Higher nitrate and phosphate levels.

Paul31733 · Mar 21, 2023

Hey everyone. I have a 60 gallon a.i.o running 2 years now.

Everything is looking ok. Especially the aiptasia.
Just wanted to note here that my nitrate has been over 20, close to 30.
Phosphate with hanna checker is around 0.2-0.3.

I currently see nothing wrong in my tank. Corals growing and coraline growing. No nuisance algae

Should I keep running it this way?

I also have a 3 year old evo running over 3 years growing sps currently. Nitrates same between 20-30 phosphates around 0.1-0.15.
This thing has amazing growth and colour and has been at these levels for over a year.
No algae growth except coraline.

Whats your thoughts? Run it or slowly bring it down?.
Thanks
Paul.

StatelineReefer · Mar 21, 2023

Paul31733 said:
Hey everyone. I have a 60 gallon a.i.o running 2 years now.

Everything is looking ok. Especially the aiptasia.
Just wanted to note here that my nitrate has been over 20, close to 30.
Phosphate with hanna checker is around 0.2-0.3.

I currently see nothing wrong in my tank. Corals growing and coraline growing. No nuisance algae

Should I keep running it this way?

I also have a 3 year old evo running over 3 years growing sps currently. Nitrates same between 20-30 phosphates around 0.1-0.15.
This thing has amazing growth and colour and has been at these levels for over a year.
No algae growth except coraline.

Whats your thoughts? Run it or slowly bring it down?.
Thanks
Paul.

I wouldn't sweat the numbers if the livestock is telling you everything is fine.

blaxsun · Mar 21, 2023

There's nothing necessarily wrong with higher nitrate and phosphate levels - it really depends on the tank. I maintain nitrates of around 30-35ppm and phosphates around 0.1-0.2ppm (and have done so for 2 years now).

I found that when I tried lowering my nitrates everything reacted adversely, so I just decided to leave well enough alone.

As long as they're not skyrocketing over 50-100ppm nitrates and 1-2ppm phosphates you should be fine.

homer1475 · Mar 21, 2023

Why mess with it if it's running fine?

I keep my nutrients in roughly the same ranges.

No3 20 to 25ppm
PO4 .1 to .15

Just seems to be where my tank has settled with my filtration and WC schedule. All my corals are colored up, and grow just fine. SPS dominate.

Snoopy 67 · Mar 21, 2023

That 20,.000 gallon tank on LI runs around 0.15 Phosphate & does phenomenal.

SkinnyMcGinny · Mar 21, 2023

I've been running a 300 gallon mixed reef, lots LPS,SPS, Softies and about 15 fish, most of whom have survive 10+ years, and my nitrates/phospates have creeped up over time to 25/.02 ppm, and most stuff does just fine. Occasionally I lose a coral, and have a little more algae growth than I would like, but it seems to be fine, and easier/cheaper than buying some expensive new gadget to lower nutrients. I am starting to use NOPOX which seems to help convert nutrients to gas. I will say as time goes on, i gets harder to keep nutrients low...