0 nitrate/0 phosphate

[.Haliax.]

Hey guys, I have a 120g mixed reef (softy/LPS dominant with a few SPS). Mostly the corals look OK, with the exception of some unhappy zoas. However I know things will decline if I continue with 0 nitrate/0 phosphate. Nitrate and phosphate are measured using Hanna checker.

I don't run a refugium, I feed pellets twice a day and frozen three times a week. I run a protein skimmer, but do not run any other type of nutrient export reactors/additives.

The past two weeks, I have been dosing Tropic Marin Plus-NP but still don't register anything on Nitrate/Phospate (and zoas still look the same).
Should I ditch the Plus-NP and start dosing something like NeoNitro/Phos? And is dosing this just a bandaid, while the actual problem remains?
TIA!

Alkalinity - 7.9 dKH
Calcium - 450 ppm
Magnesium - 1400 ppm
Nitrate - 0.00 ppm
pH - 8.1
Phosphate - 0.00 ppm
Salinity - 1.025 SG
Temp - 77.4 F

*Edit: I also use Red Sea Reef Energy AB+ approximately 4 times a week.

 

[Subsea]

Consider feeding more and get some snails for janitors.

You are in the very early stages of establishing nutrient pathways for your micro fauna & fana. Aside from nitrification bacteria there are many other functions for bacteria in a reef aquarium. I looked at your tank thread, yet found no information on how you cycled this tank.

 

[shakacuz]

do you have any algae that could be soaking up the no3/po4? if you do, increasing your CUC may help as well as reducing feedings or turning your skimmer off for a few days?

 

[Subsea]

I would definitely consider turning skimmer off or allow skim-mate to return to tank and use your protein skimmer for gas exchange only. I would increase food.

 

[kent78]

Hey guys, I have a 120g mixed reef (softy/LPS dominant with a few SPS). Mostly the corals look OK, with the exception of some unhappy zoas. However I know things will decline if I continue with 0 nitrate/0 phosphate. Nitrate and phosphate are measured using Hanna checker.

I don't run a refugium, I feed pellets twice a day and frozen three times a week. I run a protein skimmer, but do not run any other type of nutrient export reactors/additives.

The past two weeks, I have been dosing Tropic Marin Plus-NP but still don't register anything on Nitrate/Phospate (and zoas still look the same).
Should I ditch the Plus-NP and start dosing something like NeoNitro/Phos? And is dosing this just a bandaid, while the actual problem remains?
TIA!

Alkalinity - 7.9 dKH
Calcium - 450 ppm
Magnesium - 1400 ppm
Nitrate - 0.00 ppm
pH - 8.1
Phosphate - 0.00 ppm
Salinity - 1.025 SG
Temp - 77.4 F

*Edit: I also use Red Sea Reef Energy AB+ approximately 4 times a week.

will feeding fishs a little more that help rising some of the no3 and po4? including corals feed time to time

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

feeding more is a fine plan, as is dosing.

If you go the dosing route, I recommend food grade sodium nitrate and phosphate from amazon.

 

[.Haliax.]

Consider feeding more and get some snails for janitors.

You are in the very early stages of establishing nutrient pathways for your micro fauna & fana. Aside from nitrification bacteria there are many other functions for bacteria in a reef aquarium. I looked at your tank thread, yet found no information on how you cycled this tank.

The tank was cycled around September of last year using Dr. Tim's one and only using the fishless cycle method, followed by a light dosing of Microbacter7.

feeding more is a fine plan, as is dosing.

If you go the dosing route, I recommend food grade sodium nitrate and phosphate from amazon.

I will set up the auto feeder to feed 3x a day, if that doesn't get me to suitable levels I will try the amazon products. How long is a reasonable time to see if the parameters will rise? a few weeks perhaps?

