Zero nitrates

[EliteReefing1023]

Just got in some Hanna checkers today and my tank is reading zero nitrates and .41 phosphates. I have minimal nuisance algae growth in my tank and my corals look great. 3 fish and 7 snails in a 20 gallon.

Should I be feeding more/turning off the skimmer? Or the opposite?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I’d dose N in some form, such as food grades of sodium nitrate, calcium nitrate, or ammonium bicarbonate.

Just today I had 0.31 ppm phosphate and 0.8 ppm nitrate, so I dosed 10 ppm of nitrate as sodium nitrate.

 

[Tim92G]

Just got in some Hanna checkers today and my tank is reading zero nitrates and .41 phosphates. I have minimal nuisance algae growth in my tank and my corals look great. 3 fish and 7 snails in a 20 gallon.

Should I be feeding more/turning off the skimmer? Or the opposite?

I had the same issue. I turned off my skimmer during the day, reduced photoperiod of my fuge, started feeding my corals reef roids and aminos more often, and dosed Tropic Marin NP Plus everyday. Don't overfeed or do things that quickly raise nitrates because it will stress out corals and possibly cause an algae outbreak or even worse a bacterial bloom. Had a dino outbreak too which you look out for.

 

[Tim92G]

I’d dose N in some form, such as food grades of sodium nitrate, calcium nitrate, or ammonium bicarbonate.

Just today I had 0.31 ppm phosphate and 0.8 ppm nitrate, so I dosed 10 ppm of nitrate as sodium nitrate.

Just curious what do you aim to keep your N:P ratio at when microdosing? I use NP Plus and Bacto balance to maintain which I'm guessing is the same proportion.

 

[rishma]

Just curious what do you aim to keep your N:P ratio at when microdosing? I use NP Plus and Bacto balance to maintain which I'm guessing is the same proportion.

Do you always use both NP Plus and BactoBalance? In my experience I’ve been able to hold things steady with bacto balance. It’s only if I mess something up so I need to boost nutrients like with NP Plus.

Many of us consider N and P independently and don’t aim for a ratio.

 

[p1u5h13r4m24]

Very interesting. This trumps my 100:1 n&p ratio. Can you post a picture of your tank please?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Just curious what do you aim to keep your N:P ratio at when microdosing? I use NP Plus and Bacto balance to maintain which I'm guessing is the same proportion.

I entirely ignore the ratio. I do not think it is important.

I independently target nitrate and phosphate into desirable ranges:

https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/randy’s-thoughts-on-nutrient-target-ranges.1087/
From it:

4. What targets seem reasonable? Of course, that depends on all the other factors at play, such as types of corals, availability of ammonia, particulate foods, etc. However, for a mature mixed reef, this would be how I personally would run it:

• Let nitrate float between 5 ppm and 50 ppm. I’d use gentle export in this range, such as growing macroalgae.
• Above 50 ppm, I’d begin to focus more on reducing it, by organic carbon dosing, turf or macroalgae, etc.
• Below 5 ppm, I’d begin to dose ammonia or feed more. The target level might drop lower if dosing ammonia, just like the heavy in/heavy out scenario where nitrate may not be as needed.
• Let phosphate float between about 0.06 ppm and 0.3 ppm. This range is higher than I’ve recommended in the past. I’d use gentle export in this range, such as growing macroalgae.
• Above about 0.3 ppm, I’d begin to focus more on reducing it, by turf or macroalgae, or a binder such as GFO or lanthanum (has its own risks to tangs). If a binder: GO SLOW. Turf and macroalgae will typically be slow enough.
• Below 0.06 ppm, I’d begin to dose sodium phosphate or feed more to get the level up.

 

[CHSUB]

0.8 ppm nitrate

How are you getting low accurate reading? I assume LR Hanna and if so do you like this product?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

How are you getting low accurate reading? I assume LR Hanna and if so do you like this product?

I use the Hanna high range. It claims +/- 2 ppm, so I do not assume that is particularly accurate. If it is actually 0.00 or 3.00 or even somewhat higher, my action would be the same to add N. My minimum nitrate target is presently 10 ppm.

Sorry, I should have made that clear above.

 

[Uncle99]

How are you getting low accurate reading? I assume LR Hanna and if so do you like this product?

I’ll give a vote for the Hanna nitrate checker. If anything, it seems consistent to me over 100’s of tests.

But, at the end of the day, most hobby grade nitrate tests show a distinct colour change (faint pink to dark red) so you can also make a good guesstimate, 5, 10, which IMM is sufficient.

But I do use the Hanna colour meter because it’s likely more consistent than my eyes when comparing results.

In contrast, the Hanna phosphorus checker in PPB I use exclusively as the colour change is so,so faint, I can’t tell what it is by my eyes.

Both good in my mind.

I could not get the same from Hanna MG and CA testers, seem to vary widely.

The salinity checker I just didn’t trust at all.

I stick with refractometer.

Never ever got a nitrate as 0 with the Hanna.
I get a zero once in blue moon on both N and P, but when I retest, back to expected. I assume maybe just my error on process.

 

[CHSUB]

I’ll give a vote for the Hanna nitrate checker. If anything, it seems consistent to me over 100’s of tests.

But, at the end of the day, most hobby grade nitrate tests show a distinct colour change (faint pink to dark red) so you can also make a good guesstimate, 5, 10, which IMM is sufficient.

But I do use the Hanna colour meter because it’s likely more consistent than my eyes when comparing results.

