Dealing with high nitrates and phosphates

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Okay i got everything i think. Does the .2 ml matter? Like istead of dosing 11.2ml could i dose 11ml?

It is not nearly that sensitive. A factor of two may be hardly noticed in many tanks.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Ive tried many things over time. I've tried not vacuuming my sand bed, and i recently stareted vaccuming the entire sand bed. Ill take the advice of everyone and ill try to start vinegar dosing starting next week. I read somewhere too that if your rocks are all together in one big pile then that can cause your levels to rise. Ill head out today after work and grab some vinegar and a turkey blaster and ill start dosing on sunday. Ill take that chart into serious consideration. Thanks guys!!!

FWIW, the chart has some issues, such as ramping up too slow and weirdly shows little difference between a 1000 gallon tank and a 25 gallon tank.

 

[AaronOB82]

Here my levels as of today.

 

[Reefing Madness]

Vodka Dosing by 'Genetics' and 'Stony_Corals' - Reefkeeping.com
Reefkeeping Magazine - Vinegar Dosing Methodology for the Marine Aquarium
Vodka dosing | Melev's Reef

I thought I did too. I wonder what happened?

I know I did once, early on.

 

[vanz]

Just to let you know, those API kits are very unreliable. Your nitrates may very well be in the safe levels. I tested 3 kits and 1 showed bright red while the other 2 showed very little nitrates. Get a second kit or another brand to double or triple check.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I just realized there's a similar thread in the Reef Discussion forum where I just commented on the chart yesterday. That is what I was thinking of.

 

[AaronOB82]

What other kits do you suggest? Ive heard alot of bad things about API after i purchased this one.

 

[jasonandsarah]

For nitrates I use Salifert and for phosphates I use Hanna ULR phosphorus checker. There's a few good options out there for nitrates but imo the ULR Hanna is the best phosphate option.

 

[AaronOB82]

Alright perfect. Thanks fellas!

 

[nicodim55]

Just to let you know, those API kits are very unreliable. Your nitrates may very well be in the safe levels. I tested 3 kits and 1 showed bright red while the other 2 showed very little nitrates. Get a second kit or another brand to double or triple check.

Not entirely true, I'm having issue with high nitrates as well with my main tank. I have a quarantine tank and I tested both tanks with the API tester and nitrates on the quarantine tank is 0 and the main tank is at 80ppm. So it's not always the tester that's in-accurate just my 2 cents

 

[jasonandsarah]

Not entirely true, I'm having issue with high nitrates as well with my main tank. I have a quarantine tank and I tested both tanks with the API tester and nitrates on the quarantine tank is 0 and the main tank is at 80ppm. So it's not always the tester that's in-accurate just my 2 cents

API test kits are cheap and aren't made to be precise. They normally will get you a round about number but who wants a test kit that has a reputation for being inaccurate? There isn't many experienced reefers that recommend API test kits. For me that plenty good enough reason not to use them.

 

[Reefing Madness]

For Nitrates? API, I've always used it. I'd worry more about Phosphates at lower ranges than with Nitrates.

 

[AaronOB82]

Well my nitrates are at like 40ppm and phospahtes aroind 1.5-2.0ppm

 

[nicodim55]

For Nitrates? API, I've always used it. I'd worry more about Phosphates at lower ranges than with Nitrates.

Same here been using it for years and to test 2 different tanks at the same time and getting different results I'd say API is pretty spot on

 

[nicodim55]

Well my nitrates are at like 40ppm and phospahtes aroind 1.5-2.0ppm

Mine's at 80ppm and phos at 2.0ppm so I feel your pain

 

[jasonandsarah]

Same here been using it for years and to test 2 different tanks at the same time and getting different results I'd say API is pretty spot on

not trying to argue but testing 2 different tanks at the same time and getting 2 different results doesn't mean it's "Spot on" that's for sure.
I'd definitely agree though that for Nitrates it's not a really big deal because API will give you a fairly close number and unless your running a Uln tank (like I am) it's not a big deal.....

 

[AaronOB82]

Im just gonna take a proactive take to this. Forget all the chemicals, ill remove some fish, buy more live rock, scape the rocks differently to where I get a good flow in between all rocks and ill cut back on feeding to once every other day..ill start sucking up half of or sections of my sand rather than vaccume the entire bottom..you guys have been awsome with your feedback. I really appreciate it !

 

[omykiss001]

So let me get this straight im using vodka? Like actual absolute vodka? Im stressing out. I may need a bottle to myself after this.

Yep, but buy the cheap stuff for the tank the bacteria don't care. Get the good stuff for you

 

[nicodim55]

not trying to argue but testing 2 different tanks at the same time and getting 2 different results doesn't mean it's "Spot on" that's for sure.
I'd definitely agree though that for Nitrates it's not a really big deal because API will give you a fairly close number and unless your running a Uln tank (like I am) it's not a big deal.....

Yeah we're not really trying to get the Nitrates to 0 at least I'm not, I'll be happy if I can get it down to 20ppm so my LPS would open up more

 

[AaronOB82]

All my corals (several hundreds of dollars worth) all took a crap on me.