	SALIFERT	HANNA HR	HANNA ULR
DATE	SALINITY	TEMP	PH	ALK	CAL	MAG	NITRATE	PHOS
11/1/23	34.8	79.3		10.3	450	1380	0.3	0.03
11/7/23	34.8	79.6		9.8	430	1350	0.0	0.04
11/14/23	34.8	79.3		8.8	450	1310	0.0	0.04

Still no Nitrates... What product do you suggest I get to dose? Also I know chemipure doesn't remove Nitrates & Phosphates directly but should I remove it from my HOB filter?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

@Randy Holmes-Farley

TEST KIT	HANNA CHECKER	HANNA CHECKER		HANNA dKH	SALIFERT	SALIFERT	HANNA HR	HANNA ULR
DATE	SALINITY	TEMP	PH	ALK	CAL	MAG	NITRATE	PHOS
11/1/23	34.8	79.3		10.3	450	1380	0.3	0.03
11/7/23	34.8	79.6		9.8	430	1350	0.0	0.04
11/14/23	34.8	79.3		8.8	450	1310	0.0	0.04

Still no Nitrates... What product do you suggest I get to dose? Also I know chemipure doesn't remove Nitrates & Phosphates directly but should I remove it from my HOB filter?

I’d either feed more or dose food grade sodium or calcium nitrate.

 

[CallMeLloyd]

I’d either feed more or dose food grade sodium or calcium nitrate.

NeoNitro?

 

[CallMeLloyd]

Also maybe I should add another fish? I already have 7 not sure how many I can safely add to a 55 gallon. I’d honestly rather find a natural fix for low nitrates. But I don’t understand why I’m staying at zero nitrates… what is using them?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

NeoNitro?

It will work, but I do not recommend it as optimal due to lack of purity assurance and high price.

 

[CallMeLloyd]

Okay guys I hate to say this but the green turf algae is back. After I pulled out all the rocks & scrubbed them I added turbo snails but never touched the turf algae as it started to grow back. I have been dosing Neonitro & Neophos but have been checking levels and Nitrates have been staying around 1-3 and phos 0.02-0.05 not sure why so much algae has grown back. Any suggestions? Today is my birthday & I just received a shipment of some zoa frags, duncan frag, and a bsp frag but don't have room on the rocks for placement because of the algae...

 

[Mikeltee]

Turf scrubber and a magnetic frag rack for now until the scrubber starts working. You should probably get those nutrients up to avoid dinos as well.

 

[Bramzor]

Okay guys I hate to say this but the green turf algae is back. After I pulled out all the rocks & scrubbed them I added turbo snails but never touched the turf algae as it started to grow back. I have been dosing Neonitro & Neophos but have been checking levels and Nitrates have been staying around 1-3 and phos 0.02-0.05 not sure why so much algae has grown back. Any suggestions? Today is my birthday & I just received a shipment of some zoa frags, duncan frag, and a bsp frag but don't have room on the rocks for placement because of the algae...

Why are you dosing phosphate? That will just go directly towards the algae if that’s already there. Scrubbing the rocks will not help if there is nothing to compete with the algae since all the traces will stay on the rock and grow back. CUC will not compete with an endless supply of phosphate. Corals need “some” phosphate and the algae are growing so there is plenty of that. Even if you would measure 0 ( which will take some time since the rocks buffer PO4 ), there will still be plenty of it but you need to get rid of the algae first.

Made the same mistake as you before with the exact same result. Dosing PO4 will simply create a green garden if there is nothing to consume it. You can fight it back by stopping that phosphate dosing and killing the algae. 2 ways to do that is by taking them out (if that is possible) and spraying it with H2O2 which will kill the algae. Let it soak for a few minutes and rinse with some water. You can scrub the rocks outside but even without the scrubbing, it will simply go away after using the H2O2 (might take 2 or more attempts).
Another way is to use NaOH (corrosive) in the tank but this lowers the PH, therefore only use a bit of that and will have to do spot treatment. This requires to turn off the pumps, dose it directly on the algae and leave it for a 10-30 minutes. Algae will melt after 24h and will not grow back as quickly.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Why are you dosing phosphate? That will just go directly towards the algae if that’s already there. Scrubbing the rocks will not help if there is nothing to compete with the algae since all the traces will stay on the rock and grow back. CUC will not compete with an endless supply of phosphate. Corals need “some” phosphate and the algae are growing so there is plenty of that. Even if you would measure 0 ( which will take some time since the rocks buffer PO4 ), there will still be plenty of it but you need to get rid of the algae first.

IMO, if you detect none, one cannot know if there is enough for any particular organism. It is not always true that presence of algae means enough P for corals. Also, even elevated P (1 ppm, say) does not necessarily imply an algae problem will happen.

Another way is to use NaOH (corrosive) in the tank but this lowers the PH, therefore only use a bit of that and will have to do spot treatment.

FWIW, NaOH raises alkalinity and pH.

 

[CallMeLloyd]

IMO, if you detect none, one cannot know if there is enough for any particular organism. It is not always true that presence of algae means enough P for corals. Also, even elevated P (1 ppm, say) does not necessarily imply an algae problem will happen.

Do you suggest I keep dosing my daily amount of N & P? To keep the range of 1-3 and 0.02-0.05. I'f I don't dose they will bottom at 0 N & 0.02 P pretty quick.