Can't raise Phosphates or nitrates

tdyrkacz · May 23, 2022

My phosphates and Nitrates are at 0 and i have not been able to raise them at all.

My system is about 6 months old. I feed about 2 cubes a day. I do have a Klir automatic fleecce filter and skimmer and a fuge running. I do not run GFO. I test using hanna checkers and never detected phosphates or nitrates. I've battled GHA although it is more brown than green. It is being kept at bay by a large sea hare otherwise i think the tank would be overrun with it. I assume this is why i can't detect phosphates because the GHA is using it up, but that does not explain 0 nitrates to me.

Any help would be appreciated.

blaxsun · May 23, 2022

Fleece rollers will typically do a very good job on nutrient export - which is why you may not be detecting a lot of nitrates. Out of curiosity, what are you using for testing kits?

tdyrkacz · May 23, 2022

hanna checkers for both

mwil79 · May 23, 2022

You have a lot of nutrient export with a fleece roller, protein skimmer and chaeto. I had to remove chaeto from my tank due to it being too effective in nutrient export and just went with a protein skimmer due to control over how much or little I wanted to pull out of the water.

tdyrkacz · May 23, 2022

I might take the fleece roller offline to see if the tank likes it.

vetteguy53081 · May 23, 2022

Shut down fleece unit temporarily and feed coral Reef Roids and you should see a slow elevation occuring.

Spare time · May 23, 2022

Put the skimmer on a timer and run it only when the lights are out. Keep the refugium on a short light schedule like 8 hours OR run the refugium light at a lower intensity. I personally would lower the water level in the skimmer so it keeps up the gas exchange but it stops removing sources for nitrogen. Aminos can help with the nitrate, and spirulina powder will definitely raise the phosphate.

tdyrkacz · May 23, 2022

I have been feeding roads and reef energy and reef plankton.

tdyrkacz · May 23, 2022

Reef roids not roads .... spellcheck

131696 · May 23, 2022

How big tank?might take awhile till they show up if it's a huge tank ,2 cubes a day must have a ton of fish .turn off all filters ,protein skimmer they will show up soon then. Then adjust filters, protein skimmer to get them dialed in to desired parameters

tdyrkacz · May 23, 2022

It's 2 tanks tied together with a basement sump. the total water volume is 300 gallons.
one tank is 72 x 30 x 21 and the other is a 30 x 30 x 24 with a 4 foot sump in the basement. It's not that many fish... I am overfeeding partly to raise phosphates and nitrates and to make sure every fish is happy.