In contrast, the Hanna phosphorus checker in PPB I use exclusively as the colour change is so,so faint, I can’t tell what it is by my eyes.

Both good in my mind.

I could not get the same from Hanna MG and CA testers, seem to vary widely.

The salinity checker I just didn’t trust at all.

I stick with refractometer.

Never ever got a nitrate as 0 with the Hanna.
I get a zero once in blue moon on both N and P, but when I retest, back to expected. I assume maybe just my error on process.

I’m asking about the Hanna nitrate low range checker 0 to 5 ppm not the high range. I’m curious about my no3 below what Salifert reads which is always clear. ICP showed 0.1 ppm no3 and I would like to get a reading more often, not that I would change anything just for curiosity. I’ve noticed the process is quite involved with the Hanna LR and both Amazon and BRS don’t sell it anymore, guessing reviews are poor?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I’m asking about the Hanna nitrate low range checker 0 to 5 ppm not the high range. I’m curious about my no3 below what Salifert reads which is always clear. ICP showed 0.1 ppm no3 and I would like to get a reading more often, not that I would change anything just for curiosity. I’ve noticed the process is quite involved with the Hanna LR and both Amazon and BRS don’t sell it anymore, guessing reviews are poor?

Lots of complaints about it being complicated.

 

[CHSUB]

Lots of complaints about it being complicated.

Yes, watched the video and several more steps than other Hannas. I’m wondering how accurate and reliable it is?

 

[Uncle99]

I’m asking about the Hanna nitrate low range checker 0 to 5 ppm not the high range. I’m curious about my no3 below what Salifert reads which is always clear. ICP showed 0.1 ppm no3 and I would like to get a reading more often, not that I would change anything just for curiosity. I’ve noticed the process is quite involved with the Hanna LR and both Amazon and BRS don’t sell it anymore, guessing reviews are poor?

Sorry, I’ve never used the LR as 0-5ppm doesn’t make much sense to me.

I get that range on the HR so maybe the LR was just a mistake

 

[Tim92G]

Do you always use both NP Plus and BactoBalance? In my experience I’ve been able to hold things steady with bacto balance. It’s only if I mess something up so I need to boost nutrients like with NP Plus.

Many of us consider N and P independently and don’t aim for a ratio.

When my nitrates bottomed out, I only used NP Plus. Right now I just use BactoBalance everyday, and only use NP plus if I notice my nitrates getting low. My phosphates rarely ever change.

 

[Tim92G]

I’m asking about the Hanna nitrate low range checker 0 to 5 ppm not the high range. I’m curious about my no3 below what Salifert reads which is always clear. ICP showed 0.1 ppm no3 and I would like to get a reading more often, not that I would change anything just for curiosity. I’ve noticed the process is quite involved with the Hanna LR and both Amazon and BRS don’t sell it anymore, guessing reviews are poor?

I use the LR checker and I believe it's very accurate. I've confirmed the exact same readings with the HR.

 

[rishma]

Do you always use both NP Plus and BactoBalance? In my experience I’ve been able to hold things steady with bacto balance. It’s only if I mess something up so I need to boost nutrients like with NP Plus.

Many of us consider N and P independently and don’t aim for a ratio.

When my nitrates bottomed out, I only used NP Plus. Right now I just use BactoBalance everyday, and only use NP plus if I notice my nitrates getting low. My phosphates rarely ever change.

I prefer dosing phosphate and nitrate (or ammonia) separately if one or the other needs correction.

I believe @Hans-Werner previously shared that a single dose of PlusNP would add 0.15 ppm nitrate and 0.033 ppm phosphate if we convert all added nitrogen and phosphorus compounds. Just sharing in case it’s useful to you. My take away was PlusNP is a more potent source of phosphate than nitrate given the levels I usually maintain. 0.15 ppm nitrate isn’t much.

 

[CHSUB]

I use the LR checker and I believe it's very accurate. I've confirmed the exact same readings with the HR.

Thank and ordered the LR.

 

[Hans-Werner]

I prefer dosing phosphate and nitrate (or ammonia) separately if one or the other needs correction.

I believe @Hans-Werner previously shared that a single dose of PlusNP would add 0.15 ppm nitrate and 0.033 ppm phosphate if we convert all added nitrogen and phosphorus compounds. Just sharing in case it’s useful to you. My take away was PlusNP is a more potent source of phosphate than nitrate given the levels I usually maintain. 0.15 ppm nitrate isn’t much.

This is a ratio we found worked best in mixed tanks. The hypothetical background is that calcifying organisms depose a lot of phosphate in the formed calcium carbonate (skeletons) but little nitrogen. In this way calcifying organisms consume disproportionately more phosphate than nitrogen. According to my observations calcifying organisms also need this phosphate for growing. This means meeting the disproportionate P demand with an corresponding supply supports growth of calcifying organism better than less phosphate or higher N : P ratios.

 

[Reeferbadness]

Just got in some Hanna checkers today and my tank is reading zero nitrates and .41 phosphates. I have minimal nuisance algae growth in my tank and my corals look great. 3 fish and 7 snails in a 20 gallon.

Should I be feeding more/turning off the skimmer? Or the opposite?

I have to dose nitrates ( NeoNitrate) as my refugium ( chaeto) sucks up nitrate and was at 0.0 for a while - this def effected coral growth and colors. Phos is around .08 but if I didn’t dose nitrate despite heavy feeding - would bottom out