0 nitrate

[James Robert]

Have problem with some acros fading. Pale.
Everything reads good, except nitrates. 2 different text kits read 0.
Questions, How do I raise nitrates safely.

 

[Brew12]

Have problem with some acros fading. Pale.
Everything reads good, except nitrates. 2 different text kits read 0.
Questions, How do I raise nitrates safely.

What are you currently doing for nutrient removal?

 

[reeferfoxx]

Also, what is your po4 level at?

 

[kamikazereefer]

Feed more
Add more fish
Cut on the algae in sump
There is a lot of way dépend on your system and your nutrient export method

 

[James Robert]

Feed more
Add more fish
Cut on the algae in sump
There is a lot of way dépend on your system and your nutrient export method

Skimmer, filter socks, little bit of cheato, 25 gal WC every 7-10 days
On 200 gal volume

 

[James Robert]

Po4 is reading low like .04, but would believe it's higher, see hair in over flows, little fuzz on a few rocks.

 

[Brew12]

Skimmer, filter socks, little bit of cheato, 25 gal WC every 7-10 days
On 200 gal volume

Do you ever harvest your chaeto?

 

[James Robert]

Do you ever harvest your chaeto?

Yes,

 

[Brew12]

Yes,

Stop harvesting it and let it pack in. That will slow down its growth as it self shades and help let nutrients rise.

 

[Katrina71]

Let me tank sit. I'll have those up for you in no time.

 

[Brew12]

Let me tank sit. I'll have those up for you in no time.

Or that!

 

[Reefer40b]

Add more fish
Feed more or feed little amounts more throughout the day if possible. Note: that if you feed more you will most likely need to up your clean up crew also expect a slight ugly phase until things balance back out with the higher import of food.
OR..
Potassium nitrate dosing (green leaf aquariums good source)

 

[adtravels]

Less is more, turn off your skimmer use cheato as your nutrient export.

 

[Randyp79]

You could always dose nitrate, I prefer sodium nitrate.

 

[Rakie]

I think dosing nitrate is the easiest way to get exactly what you want. I personally had a lot of fish, and feed heavily 3-4x a day (or more...) nitrate wasn't budging.

I personally like kno3 (potassium nitrate). I don't like the spectracide stump remover because it smells like chemicals to me... FW planted people are just as picky as us. Good potassium nitrate is crystal clear, odor free, and exceptionally pure.

 

[James Robert]

Been dosing sodium nitrate, 90ml a day for 5 days.
No3 is reading .25. Po4 readling 0.
Been feeding just a little heavier then normal.
Should I increase dosage on the nitrates, or. Let it ride.
Or should I stop dosing nitrate.
I don't like not having any Po4 reading.
Today after seeing had 0 Po4, I took gfo off line.
Any thoughts.

 

[jda]

I would take the socks off. Then, cycle the skimmer if that does not work.

Dosing nitrate did not work for me, and could never work. The bacteria in the sand and rocks are too good at turning it into nitrogen gas, like it is their job...

BTW - you are not at zero, or nothing would grow. If you sent out for an IC test, it would show some. Our hobby grade test kits are just not good enough to show a low level of nitrate - Hannah needs to get on this like they did for phosphorous. Mine is at .1 and there is enough in there for everything to grow and look great.

 

[James Robert]

Update, Got nitrates. 3 ppm.
I'm dosing 105 ml of sodium nitrate a day, for about a week.
Still have some pale colors on some acros, I have not seen any improvement yet. How long will it take to color up.

 

[Technewb]

Can you link me to where you bought your sodium nitrate? Im in same situation as you, I need to raise my nitrates. I feed like every 2 hrs and can't raise no3 at all. I feed frozen mysis, pellets, flakes. 0 nitrates, .02 po4 (ULR)

 

[Clownfish2]

I use sodium nitrate manufactured by LOUDWOLF on a BRS doser. Add 5 tablespoons sodium nitrate to one gallon RODI water. I dose 40ml per day to maintain nitrate of 3-4ppm in 110 gallon tank. Initially, I added manually about 3 ounces per day for few days to raise it from 0.