High nitrates zero phosphates

[sunnyraven]

I need some help please! Last week I started using a Gfo reactor bc my phosphates were creeping above 0.2. The next day I checked levels and they were 0! I added phosphates, and after a couple phosphates were 0.18, and nitrates were 19 (normal). I did not restart Gfo. So that was 4 days ago. I rechecked water last night and nitrates 27 and phosphates 0 again! Is my tank crashing?! I should mention I lost a 4” naso I couldn’t find in the last two days due to power heads being off overnight‍ 220G

 

[HankstankXXL750 Verified Sponsor]

I would find the naso. I’m surprised that you lost a fish because the power heads were off. Was the main return pump still running.

Dead fish could be the cause of raising nitrates. It sure why phosphates are dropping. Have you removed the gfo or dust shut down?

 

[MrGisonni]

Dead naso is the prob the source of the nitrates unfortunately. My nitrates are at 30ppm and phosphates near zero and my reef has never looked better. I do have a bit of macro algae in the display and on the rocks so I must have some phosphates. But for me now fighting nitrates seems silly considering how good my lps and softies look. If I can keep them between 20 and 30 I am happy. Read this

https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/tank-parameters-of-some-masters.263/

 

[sunnyraven]

I would find the naso. I’m surprised that you lost a fish because the power heads were off. Was the main return pump still running.

Dead fish could be the cause of raising nitrates. It sure why phosphates are dropping. Have you removed the gfo or dust shut down?

I couldn’t find it anywhere! The return was still running, but that’s the only thing that happened that was out of the norm. I turned off Gfo immediately after I got the zero reading. I thought I was in the clear when I got the 0.18 reading a few days later, but a few days after that that I get a 0 again. My reading this am was 0.03. Just not sure what is going on

 

[HankstankXXL750 Verified Sponsor]

Your 0 is probably not truly 0 from what I’ve read. At least .03 isn’t completely gone. I lost a copperbanded butterfly once. It hid so much I didn’t notice for a couple days then saw it’s carcass on a power head on the back behind the rocks so got it out.

If you have emerald crabs, hermits, cleaners etc, it will hopefully get mostly consumed. Just don’t want it to be in some stagnant area rotting.