0 Nitrates and Gha

[Chiefmaster30]

I’m confused on how I have 0 nitrates with Red Sea marine Nitrate test kit but am getting a couple patches of gha in my sand bed. Tank is 125 gallon mixed reef with a 30 gallon sump. 2yrs old. I have several different macros in my refugium and run a reactor with phosguard. I no I’m probably getting a false reading on my test but question is how do I get around that? In other words.... how do I no if I really have 0 nitrates or a false reading?

 

[Chiefmaster30]

 

[jsker]

#reefsquad

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Algae can use either ammonia or nitrate. If you have a lot of algae, it can be low just because it is taking it up.

 

[NS Mike D]

Algae can use either ammonia or nitrate. If you have a lot of algae, it can be low just because it is taking it up.

can nuisance algae and algae-like bacteria also make use of N & P that isn't in the forms that will not register in typical test kits?

 

[Chiefmaster30]

I don’t really have much algae! I am debating if I should dose a lil nopox or not. Test is reading 0 but I keep getting a patch of green cyano and gha. Here and there and I don’t like seeing it. Lol!

 

[Chiefmaster30]

The patch on the left was def gha. It was a little larger than the video shows but I raked it all into a pile and I’m about to remove it. It’s just aggravating!

 

[Crabs McJones]

What Randy said. If you have algae, you're going to read low or no nitrate and ammonia levels as the algae is eating it faster than your test can detect it.

 

[Brew12]

I don’t really have much algae! I am debating if I should dose a lil nopox or not. Test is reading 0 but I keep getting a patch of green cyano and gha. Here and there and I don’t like seeing it. Lol!

Have you ever added iron to your system?

 

[VR28man]

What Randy said. If you have algae, you're going to read low or no nitrate and ammonia levels as the algae is eating it faster than your test can detect it.

What if my algae is out of control, and my nitrates are still like 20ppm?.....

( just kidding. I know the answer is that algae will be even more out of control. However, I have been in similar situations before… Good thread btw)

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Nopox will lower your no3 first.
It’s carbon dosing.

Personally , with your already low N/p numbers , I’d remove the gfo and add algae eating cuc or fish.

 

[Crabs McJones]

What if my algae is out of control, and my nitrates are still like 20ppm?.....

( just kidding. I know the answer is that algae will be even more out of control. However, I have been in similar situations before… Good thread btw)

That's actually a really good question. And I'm going to give my best answer just in the event someone skims this thread over later looking for a solution. If you have alot of algae and are still reading high nitrates, you've most likly got something decaying in your tank, or you are very very heavily overfeeding or there's something going on that nitrates are being introduced into the system at am extremely high fast rate that the algae cannot consume it.

 

[Chiefmaster30]

Have you ever added iron to your system?

No

 

[Brew12]

No

You may want to consider it. Might help grow more algae and less green slime.

 

[Chiefmaster30]

What type of iron would you recommend? And is there a test for it?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I’ve never dosed iron in my tank despite having a refgium full of a dozen macros.

I would consider more cuc , a toothbrush and flow. Maybe ph.

ime , lime green cyano will cycle out of the tank. Mine did.

 

[Brew12]

What type of iron would you recommend? And is there a test for it?

I used the Red Sea Iron+ and it made all the difference in the world for me. I went from not being able to grow macro algae to having my chaeto thrive. I only added it once and it still seems to be doing fine.

 

[Chiefmaster30]

My macros grow like crazy

 

[Brew12]

My macros grow like crazy

Definitely not your issue then!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

can nuisance algae and algae-like bacteria also make use of N & P that isn't in the forms that will not register in typical test kits?

Cyanobacteria can consume organics. Algae most often cannot. All types can consume ammonia, and many creatures prefer it to nitrate.