0 phosphates, high nitrites (30ppm)

[Obsessed with fish]

I just did an 80% water change on my pico reef and I tested my water for the 1st time. My phosphates are 0, but nitrates are 30 ppm? How do I get rid of them and how do I avoid them?

 

[Obsessed with fish]

Whoops, the title was meant to say nitrates not nitrites.

 

[gbroadbridge]

30 is not high, and is not an emergency

 

[Obsessed with fish]

30 is not high, and is not an emergency

Few, that's relieving to here

 

[Duffer]

But get some phosphates in your tank…reef roofs is a quick way

 

[Obsessed with fish]

But get some phosphates in your tank…reef roofs is a quick way

I thought phosphates were bad, but its good to know its good to have a bit.

 

[pomoev]

It also depends on how you test your phosphates. If it's some API test kit, it might be not zero at all

 

[Rmckoy]

You don’t want to get rid of them .
30ppm isn’t emergency , but it is a little higher than I like .
I ran a mixed reef for years above 40ppm nitrates .
but that being said . This current tank never goes above 5

phosphates on the other hand …. You need some . And depending on what you’re testing with . There could be some but the test kit isn’t able to detect that low of level .

 

[Obsessed with fish]

It also depends on how you test your phosphates. If it's some API test kit, it might be not zero at all

Its a red sea test kit

 

[Obsessed with fish]

You don’t want to get rid of them .
30ppm isn’t emergency , but it is a little higher than I like .
I ran a mixed reef for years above 40ppm nitrates .
but that being said . This current tank never goes above 5

phosphates on the other hand …. You need some . And depending on what you’re testing with . There could be some but the test kit isn’t able to detect that low of level .

Are red sea test kits accurate?

 

[Rmckoy]

Are red sea test kits accurate?

I personally prefer salifert but similar titration style test .
reading the measurement after the titration is complete is backwards compared to salifert .
And I found the colour change not as noticeable .
but I believe they are similar .

 

[gbroadbridge]

Are red sea test kits accurate?

They're as accurate as any hobby grade test kit.

Both Salifert and Red Sea compare well with each other, how well your eyes can judge colors is the only thing to worry about.

If you want digital readout, you can go with Hanna checkers, but they are no more accurate than the Red sea range, just easier to read.