Accidentally erased nitrate

[Indytraveler83]

I had a hammer coral too close to a lobo (both new additions) and the hammer proceeded to murder the lobo. I pulled the lobo, but my tank was starting to crash (everything closed up, fish were lethargic) so I did about a 15 gallon water change (54 gallon tank), opened the airline to the skimmer and ran carbon to detox the tank.

This seems to have prevented the crash, as I only lost the lobo. But a few corals still aren’t fully happy, so I ran all of my tests. Everything seems good, but I bottomed out the nitrate, which usually holds steady in the 5-10ppm range. I’ve pulled the carbon and the skimmer cup (so it’s running primarily for air exchange/flow. 3 days have passed since I pulled those things.

How big of an issue is this, and should I do anything to try and correct it faster?

Full stats:
Cal 420
Alk 9
Sal: 1.025
Mag: 1350
Nitrate: 0
Nitrite:0
Ammonia:0
Phosphate: .25
Temp: 78

 

[Flippers4pups]

Having N03 is ideal, especially above P04.

Well the condition of your corals will dictate your course of action. If they are doing poorly now, dosing KN03 would be warranted.

If they were okay, suspended water changes, feeding a little more may help. But it can increase P04 at the same time.

 

[Indytraveler83]

Having N03 is ideal, especially above P04.

Well the condition of your corals will dictate your course of action. If they are doing poorly now, dosing KN03 would be warranted.

If they were okay, suspended water changes, feeding a little more may help. But it can increase P04 at the same time.

I spot fed everyone today, and I’ll see how that goes. It’s hard to read my coral right now. The acan and hammer are as happy as can be, while the alveopora is only partially extended, the gsp and mushrooms are maybe 3/4 their normal size, and my new Duncan frag is grumpy and doesn’t wanna come out.

Nitrate is a problem with this tank. If I do water changes like I’m supposed to, it’s always 0. If I leave it be, they will slowly creep up to the 10 range, but then my alk starts to drop.

I’m trying not to add fish too fast, but maybe increasing the bio load would help?

 

[Flippers4pups]

I spot fed everyone today, and I’ll see how that goes. It’s hard to read my coral right now. The acan and hammer are as happy as can be, while the alveopora is only partially extended, the gsp and mushrooms are maybe 3/4 their normal size, and my new Duncan frag is grumpy and doesn’t wanna come out.

Nitrate is a problem with this tank. If I do water changes like I’m supposed to, it’s always 0. If I leave it be, they will slowly creep up to the 10 range, but then my alk starts to drop.

I’m trying not to add fish too fast, but maybe increasing the bio load would help?

I would cut back water changes for a while. Add alkalinity as needed. What's your mag at?

 

[Indytraveler83]

I would cut back water changes for a while. Add alkalinity as needed. What's your mag at?

1350 is what I’m getting

 

[Indytraveler83]

A few weeks later and my nitrate is still at dead zero. I even took a sample in to my lfs to verify my test wasn’t off and they verified it was at 0.

My corals don’t look bad, the Duncan frag and hammer aren’t as extended as they should be, but everything else is fine (and the Goniopora has gone from struggling to absolutely extended in these conditions). I’m just getting some pretty good nuisance algae blooms with no nitrate and low, but readable phosphate.

My lfs guy said it’s just a step in the process, and that nitrate would naturally go up as the tank ages, and just to make sure everything else stayed in a desirable range. Good advice?

I’m about ready to get a canister filter just to create this “nitrate factory” everyone freaks out about...

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'd look to feed more or dose nitrate. Both are easy.

 

[Indytraveler83]

I'd look to feed more or dose nitrate. Both are easy.

i think I’m going to have to look at dosing nitrate, as increased feedings haven’t bumped it off 0 either.

Any suggestions on what to dose with and how much? I’ve heard horror stories of people getting it horribly wrong...

 

[PatW]

Some people dose Spectracide Stumpkiller available at Lowe’s. It is potassium nitrate. Randy suggests food grade sodium nitrate. Food grade stuff is checked for toxic metals. I have been using analytical grade sodium nitrate from Amazon.

To mix, I put a half cup of sodium nitrate crystals into 1 gallon of RODI for my stock solution. I dose a tablespoon of stock solution per day into my 300 gallon tank. For your tank, dosing a teaspoon or so for starters would be good. You will have to monitor your levels until you figure out the demand.

 

[W1ngz]

If you're getting some considerable algea blooms, I'd try and manually remove as much of it daily as you can. It's very possible you're on track for the right nitrate balance, but the algae is sucking it up before it can be read in the water column.

 

[Indytraveler83]

If you're getting some considerable algea blooms, I'd try and manually remove as much of it daily as you can. It's very possible you're on track for the right nitrate balance, but the algae is sucking it up before it can be read in the water column.

I’ve been working on that, but I think the increasing phosphates from the heavy feeding is also a factor. I’m hoping that by dosing nitrate and cutting back on feeding I can get water chemistry back in line.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

i think I’m going to have to look at dosing nitrate, as increased feedings haven’t bumped it off 0 either.

Any suggestions on what to dose with and how much? I’ve heard horror stories of people getting it horribly wrong...

A good purity of sodium nitrate, or potassium nitrate. Food grade is good. Amazon often sells it, as do others (Loudwolf brand is pretty commonly used).

 

[Indytraveler83]

I might add that it’s not just nuisance algae growing. Coralline growth has surged as of late, and my acan frag seems to be trying to turn into a colony at a record rate. Calcium consumption has also surged, but I was prepared for that.

I just set up this system watching everyone fight high nitrate and nutrients, and tried to dial it in to prevent that, then find myself on the other side of the spectrum.

 

[Indytraveler83]

A good purity of sodium nitrate, or potassium nitrate. Food grade is good. Amazon often sells it, as do others (Loudwolf brand is pretty commonly used).

Appreciate the dosing advice from both of you folks on this thread. I’ll order some this weekend and start dosing!

 

[Indytraveler83]

Is reagent grade good? Or is that worse than the food grade variety? (Can you tell I’m no chemist?)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Is reagent grade good? Or is that worse than the food grade variety? (Can you tell I’m no chemist?)

It's not clearly better or worse. Just tests for different aspects of purity. I'd elect food grade if you have a choice.

 

[Indytraveler83]

It's not clearly better or worse. Just tests for different aspects of purity. I'd elect food grade if you have a choice.

Thanks. Just ordered the Loudwolf brand as recommended. I almost wonder if I should have been running a canister filter on this system, the nitrates dose themselves that way! Lol...0

 

[ZaneTer]

I might add that it’s not just nuisance algae growing. Coralline growth has surged as of late, and my acan frag seems to be trying to turn into a colony at a record rate. Calcium consumption has also surged, but I was prepared for that.

I just set up this system watching everyone fight high nitrate and nutrients, and tried to dial it in to prevent that, then find myself on the other side of the spectrum.

I am very much an advocate for dosing when needed but this statement makes me wonder whether or not you actually do need to dose.
If things are growing, healthy and colour looks good then I definitely wouldn’t mess with it.

 

[Indytraveler83]

I am very much an advocate for dosing when needed but this statement makes me wonder whether or not you actually do need to dose.
If things are growing, healthy and colour looks good then I definitely wouldn’t mess with it.

I was sort of thinking along the same lines, only the Duncan and Hammer have appeared less than perfect...

But now I’m dealing with some sort of disease outbreak and may have to run fallow if it’s brook or velvet, so that adds a whole new wrench in things...

 

[ZaneTer]

Ok then you may possibly need KNO3 if you are running fallow.

My condolences about the disease outbreak