32G BIOCUBE WATER PARAMETERS

[YandyRiv]

Good morning to all ,

I currently have a 32g biocube which has been running for 7 months now. and i am having some concerns regarding nitrates and phosphates. I have read several articles in regards to nitrates being as close to 0 as possible before for 4 water changes (5 gallons a week) nitrates have been 10ppm using the api saltwater kit and yesterday it was reading 0ppm. Phosphates on the other hand have been steady at .25 again using the Api salt water kit. My concern is will the reading of 0 nitrates cause problems with the few corals I have? please see below list of life stock currently in the tank and if any one has any suggestions please share.

Fish
2 clown fish
1 red fire fish
1 chromis

clean up crew
3 emerald crab
1 cleaner shrimp
1 fire shrimp


Coral
2 hammer corals small
1 frogspawn small
4 acans small
1 lobophyllia small
1 mushroom small
4 rock anemones
1 green polyp corals small

water parameters after yesterday water change

Calcium - 420
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 0
Ammonia - 0
PH - 8.0
Salinity - 1.025 ( always steady no swings)
Alkalinity - 9
Phospahtes 0.25
Magnesium 1320

 

[Copingwithpods]

Short answer... yes, although if they really are zero is debatable. The API kits have a terrible resolution in the low ranges I would suggest picking up a nyos or salifert for nitrates and a Hanna ULR for phosphates. My api will show zero NO3 while my nyos shows 1-2ppm so you see the problem here.

It seams as though your wc schedule is keeping up with your nitrates but not your phosphates so you'll have to come up with a game plan to remedy that long term via gfo, refugium or skimming. Also switching to foods already low in phosphates and feeding less can help a ton.