Help! 0 nitrates and almost 0 phosphate

[Lps_lover12]

I have a very small bio load in my tank and it’s about 7 months old. I’ve had lots of euphyllia die recently from tissue loss and I couldn’t figure out why but now I know it’s cause they were starving to death. I have 0 nitrates and almost 0 phosphate. I’m looking at dosing neophos and neonitro but a little nervous cause I know it can be tricky as well as a carbon limited system (not too sure what that means) can someone help me out and explain how to dose it? Thanks in advance!

 

[Ober_Reef]

I follow the directions on the bottle for both, they aren’t too complicated. Of course you can also over feed, try some reef roids to feed the coral, and decrease the amount of water changes you are doing.

 

[Lavey29]

It's easy to dose. I double dosed it with no issues. If you have bottomed out not only will you lose coral but you will get dinos too.

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

I have a very small bio load in my tank and it’s about 7 months old. I’ve had lots of euphyllia die recently from tissue loss and I couldn’t figure out why but now I know it’s cause they were starving to death. I have 0 nitrates and almost 0 phosphate. I’m looking at dosing neophos and neonitro but a little nervous cause I know it can be tricky as well as a carbon limited system (not too sure what that means) can someone help me out and explain how to dose it? Thanks in advance!

If your at zero or near its easy dose to the size of your tank and test 24 hrs later if Both are zero again dose that same amount and again 12hrs later dose half that amount then 12hrs later ( total of 24 from last test) see if you have values, if not double the dose and test 24hrs later then you should have something then keep that dose everyday and test every 3 days you should stay at the value if for some reason n03 and p04 keep rising you could be carbon limited because the bacteria is not using up the n03 and p04, this is only a little information first thing Is dosing and multiple testing with a reliable test ( recommend Hanna n03 hr and p04 ulr) get a feel for how fast your system uses up these nutrients, obviously it uses them up so just watch and test. You will need to dose daily p04 more than likely and every few days maybe once a week n03. Try this see if it helps.

 

[Lps_lover12]

I follow the directions on the bottle for both, they aren’t too complicated. Of course you can also over feed, try some reef roids to feed the coral, and decrease the amount of water changes you are doing.

Would the Red Sea ab+ for coral work too? I have that but don’t have reef roids

 

[Lps_lover12]

It's easy to dose. I double dosed it with no issues. If you have bottomed out not only will you lose coral but you will get dinos too.

That’s what I don’t want is Dinos, I want to fix it before they come

 

[Lps_lover12]

If your at zero or near its easy dose to the size of your tank and test 24 hrs later if Both are zero again dose that same amount and again 12hrs later dose half that amount then 12hrs later ( total of 24 from last test) see if you have values, if not double the dose and test 24hrs later then you should have something then keep that dose everyday and test every 3 days you should stay at the value if for some reason n03 and p04 keep rising you could be carbon limited because the bacteria is not using up the n03 and p04, this is only a little information first thing Is dosing and multiple testing with a reliable test ( recommend Hanna n03 hr and p04 ulr) get a feel for how fast your system uses up these nutrients, obviously it uses them up so just watch and test. You will need to dose daily p04 more than likely and every few days maybe once a week n03. Try this see if it helps.

Thank you! Should I also get biofuel just incase? I’m also going to buy the Hanna nitrate tester hr, already have the phosphate ulr and it’s so nice to have

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

Would the Red Sea ab+ for coral work too? I have that but don’t have reef roids

Both of those a terrible imo feeding is not what I recommend for dealing with low nutrients, it causes more issues down the road its just an easy answer to give people " oh feed more" but all that depends on more than just feeding more.

