Help with high no3 and po4

[BigB72]

I just got the Hanna checkers phosphate and nitrate testers. I tested and results are not what I expected.
Nitrates 75
Phosphate 0.90
Looking for the best way to reduce and maintain at proper levels.
I’m going to do a 10% water change and sock change today also Debating buying no3po4x
First question
How accurate are the Hanna checkers?
Best way to reduce and maintain?
No3 po4x
Bio pellets
Algae reactor

 

[e34stx]

are there any issues with your tank?

 

[Nigel35]

I just got the Hanna checkers phosphate and nitrate testers. I tested and results are not what I expected.
Nitrates 75
Phosphate 0.90
Looking for the best way to reduce and maintain at proper levels.
I’m going to do a 10% water change and sock change today also Debating buying no3po4x
First question
How accurate are the Hanna checkers?
Best way to reduce and maintain?
No3 po4x
Bio pellets
Algae reactor

The Hanna checkers are arguable one of the most reliable and accurate tester on the market. What I notice right off the bat is that your numbers are the MAX that these checkers can read meaning that your phosphates and nitrates could be much much higher than they are right now and the checker can only read to a certain level. Go to your LFS and get a reliable test that can test higher levels of nitrate and phosphate. You could even use an Api test kit to get a grasp of what your phosphates and nitrates are at. They might not be entirely accurate by any means, but they will provide a cursory idea of what to expect. Lets get the full picture here: Tank setup, feeding routines, tank size, how many fish, etc.

 

[BigB72]

Tank is a IM50int with a reef oct 110 skimmer
5 fish 1 shrimp
2 cubes frozen a day maybe 3 some days

 

[BigB72]

 

[Nigel35]

Tank is a IM50int with a reef oct 110 skimmer
5 fish 1 shrimp
2 cubes frozen a day maybe 3 some days

cut that down to one cube every other day. How is that skimmer looking? I would give it a very good clean and a 45 percent water change once you get a measure on how high your parameters are.

 

[BigB72]

Cleaning skimmer and doing a water change today
How long would it take to see a noticeable difference?

 

[nereefpat]

Water change will immediately drop nitrates by whatever percentage of water you changed. For example, a 50% water change will drop nitrates to about 37 ppm. Phosphate will drop, but phosphate is bound and released by your rock/sand, so it will climb back up.

If you aren't having coral or algae issues, then I wouldn't panic.

You will be fighting an uphill battle with that stock list in a 50 gallon, especially the angel and tang. They all need to eat every day.

 

[fushi]

Just to add a more unconventional options.
You might want to try adding more bio media. Its not an quick fix like a water change but if your feeding a lot you should also be exporting a lot.
Adding some easy to grow macro algae like cheto is extremely helpful too.


Cheap refugium light options and cheto


https://www.reefcleaners.org/aquarium-store/plants-macroalgae/chaeto-detail


If you want to go the carbon dosing route Lucksusowa vodka is a cheap alternative to nopox

"All tanks have different parameters, so like many things in this hobby, changes to your tanks water chemistry should be done slowly. ...Note your nitrate and phosphate starting point before dosing and slowly reduce it to the desired level. When the desired level is reached, smaller doses can be made to keep levels maintained.
.....Again, dose slowly with a starting dose of vodka at around .1ml per 25 gallons for the first half of the week. Note any negative effects, and if none, slowly increase the dosage each week until nutrient levels begin to drop."

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/content/post/md-2021-03-liquid-carbon-dosing-breakdown-why-and-how-to-do-it?utm_term=&utm_campaign=DSA>RLSA+Global&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&hsa_acc=7373341438&hsa_cam=843440857&hsa_grp=41971741854&hsa_ad=563944866636&hsa_src=g&hsa_tgt=aud-340908210670:dsa-295317350131&hsa_kw=&hsa_mt=&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gclid=Cj0KCQiA5aWOBhDMARIsAIXLlkflIKqERnJ5NMj7J7vOB5lzZR4N_waQ5MIGQqLKxgDktjrwWdF0cm4aAsW2EALw_wcB

 

[thedon986]

Carbon dosing for nitrates and lanthanum chloride for phosphates is what I would do. For high phosphates, water changes are particularly ineffective. Mine climbed up to .3 and seem to be leaching and 30% water changes had almost zero effect.

 

[damsels are not mean]

If the corals are growing, why change anything?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

There are many good ways to appropriately reduce nitrate and phosphate. Just don't try to make any changes too fast.

Phosphate In The Reef Aquarium

Nitrate in the Reef Aquarium - REEFEDITION