Hi everyone. I have a 200g tank and am some problems with phos and nitrates. Since the tank started phos has been at 0 despite feeding and dosing. Nitrates are always at 50 and I’m unable to bring it down. We were dosing nopox but decreased the dose to see if phos would come up to help nitrates come down. Phos went up temporarily to 0.03 but nitrates reached close to 100. My corals were open and happy when phos was 0 but but now some won’t open and have started to die. The only think I can think of was the slight increase in phos. It’s now back to 0 with nitrates of 50. So is it ok to leave phos at 0 as long as everyone Is happy or do I need to bring it up? Also how can I bring down nitrates? I’ve tried water changes, nopox and have a refugium. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!
High nitrates, no phos
- Thread starter Samira Waters
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BeejReef
2500 Club Member
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My understanding is that carbon dosing/refugium are pretty ineffective at reducing nitrates without the presence of at least some phosphate. The bacteria or algae need both to grow and if not growing, cannot reduce nitrate.
Were your corals suffering from .03 Phosphate or from the associated spike to 100+ Nitrate... or just from the instability. I have no idea
If you don't care to dose phosphate or to allow detectable phosphate in your system, I would think your best chance at reducing nitrate would be more robust mechanical filtration, skimming, and vacuuming/rock blowing/cleaning.
My understanding is that carbon dosing/refugium are pretty ineffective at reducing nitrates without the presence of at least some phosphate. The bacteria or algae need both to grow and if not growing, cannot reduce nitrate.
Were your corals suffering from .03 Phosphate or from the associated spike to 100+ Nitrate... or just from the instability. I have no idea
If you don't care to dose phosphate or to allow detectable phosphate in your system, I would think your best chance at reducing nitrate would be more robust mechanical filtration, skimming, and vacuuming/rock blowing/cleaning.
