High nitrates but phosphate in line

[johnmac28]

After reading all I could in these forums, I am still not sure what to do. Following are my tank stats:
approx 9 month old 50 gal cube with 30 gal sump (Aquaforest oceanguard 275). Mixed reef, corals and fish look happy. Water parameters have been consistently holding at 9.1 dkh, 480 cal, 1280 mag, phosphate at .02-04
salifert test has shown nitrate at 4-5 if my color interpretation is correct for months. Got a Hanna checker yesterday and ran multiple tests with different batches of reagent, and it shows 18-20.
i do weekly water changes of 10% using Aquaforest reef salt. Run a skimmer, change filter socks every 3 days.
i have montis that look great and are growing and one acro that looks ok except lack of polyp extension. lps are healthy. I want to add more acros but am wanting to reduce nitrates first.
Assuming the Hanna nitrate checker is correct, how can I best lower nitrates? Used no pox in past on other tanks. Looking at TM bacto balance. Any help is greatly appreciated. If I missed any key info, please let me know.
thank you.

 

[johnmac28]

 

[Pistondog]

Nitrates and phosphate is fine. Worse is to bottom them out.
Get a green slimer or plating monti for best chance of success.

 

[Reef.]

20 is not bad, change filter socks soon but 20 is fine.

 

[Pistondog]

After reading all I could in these forums, I am still not sure what to do. Following are my tank stats:
approx 9 month old 50 gal cube with 30 gal sump (Aquaforest oceanguard 275). Mixed reef, corals and fish look happy. Water parameters have been consistently holding at 9.1 dkh, 480 cal, 1280 mag, phosphate at .02-04
salifert test has shown nitrate at 4-5 if my color interpretation is correct for months. Got a Hanna checker yesterday and ran multiple tests with different batches of reagent, and it shows 18-20.
i do weekly water changes of 10% using Aquaforest reef salt. Run a skimmer, change filter socks every 3 days.
i have montis that look great and are growing and one acro that looks ok except lack of polyp extension. lps are healthy. I want to add more acros but am wanting to reduce nitrates first.
Assuming the Hanna nitrate checker is correct, how can I best lower nitrates? Used no pox in past on other tanks. Looking at TM bacto balance. Any help is greatly appreciated. If I missed any key info, please let me know.
thank you.

I like bacto-balance, it did coincidentally or not, increase the polyp ext.

 

[johnmac28]

20 is not bad, change filter socks soon but 20 is fine.

Thank you. I never go longer than 3 days. I’m kinda ocd with tank.

 

[johnmac28]

Nitrates and phosphate is fine. Worse is to bottom them out.
Get a green slimer or plating monti for best chance of success.

Thank you. I’ve got pics of tank above. Have some montis that are growing well. I have 3 spots I would love to add something nice. Looking at some Tenius or millepora. Think getting closer to 10 nitrate would help their chances?

 

[johnmac28]

I like bacto-balance, it did coincidentally or not, increase the polyp ext.

I’ve read good things about the product but does it more so keep numbers at established levels or bring them down? I’m not totally understanding it yet.

 

[Pistondog]

I’ve read good things about the product but does it more so keep numbers at established levels or bring them down? I’m not totally understanding it yet.

my nitrates are always low, it is pushing my phosphate down.

 

[Pistondog]

Thank you. I’ve got pics of tank above. Have some montis that are growing well. I have 3 spots I would love to add something nice. Looking at some Tenius or millepora. Think getting closer to 10 nitrate would help their chances?

20 wont bother them, but 5 to 10 or lower is the more accepted range in the hobby.
I think more important is keeping things stable, including biome.
People always ask is my water OK and provide half a dozen parameters. Its a start, but maybe not the whole story as we are learning.

 

[johnmac28]

my nitrates are always low, it is pushing my phosphate down.

Oh. I’d be afraid to push my phosphate much lower. That’s why I’m hesitant to do any carbon dosing just yet.