Guess the Nitrates

Reefer Matt · Jun 24, 2023

I just tested my nitrates in this 4 ½ year old 75 gallon sps tank. What do you think they are? *Tested with Hanna Nitrate HR.

Townes_Van_Camp · Jun 24, 2023

Lots of color. Nitrates, you have them.

22 ppm.

I never finish anythi · Jun 24, 2023

50 ppm.

Seansea · Jun 24, 2023

Whatever it its working

exnisstech · Jun 24, 2023

I'm going with 22 also. On a side note since it's a 75g you should head over
Here and enter to win

taricha · Jun 24, 2023

No pale corals. Dark color on sand and Rock. Wildly guessing 20ppm

Reefer Matt · Jun 24, 2023

taricha said:
No pale corals. Dark color on sand and Rock. Wildly guessing 20ppm

I have Hawaiian black sand. (Though I wish I knew it has iron in it and scratches glass)

Reefer Matt · Jun 24, 2023

You guys are just too good! It's 22 ppm. Well, according to the Hanna, anyway. So ~20-24 ppm. And yes, the point was to show that higher nitrates can be beneficial. But I do have a serious cuc with four urchins and a bunch of snails to keep algae down. Good job everyone! I shoulda known I couldn't fool ya!

FrugalReefer · Jun 24, 2023

Pretty sure it's on the high side.

Reefer Matt · Jun 24, 2023

FrugalReefer said:
Pretty sure it's on the high side.

Absolutely. But this tank is happy at this range, and has been for a few years now. When I used to run it at 5 ppm, the coral were much duller and didn't seem to grow as fast. Just another perspective that shows that there are more ways than one to reef.

taricha · Jun 24, 2023

Reefer Matt said:
But I do have a serious cuc with four urchins and a bunch of snails to keep algae down.

Nice. Would like to hear about your PO4, and what kind of urchins and snails.

Reefer Matt · Jun 24, 2023

taricha said:
Nice. Would like to hear about your PO4, and what kind of urchins and snails.

I just tested, and phosphate is reading 0 on Hanna ULR. So anywhere from 0 to .02 ppm. I do have a refugium with chaeto.
Urchins include four pincushion. Snails include mostly astrea, with some trochus. I usually order 100 snails about every three months as they dwindle in numbers. Also have a very large black brittle star.