High Nitrates but Zero phosphates ??

[lsingh]

Is it possible . I have used salifert for nitrates and Hanna for phosphate . Salifert reads nitrates and it's really hard to tell and that's my other question . How to read the color chart on salifert nitrate test kit . Does the vial with water sample needs to be held next to the color chart and compare the color or it needs to be placed on top of the individual color index block and see through it and figure out . Getting back on main topic I do not have any algae issues besides a little bit of red slime algae on a some areas of live rock but that's just about it . I guess it all depends if I am reading nitrate test kit the way I am suppose to . If I place it on the top of color chat than I don't see any nitrates maybe 1 or 2 parts acceptable but If I hold next to each other it's hard to tell how much .

 

[Reefing Madness]

Sure you can have Nitrates without Phosphates, absolutely.

 

[mike007]

You might want to have your lfs double check your test results. Most test kits available to hobbyist are hard to read and can be Inaccurate. Like Reefing Madness stated yes you can have high nitrates and low phosphates. But I would doubt your test results better to have them double checked.

 

[Funbags]

I am pretty sure WWC has undetectable PO4 but 20ppm Nit.

 

[lionfish5740]

Yeah, WWC keeps higher NO3. I don't remember where they keep there PO4

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It is certainly possibly to have this, but to achieve it, you'd generally have to be using an imbalanced export method which takes out more phosphate than nitrate, such as GFO or other phosphate binder, or be dosing a nitrogen source.

Otherwise, it may be a testing issue.

 

[lsingh]

It is certainly possibly to have this, but to achieve it, you'd generally have to be using an imbalanced export method which takes out more phosphate than nitrate, such as GFO or other phosphate binder, or be dosing a nitrogen source.

Otherwise, it may be a testing issue.

Simple 5gln water change routinely every week . No carbon or gfo has ever been used . Tank specs are 30x24x16 strongly strongly lit with 8 bulb ati hybrid fixture with four fishes . I have believed in strong skimming that's what i have on this tank alpha 170 for nutrient export

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Simple 5gln water change routinely every week . No carbon or gfo has ever been used .

What values do you have for nitrate and phosphate?

I don't see any fish in the picture. Do you feed the tank?

FWIW, using limewater has the potential to precipitate calcium phosphate and thereby reduce phosphate.

 

[lsingh]

Four fishes small fishes 2 clown small purple tang and mandrine feeds on pods . I feed twice a day limited food brine and oyster eggs. Phosphate 0 via Hanna tester and salifert hard to read I am assuming around 20ppm according to the chart but could be wrong. No algae in the tank besides red slime here and there on the rocks but that's because of low water movement Ever since I took off 6095 off line and replace it with small nano wave box because of my euphylias and ricordeas

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So perhaps, if both readings are correct, that the limewater is helping keep the phosphate in line in that tank, lsingh .