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

Thank you! Should I also get biofuel just incase? I’m also going to buy the Hanna nitrate tester hr, already have the phosphate ulr and it’s so nice to have

No vinegar is fine but you probably won't need it do the dosing on the bottles of neophos and neonitro. Careful with carbon it can cause all sorts of issues if overdone or dosed to quickly to a new system

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

You have a picture of your system allot has to do with substrate and mechanical filtration and bio load

 

[Lps_lover12]

No vinegar is fine but you probably won't need it do the dosing on the bottles of neophos and neonitro. Careful with carbon it can cause all sorts of issues if overdone or dosed to quickly to a new system

That’s why I hope I don’t have to use it as I read it can cause lots of problems

 

[Lps_lover12]

You have a picture of your system allot has to do with substrate and mechanical filtration and bio load

Only fish are 2 clowns and one spot foxface. Tank is 100 gallons

 

[Lavey29]

Look if you overstock coral in a new 7 month old tank and don't have enough fish in it to provide the bioload nutrients corals need your numbers will bottom out. My tank did the same thing early on. Of course you will be adding more fish at some point. For now it's quite easy and efficient to dose neophos and neonitro to bring numbers up. Maybe go to bi weekly water changes now. Skim dry, don't add stuff like MB7 that reduces nitrates. Let your tank dirty up a bit that's what LPS like. Don't be messing with carbon dosing in a new tank.

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

Only fish are 2 clowns and one spot foxface. Tank is 100 gallons

Very nice! how's mechanical filtration, and with that number of fish I even more suggest don't over feed, over feeding with sand can compound the down the road issues its easier with bare bottoms and good filtration to "feed more" also food can be 10x as expensive as some diy N&P. if what you need is p04 and n03 then add what you need not a bunch of food that needs to go thru processes to turn into what you need, feed your fish what they need and after some time of dosing N&P your levels will stabilize and maybe your daily feeding will keep up. if not you don't have enough coral or fish producing waste and you will need to continue small nutrient adjustments untill you find the balance of enough fish/coral and waste production. I would start by putting clean N&P in your system it will take time, trust me adding N&P is better than always fighting to remove them. My opinion there

 

[jimk60]

Do you direct feed your corals? That should help raise your nutrients and keep them from starving.

 

[Spare time]

Ignore their limited carbon terminology. Its not helpful to you and is poor writing on their behalf. Brightwell needs to fire whoever writes their product instructions lol

 

[Lps_lover12]

Look if you overstock coral in a new 7 month old tank and don't have enough fish in it to provide the bioload nutrients corals need your numbers will bottom out. My tank did the same thing early on. Of course you will be adding more fish at some point. For now it's quite easy and efficient to dose neophos and neonitro to bring numbers up. Maybe go to bi weekly water changes now. Skim dry, don't add stuff like MB7 that reduces nitrates. Let your tank dirty up a bit that's what LPS like. Don't be messing with carbon dosing in a new tank.

Thanks! I was water changes every 2 weeks but changed to once a month in august. I should have added corals slowly and tested more, my fault. I’ll stay away from carbon dosing as well. Thanks for the help

 

[Lps_lover12]

Very nice! how's mechanical filtration, and with that number of fish I even more suggest don't over feed, over feeding with sand can compound the down the road issues its easier with bare bottoms and good filtration to "feed more" also food can be 10x as expensive as some diy N&P. if what you need is p04 and n03 then add what you need not a bunch of food that needs to go thru processes to turn into what you need, feed your fish what they need and after some time of dosing N&P your levels will stabilize and maybe your daily feeding will keep up. if not you don't have enough coral or fish producing waste and you will need to continue small nutrient adjustments untill you find the balance of enough fish/coral and waste production. I would start by putting clean N&P in your system it will take time, trust me adding N&P is better than always fighting to remove them. My opinion there

In the sump I have one 4 inch filter sock my protein skimmer and a few pieces of rock. I will be adding 4 fish at the end of October so hopefully that will help and once I get all the fish in hopefully I don’t have to dose anymore. Not feeding extra makes a lot of sense and agree with you for adding instead of having to remove. Really appreciate the help

 

[Lps_lover12]

Do you direct feed your corals? That should help raise your nutrients and keep them from starving.

Not very often, I use Red Sea ab+

 

[Lps_lover12]

Ignore their limited carbon terminology. Its not helpful to you and is poor writing on their behalf. Brightwell needs to fire whoever writes their product instructions lol

Agreed lol, even very simple products of theirs they make sound confusing