General parameter questions

[Jenz]

Randy hi, have complete confusion re parameters and how to manage them.
Am trying to get a reef tank established, has a few LPS and a single Pocillopora (?) frag.
Tank RSM e170; presently using the rear sump and skimmer. Tank 12mths old.
I do 10% weekly water change using Coral Reef Pro and RODI water.
Struggling with Phosphate and Nitrate levels; have reduced feeding volumes and frequencies and weekly siphon the substrate and blow the rocks. I've got live rock. Yes I've some fish ie cardinal, an anthia, 2 clown fish, a coral goby and in ignorance talked into a Banner fish.
I have a Vortech as well as Ecotech pump running to side water movement.
I test weekly and generally have Nitrates 5-7.5
Phosphates 0.5
Testing today at the LFS the levels returned were Nitrates >4 and Phosphates 0.8. NB the tank water was collected 24hrs prior and the LFS mentioned it was incorrectly stored ie too much water movement.
My question are;
1. Been given 2 different opinions by LFS 1st being preservere with NOPOx (atm been giving 5mls daily) and be patient for the phosphate levels to drop, the other being use both a Nitrate remover as well as a phosphate remover and ensure over skimming and maintain weekly water changes.
What's your opinion?
Other question is
2. Any idea how time between collection and testing affects the Nitrate, specific gravity, phosphate etc results ie does it go up, down or stay stable.
Whilst my corals appear ok I thk they look a little wilted.
Thank you

 

[a119]

Hey

How old is tank?

When did you get the live rock ? Is it cured ?

Have you tested the tds on the rodi water

 

[Jenz]

Hey

How old is tank?

When did you get the live rock ? Is it cured ?

Have you tested the tds on the rodi water

Hi
The tank is 12months old. I put the live rock in at that time for cycling. I believe it is cured live rock but can't be definite about that.
I have only started on the RODI water the past 6weeks which obtain direct from the lfs; I hvnt tested it for tds but before this time I believed the water I used was a major source of trace solids to the tank.

 

[a119]

Well if you get it from you're LFS then it should be ok.

It could be possible you are stirring up a lot of detritus from cleaning you're sand bed too deep or if it is gravel it will cause a nitrate phosphate spike. Sometimes after I clean my substrate real good my nitrates can go up if I don't do a big water change.

Also could be a dead fish crab shrimp etc hidden in rocks causing spike

I had a problem with nitrates a while back then I stared using a bio reactor and my tank has been literally algae free with low levels

 

[Jenz]

Well if you get it from you're LFS then it should be ok.

It could be possible you are stirring up a lot of detritus from cleaning you're sand bed too deep or if it is gravel it will cause a nitrate phosphate spike. Sometimes after I clean my substrate real good my nitrates can go up if I don't do a big water change.

Also could be a dead fish crab shrimp etc hidden in rocks causing spike

I had a problem with nitrates a while back then I stared using a bio reactor and my tank has been literally algae free with low levels

Thank you

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The nitrate is fine and I'd stick with the NOPOX at the current dose.

Phosphate is high, but high phosphate is not the end of the world, especially if there is not a bad algae problem. Some great tanks have phosphate higher than yours. A little GFO or other phosphate binder would be an appropriate choice to lower it.

The only parameters that I think are likely to change appreciably between home and an lfs are pH and ORP.

 

[Jenz]

The nitrate is fine and I'd stick with the NOPOX at the current dose.

Phosphate is high, but high phosphate is not the end of the world, especially if there is not a bad algae problem. Some great tanks have phosphate higher than yours. A little GFO or other phosphate binder would be an appropriate choice to lower it.

The only parameters that I think are likely to change appreciably between home and an lfs are pH and ORP.

Thank you both I appreciate the input
Funnily enough today my corals are looking happy so am suspecting their moods swing as much as mine

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thank you both I appreciate the input
Funnily enough today my corals are looking happy so am suspecting their moods swing as much as mine

lol

Happy Reefing!

 

[rkpetersen]

1. Been given 2 different opinions by LFS 1st being preservere with NOPOx (atm been giving 5mls daily) and be patient for the phosphate levels to drop, the other being use both a Nitrate remover as well as a phosphate remover and ensure over skimming and maintain weekly water changes.

That first opinion is probably not the best, imo. While NoPoX will definitely decrease your nitrate if used properly, it is much less effective in lowering phosphate. The bacteria that you're growing (and then removing) with carbon dosing incorporate nitrogen and phosphorus in an approximately 16:1 ratio, so for every 1 ppm drop in nitrate you can expect considerably less than 0.1 ppm drop in phosphate. With just carbon dosing, your nitrate can drop to zero and you may still have excess phosphate circulating.

Fortunately removing excess phosphate is so much more straightforward and generally faster than removing excess nitrate; as RHF mentions, judicious use of GFO is the way to go.