Help!

[La_Nena]

Hi guys,
I have a 120g aquarium. I've been struggling on my Nitrate and phosphate levels for quite some time. The highest 80ppm to 20ppm never lower. My phosphate stays between 2.0-0.25. My Amonia .50 today I checked and it's Zeroed out. Any suggestions?

 

[blaxsun]

What are your phosphate levels?

 

[La_Nena]

Phosphate 0.25

 

[pochaxoo]

When you say struggling. Is your aquarium inhabitants having negative survival or appearance that you are attributing to high nitrate and phosphates? If you want to reduce them I have found a refugium to be very efficient at keeping them down but I can also say regular weekly water changes with vaccuming if the sand may resolve a lot of your issue. What is your current maintenance and filtration setup?

 

[bushdoc]

Nitrate and phosphate level in your tank is a result of what you put in and what comes out.
So, to decrease them use:

• good skimmer 24/7
• filter socks emptied regularly
• water changes ( less effective)
• less feeding, change food type
• more rock/ biomedia in tank or sump
• refugium with macro algae
• consider carbon dosing

 

[La_Nena]

Thank you, I will try your suggestions.
Is it something I should stress out about? My fish and corals are happy

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Thank you, I will try your suggestions.
Is it something I should stress out about? My fish and corals are happy

Monitor parameters, make small slow changes suggested above, and no, don't stress or chase numbers if your tank looks happy.