Zero nitrate/phosphate, should I run skimmer?

Mike N

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System:
50g frag tank (3 months old)
trigger 30 sump
refugium (doesn't yet grow chaeto)
(Somatic 60 skimmer on standby)
4 fish, planning on adding a few more

I haven't installed the skimmer yet because I'm still at 0 nitrate & phosphate. I'm trying to get it to at least 10ppm/.05ppm respectively so I can add corals (zoas & shrooms mostly).
So should I be running the skimmer?
 

EmdeReef

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System:
50g frag tank (3 months old)
trigger 30 sump
refugium (doesn't yet grow chaeto)
(Somatic 60 skimmer on standby)
4 fish, planning on adding a few more

I haven't installed the skimmer yet because I'm still at 0 nitrate & phosphate. I'm trying to get it to at least 10ppm/.05ppm respectively so I can add corals (zoas & shrooms mostly).
So should I be running the skimmer?

I wouldn’t run it or if you want to run for oxygen remove the cup
 

Billldg

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I would say no, if anything I would dose to raise both. Running 0 nitrates and phosphate open you up to a whole bunch of other issues including Dinos.
 
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Mike N

Mike N

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I would say no, if anything I would dose to raise both. Running 0 nitrates and phosphate open you up to a whole bunch of other issues including Dinos.
Thanks, I will do that. I bought both nitrate and phosphate for dosing, but was trying to raise them naturally.
Had no idea about the dinos with 0/0
 

Billldg

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Thanks, I will do that. I bought both nitrate and phosphate for dosing, but was trying to raise them naturally.
Had no idea about the dinos with 0/0
It caused my tank to crash, had to rebuild it, not fun. Now I manage my nitrates and phosphate much more.

Its a balancing act, you want to promote green algae without actually growing it so it out competes Dinos and such.
 

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