High Nitrate

[vetteguy53081]

Took a water sample to the LFS it came back as 0 nitrate. I don’t understand. Is my test kit bad. Think I’m gonna invest in a Salifert

You found out the reliabilty of API kits.
Good ones are Hann or salifert. Red Sea is tricky to read.

 

[Jayreef23]

Hanna!

Should I get a high range or low range?

 

[SlugSnorter]

Hi everyone my nitrates seem to be too high reading at 80(bright red). I’m using an API test kit. How should I go about lowering the nitrates and maintaining them low?

weekly WCs of 15-20% or so, make sure you are not overfeeding, decent sized CUC, have something that "eats" nitrates.

 

[Reefahholic]

Should I get a high range or low range?

Low

 

[Reefahholic]

weekly WCs of 15-20% or so, make sure you are not overfeeding, decent sized CUC, have something that "eats" nitrates.

His NO3 is zero.

 

[crustyreef]

Do you have readings of ammonia or nitrite?

 

[Reefahholic]

I’d suggest getting the reliable test kits like you said and then supplementing a small amount of NO3 back to the system with a product like Brightwell NeoNitro:

*CAUTION* A little goes a long way and make sure to test before you dose and then wait 24 hrs minimum after you dose and test again.

NeoNitro - Balanced Nitrogen Supplement

Used in conjunction with MICROBACTER7 and REEF BIOFUEL or KATALYST, enables natural phosphorus uptake to take place in systems with inadequate nitrogen content, lowering phosphate concentration without the use of chemical filtration media and without resorting to polluting the system with...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[SlugSnorter]

I’d suggest getting the reliable test kits like you said and then supplementing a small amount of NO3 back to the system with a product like Brightwell NeoNitro:

*CAUTION* A little goes a long way and make sure to test before you dose and then wait 24 hrs minimum after you dose and test again.

NeoNitro - Balanced Nitrogen Supplement

Used in conjunction with MICROBACTER7 and REEF BIOFUEL or KATALYST, enables natural phosphorus uptake to take place in systems with inadequate nitrogen content, lowering phosphate concentration without the use of chemical filtration media and without resorting to polluting the system with...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

I think just feeding some reef roids (even with no corals) is best to add NO3 for beginners. but don't chase numbers, if the tank is fine leave it as is.

 

[Reefahholic]

I think just feeding some reef roids (even with no corals) is best to add NO3 for beginners. but don't chase numbers, if the tank is fine leave it as is.

Reef roids adds more PO4 rather than NO3.

 

[SlugSnorter]

Reef roids adds more PO4 rather than NO3.

good point, maybe just some regular food. Its easy to go overboard on nitrates if you are not careful when dosing, but feeding a bit more is fairly easy.

 

[Garf]

How about just reducing the cheato light a tad if nitrates are zero, lol. I’ve never seen an API nitrate test that far off though. Double other kits sometimes, but zero to 80ppm, questionable.

 

[jordan10]

How about just reducing the cheato light a tad if nitrates are zero, lol. I’ve never seen an API nitrate test that far off though. Double other kits sometimes, but zero to 80ppm, questionable.

Right started read and it 80+ get to the end and it's 0- something is off to me

 

[reefah]

Should I get a high range or low range?

Based off your post I would suggest HR

 

[jsker]

Should I get a high range or low range?

It depends if you are going to run a low nutrient system. The Hanna checkers are great since there is no more guess work in judging the color of the test.

The Hanna low ranch checker is more involved/steps when the nitrates are running high, like you are running now. Myself I was running into different readings with the low range Hanna checker. I purchase the High range since I run my nitrates on the higher side, I am now happy.

If running a low nutrient system I would suggest. purchasing a good test kit as suggested above and when your nutrients come down to where the low range checker works without have to do the extra steps

To bring your nutrients down, there are different magic solutions that one can dose, but then will have to dose the solutions all the time.

Basically the bring down the nutrients, with good husbandry/maintenance. Clean the skimmer twice or more a week, change filter media, filter socks, scrubber media. Running a dirty skimmer and filter socks defeats additives since the dirty socks and skimmer traps the waist if not changed. As your system matures and adding corals, the corals will absorb nitrates and phosphates. Check the amount that is feed. I feed about 3/4 teaspoon twice a day.

 

[Jayreef23]

Based off your post I would suggest HR

What’s the difference between low and high? And how do I know what’s best for my tank?

 

[PeterEde]

If you must get one get one that covers the largest range .Hanna HR checker.

 

[Sean Clark]

Hanna HR. One reagent. Two steps. Done. Easy as API.

 

[reefah]

Hi everyone my nitrates seem to be too high reading at 80(bright red). I’m using an API test kit. How should I go about lowering the nitrates and maintaining them low?

What’s the difference between low and high? And how do I know what’s best for my tank?

The High range measures higher range nitrates and the low ranges measures low. In your post, you said you are getting 80+ with your tests which is why I suggested to get the High Range tester to help you get to the numbers more ideal which is about 5 or less also depending on your tanks situation. Live stock, corals, tank size etc. Everyone’s tanks are different but ultimately getting your tank to the results you require for your tank is important

 

[GuppyHJD]

Less feeding, less dosing of AB+ if you use. Grab a bottle of no pox from Red Sea and dose based off of your tank size. Run GFO and that should do the trick

I thought GFO would lower phosphates but not nitrates?

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I thought GFO would lower phosphates but not nitrates?

You are correct