Do you nitrates?

[Ocean’s Piece]

Well, really only thing i could do is remove skimmer, but, for some reason i'm not comfordable with that idea....

Just try dialing it down on only have it on for a certain amount of time in the day.

 

[sreid]

My tank averages around 5.5 ppm nitrates I'd say. My last test on 12/15 was 5.3 ppm per my hannah checker.

Which Hanna checker are you using HR or LR

 

[Koh23]

Yes, i dialed it down, so far no impact on nitrates and po4.....

Another interesting thing is, sump (chaeto chamber) is lit by plain 10w 6500k reflector, and coraline is growing on glass, and floor of sump.

Meantime, in display tank..no signs of coraline...... Too low light?

 

[LiveFreeAndReef]

Well, really only thing i could do is remove skimmer, but, for some reason i'm not comfordable with that idea....

Dr. Tim Hovanec (as in THE Dr Tim lol) recommends shutting off skimmers for 2 hours at night.

 

[LiveFreeAndReef]

There's gotta be more people with nitrates in their system!!

 

[LeftyReefer]

Which Hanna checker are you using HR or LR

HR Nitrate checker, the HI782.

 

[Schraufabagel]

I try to keep mine between 4 - 8 ppm. However my Chaeto is too good at its job and NO3 will often drop near 0. Still narrowing in on a refugium lighting schedule

 

[Ocean’s Piece]

Yes, i dialed it down, so far no impact on nitrates and po4.....

Another interesting thing is, sump (chaeto chamber) is lit by plain 10w 6500k reflector, and coraline is growing on glass, and floor of sump.

Meantime, in display tank..no signs of coraline...... Too low light?

It’s going to take a few days to get noticeable results. Test after a week or so.

 

[FishyFishFish]

Zero in my newer Nano. I have coral food (reef chili and some from IPSF), lots of liquid coral nutrition and still zero. I don’t have any fish it that tank at the moment.

I’ve just ordered some sodium nitrate as my corals aren’t looking very happy and nothing else seems to be working.

 

[sreid]

I try to keep mine between 4 - 8 ppm. However my Chaeto is too good at its job and NO3 will often drop near 0. Still narrowing in on a refugium lighting schedule

Quick question what does nitrates do in a tank and will raising the level help with Coraline algae

 

[Ocean’s Piece]

Zero in my newer Nano. I have coral food (reef chili and some from IPSF), lots of liquid coral nutrition and still zero. I don’t have any fish it that tank at the moment.

I’ve just ordered some sodium nitrate as my corals aren’t looking very happy and nothing else seems to be working.

Refer to my previous messages above. I was in your same place. Try what I said above before dosing.

 

[Koh23]

Not sure, coraline grows in my sump, on dt not a trace for now......

 

[jassermd]

I nitrate... never been below 5 and I employ every tool (except a sulfur denitrator) to keep them between 10-20, and at times it's a struggle.
Socks changed 2x/week, skimmer, refugium w/ chaeto, 4 L of Matrix in bags, 300 lb live rock in DT, deep sand bed, and weekly water changes. I dose phyto daily. Learned a lot from everyone here on R2R.

Algae is not an issue... small amount on sand by Fri (Sat is water change day) and no algae on glass.
Trying to figure out how y'all keep them below 10... My reef is a mixed reef, LPS heavy, with some softies.

Now, that said, I have a full fish crew including a Harlequin and yellow hawk. Regardless, I had the same nitrates before the Harlequin and hawk fish.

 

[Schraufabagel]

Quick question what does nitrates do in a tank and will raising the level help with Coraline algae

Nitrogen is required for all living things to survive, so you never want it to be absolute zero. Additionally, bottoming out nitrates is one of the things that can contribute to things like red cyano if you have a nutrient imbalance. Finally, keeping nitrates close to ocean parameters can help simulate a real reef. Nitrate at the surface is usually 0 due to nitrogen gas exchange, but keeping a healthy amount below the surface helps maintain good growth in all living things.

The actual level is pretty much up to you, but most people will say to keep it between 3 ppm and 15 ppm (this is higher than ocean levels which can be around 0.1 ppm). Generally below 20 ppm means it isn't harming livestock

 

[LiveFreeAndReef]

Nitrogen is required for all living things to survive, so you never want it to be absolute zero. Additionally, bottoming out nitrates is one of the things that can contribute to things like red cyano if you have a nutrient imbalance. Finally, keeping nitrates close to ocean parameters can help simulate a real reef. Nitrate at the surface is usually 0 due to nitrogen gas exchange, but keeping a healthy amount below the surface helps maintain good growth in all living things.

The actual level is pretty much up to you, but most people will say to keep it between 3 ppm and 15 ppm (this is higher than ocean levels which can be around 0.1 ppm). Generally below 20 ppm means it isn't harming livestock

Nitrate levels in natural sea water are a little misleading, there are literal tons of animals constantly using nitrates so the .1ppm is really all that's leftover after they do so. And a lot of organisms uptake ammonia directly so it doesn't end up going through the usual nitrogen cycle

 

[sreid]

Nitrogen is required for all living things to survive, so you never want it to be absolute zero. Additionally, bottoming out nitrates is one of the things that can contribute to things like red cyano if you have a nutrient imbalance. Finally, keeping nitrates close to ocean parameters can help simulate a real reef. Nitrate at the surface is usually 0 due to nitrogen gas exchange, but keeping a healthy amount below the surface helps maintain good growth in all living things.

The actual level is pretty much up to you, but most people will say to keep it between 3 ppm and 15 ppm (this is higher than ocean levels which can be around 0.1 ppm). Generally below 20 ppm means it isn't harming livestock

Thank you I have a deep sand bed 6 inches of sugar fine: my nitrates have always been zero. I have cyno how would you raise it: cycling skimmer adding more food I am at a loss. Old time reefer when zero nitrates was the goal

 

[sreid]

Thank you I have a deep sand bed 6 inches of sugar fine: my nitrates have always been zero. I have cyno how would you raise it: cycling skimmer adding more food I am at a loss. Old time reefer when zero nitrates was the goal

Thank you I have a deep sand bed 6 inches of sugar fine: my nitrates have always been zero. I have cyno how would you raise it: cycling skimmer adding more food I am at a loss. Old time reefer when zero nitrates was the goal

i test with both Hanna HR and LR both read zero

 

[LPS Bum]

Less than 5 ppm, but I feed my fish every day and broadcast feed my corals zooplankton twice a week. I have no doubt that there are plenty of nitrates going into the water every day, but my daily maintenance dose of NoPox, wet skimming and weekly 10% water changes help to keep it in check.

 

[Mr_Knightley]

Until very recently, I've kept my nitrates at around 15-20, never been able to keep phosphates very high at all though. However, I recently noticed that my montis browned and my acros came to a screeching halt in growth, and I found out that both my NO3 and PO4 had zeroed out completely! I've shut off the skimmer and will be heavily feeding to get them both back up. It's amazing how much your corals can tell you!

 

[CraigMixedReef]

For two years, I thought I was at 5 with Nyos and Salifert, but Hanna tells me I’m at 30, and I trust her most! Either way, all coral, inverts, and fish are doing well and thriving. Stability and consistency is the key.