 

[Tony the Fish]

For ease, I use ESV nitrate. I dose regularly as needed and I dose maybe 5ml a week 32oz bottle is 945 ml so even at 10ml a week I'm good for 2 years and don't have to do a homemade mix

 

[ReeferLou]

I have been using the Brightwells neoNitrate. Directions say 5ml raises 75 gal by 0.5ppm

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

For ease, I use ESV nitrate. I dose regularly as needed and I dose maybe 5ml a week 32oz bottle is 945 ml so even at 10ml a week I'm good for 2 years and don't have to do a homemade mix

Must be a smaller tank?

A person with a 100 gallon tank might need to add 10 mL per day as a typical dose (2 ppm).

 

[stovenut]

Feed more! Your fish will thank you. Or add more fish! You will thank yourself.

 

[Jekyl]

Hey guys, I have a 120g mixed reef (softy/LPS dominant with a few SPS). Mostly the corals look OK, with the exception of some unhappy zoas. However I know things will decline if I continue with 0 nitrate/0 phosphate. Nitrate and phosphate are measured using Hanna checker.

I don't run a refugium, I feed pellets twice a day and frozen three times a week. I run a protein skimmer, but do not run any other type of nutrient export reactors/additives.

The past two weeks, I have been dosing Tropic Marin Plus-NP but still don't register anything on Nitrate/Phospate (and zoas still look the same).
Should I ditch the Plus-NP and start dosing something like NeoNitro/Phos? And is dosing this just a bandaid, while the actual problem remains?
TIA!

Alkalinity - 7.9 dKH
Calcium - 450 ppm
Magnesium - 1400 ppm
Nitrate - 0.00 ppm
pH - 8.1
Phosphate - 0.00 ppm
Salinity - 1.025 SG
Temp - 77.4 F

*Edit: I also use Red Sea Reef Energy AB+ approximately 4 times a week.

That Depeche Mode song is going to be stuck in my head all day now. Solid advice already given.

 

[Uncle99]

I found it easier to dose up with brightwell as food takes time, neo-nitro and neo-phos is available to the system right away

 

[.Haliax.]

Since the original post about a month ago, I added a couple more fish and started feeding more frequently. I also quit running the skimmer 24/7. I haven't dosed anything yet.

So far, my Nitrates have come up to 3.0 which is awesome. Corals seem to be growing faster.
However phosphate is still 0.00, so I think I'll start considering dosing phosphate.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

so I think I'll start considering dosing phosphate.

Sounds like a good plan to me.

 

[stovenut]

I would try a more natural remedy like feeding your corals. Coral food is high in phosphates, so adding something like reef roids to your feeding routine every couple days would help the tank and make your corals happier. Just monitor po4. Once you have it slightly above 0, just keep it there.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I would try a more natural remedy like feeding your corals. Coral food is high in phosphates, so adding something like reef roids to your feeding routine every couple days would help the tank and make your corals happier. Just monitor po4. Once you have it slightly above 0, just keep it there.

why do you believe that is better than dosing?

 

[stovenut]

why do you believe that is better than dosing?

It's true that dosing phosphate would raise the phosphate and remedy the issue. But why not add a food source to the tank containing higher phosphates that would also benefit coral health and growth, along with invertebrates and fish? His 0 po4 won't last long. Why use a chemical to bring it up when you can use a food source?

 

[homer1475]

I prefer to dose rather then feed more.

Food breaks down to more then just phosphates. If you only need phosphates, why add more junk then whats needed?

 

[stovenut]

I prefer to dose rather then feed more.

Food breaks down to more then just phosphates. If you only need phosphates, why add more junk then whats needed?

I respect your preference. I don't think I will ever have a problem of 0 po4 with my tank well stocked and my feeding regiment. I just don't like the idea of buying another chemical and adding it to my system. So I wouldn't recommend that to another reefer.

I'd recommend you feed your fish, inverts and coral as well as possible to insure survival, overall health and growth. PO4 rising to .25 is less of a worry to me than zeroing out. It's easy enough to bring down. I think the OP has a temporary issue and once he finishes stocking his tank he will be sitting around with a bunch of bottles of liquid phosphate he will not likely ever need again.