High Nitrate & Phosphate but sps look great
- Thread starter bonomo53
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jackson6745
Valuable Member
To the op, .12 is not super high po4. Yes, I see reduced SPS growth at that level, but colors can look just great and growth good enough. As for your nitrates, I don't think they're that high. That is the newer salifert color card. IME the colors are off (there are several threads on it). Basically the color shown is 1 section higher than the reality. Im my case no3 was reading 50ppm with new color card, old color card read 25ppm, nyos + red sea kits read 25ppm also.
Over the last 2 years I ran my reef with nitrates over 50ppm and po4 last high as .24. My preference is nitrate level of 5ppm-10ppm and low po4 (0.0-.03) on a low range hanna tester. At these levels I always got the best mix of fast growth + rich colors. I know the popular term is "not to chase numbers" but I disagree. These numbers serve as guidelines, and I see the same results repeatedly at the same levels.
Here is a video from yesterday with nitrates about 15ppm and phosphates @ .04
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Over the last 2 years I ran my reef with nitrates over 50ppm and po4 last high as .24. My preference is nitrate level of 5ppm-10ppm and low po4 (0.0-.03) on a low range hanna tester. At these levels I always got the best mix of fast growth + rich colors. I know the popular term is "not to chase numbers" but I disagree. These numbers serve as guidelines, and I see the same results repeatedly at the same levels.
Here is a video from yesterday with nitrates about 15ppm and phosphates @ .04
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
OP
OP
bonomo53
Well-Known Member
Great info tanks for the help. i knew the nitrate had to be off but didnt know the new kits had an issue thanks for the heads up... BTW your tank looks amazing
