High phosphates but low nitrates, si it possibile?

[Billyreef-ita]

Hello, in my tank I’m dealing with PO4 at 0.11 ppm and NO3 at 1.2 ppm. It seems phosphates are high and nitrates are low. Is this possible? I always thought that the two variables are correlated (ie increasing together). Can you please help me to understand? Thanks

 

[Brian1f1]

Mine runs high phosphate and low nitrate. I'm not exactly sure why but it's a pita. At one point I was at at least .5 if not higher phosphate and 0 nitrate. After months of weekly water changes, upgrades and increase to the lighting over my cheato, and most recently caving and adding GFO I got phos to slightly over .1. Regarding nitrate I've had to start dosing it. Currently at about 2ppm and still dialing in the dosage of it.

SO yeah, my imbalance is so strong that I have to very actively chase phosphate down and chase nitrate up

 

[Billyreef-ita]

Mine runs high phosphate and low nitrate. I'm not exactly sure why but it's a pita. At one point I was at at least .5 if not higher phosphate and 0 nitrate. After months of weekly water changes, upgrades and increase to the lighting over my cheato, and most recently caving and adding GFO I got phos to slightly over .1. Regarding nitrate I've had to start dosing it. Currently at about 2ppm and still dialing in the dosage of it.

SO yeah, my imbalance is so strong that I have to very actively chase phosphate down and chase nitrate up

Thanks Brian, has someone experienced a reduction of phosphate by dosing nitrates thanks to a rebalancing of the redfield ratio? They say this could also be a solution, but before trying I’d like to check other reefers

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Hello, in my tank I’m dealing with PO4 at 0.11 ppm and NO3 at 1.2 ppm. It seems phosphates are high and nitrates are low. Is this possible? I always thought that the two variables are correlated (ie increasing together). Can you please help me to understand? Thanks

No, N and P are not tied together since there are many processes that consume them independently.

 

[Brian1f1]

Thanks Brian, has someone experienced a reduction of phosphate by dosing nitrates thanks to a rebalancing of the redfield ratio? They say this could also be a solution, but before trying I’d like to check other reefers

I thought this might be the case and attempted it for two months. It did not work.

 

[Pistondog]

that PO4 level is fine

 

[Pod_01]

PO4 at 0.11 ppm and NO3 at 1.2

Those values look good and I would not be using anything to adjust or change them.
Instead get some corals or fish and enjoy your reef tank.
If PO4 is above 0.04 and below 0.25 I would just monitor. If below 0.04 feed the fish more if above 0.25 maybe get some corals, carbon dose and as a last resort consider GFO.

Good luck

 

[Billyreef-ita]

Those values look good and I would not be using anything to adjust or change them.
Instead get some corals or fish and enjoy your reef tank.
If PO4 is above 0.04 and below 0.25 I would just monitor. If below 0.04 feed the fish more if above 0.25 maybe get some corals, carbon dose and as a last resort consider GFO.

Good luck

Thanks, I’ll monitor the tank. For now I’ve noticed just a beginning of algae starting, that’s why I wanted to intervene quickly

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks, I’ll monitor the tank. For now I’ve noticed just a beginning of algae starting, that’s why I wanted to intervene quickly

Contrary to popular belief, it’s hard to control algae by limiting nutrients without stressing organisms we want to keep.

 

[Pod_01]

Thanks, I’ll monitor the tank. For now I’ve noticed just a beginning of algae starting, that’s why I wanted to intervene quickly

Just so you know, generally algae and coral require similar things to live and in general you will starve and kill your corals long before you eradicate algae.

Best way to manage algae is to increase coral mass so corals outcompete algae. Same as farmer he needs to put crop on his field or weeds will take over.

On new tank get some fast growing corals and replace them later on. Or find someone who is tearing down their reef and get some corals (not frags) that you can replace later.

The way I see it, you either grow corals or algae and you need to pick one.

Good luck,

 

[Billyreef-ita]

I’ve never considered this but it is for sure a strong argument. I’m gonna try. What do you suggest as fast growing. Attached my tank, some sps, lps, and zoa and a soft coral. Not much space, On the left some macro algae to control nutrients and to be eaten by tangs

 

[Billyreef-ita]

I’ve never considered this but it is for sure a strong argument. I’m gonna try. What do you suggest as fast growing. Attached my tank, some sps, lps, and zoa and a soft coral. Not much space, On the left some macro algae to control nutrients and to be eaten by tangs

Forgot to say I’m trying to keep it as natural as possible, I use no skimmer and media reactors

 

[Billyreef-ita]

Forgot to say I’m trying to keep it as natural as possible, I use no skimmer and media reactors

The tanks is two years old now

 

[Pod_01]

Honestly the tank looks good, I would not be using GFO. You can try skimmer before other types of reactor.

I think you got most of the fast growers. I like to use Zoas but they can melt as fast. Long term I had more luck with Paly:

GSP is good for back wall or stand alone rocks:

Keep it away from main structure.

Chalice corals are good as well:

Some Favia, they do tolerate sand:

Montipora Setosa as well:

Again they can be temperamental, one day growing next they are dead.

I only use skimmer and GAC in a bag (50 ml per 50gal of water and change it once a month).

Your tank looks nice, you are on the right path.

 

[Billyreef-ita]

Thanks very much, I need some shopping now

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Forgot to say I’m trying to keep it as natural as possible, I use no skimmer and media reactors

I understand the sentiment, but as a general rule, there is almost no process that reefers use that is unnatural. One clear exception is certain organic pesticides as in AlgaeFix or Vibrant. We just scale up natural processes to be more impactful in our aquaria.

 

[Billyreef-ita]

Sure, I get it , there was no intended bad judgement in my statement , in the end we are just talking about different processes for reefing, no more than that.

I only start from this assumption: if I have to dose elements in my tank and then I eliminate them soon after with the skimmer isn’t it a paradox? Why don’t break this circle avoiding the skimmer? This is my only consideration

 

[Reeferbadness]

I found that my refugium full of chaeto was the culprit in keeping my nitrates at 0. I started dosing but quickly realized that this is just feeding the chaeto and pretty wasteful. My solution was to take out 75% of the chaeto and turn the light cycle down. This helped bump nitrates up to healthy levels without the pita and cost of dosing nitrates. Of course, feeding more also helps but it's a balancing act to keep Phos at acceptable levels (.11 is fine btw).

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Sure, I get it , there was no intended bad judgement in my statement , in the end we are just talking about different processes for reefing, no more than that.

I only start from this assumption: if I have to dose elements in my tank and then I eliminate them soon after with the skimmer isn’t it a paradox? Why don’t break this circle avoiding the skimmer? This is my only consideration

I’m not sure there is all that much trace element removal by skimming.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I found that my refugium full of chaeto was the culprit in keeping my nitrates at 0. I started dosing but quickly realized that this is just feeding the chaeto and pretty wasteful. My solution was to take out 75% of the chaeto and turn the light cycle down. This helped bump nitrates up to healthy levels without the pita and cost of dosing nitrates. Of course, feeding more also helps but it's a balancing act to keep Phos at acceptable levels (.11 is fine btw).

That certainly makes sense.