Just how much nitrate is okay? What about Phosphate?

Evan West · Aug 6, 2016

Pretty much what the title says, ive been doing some reading as per my reserch i have found that most people say you want some nitrate? But how much is some? Also ive read blips about how you might now want 0 phosphates, how much phosphate is okay? This one confuses me some tho as i thought phosphate=probable algae issue.

twilliard · Aug 6, 2016

It really is dependant on your system.
For instance my system is 5ppm no3 and .018 po4

For good measurement of po4 I use triton ICP as most kits will not read that low

hawkinsrgk · Aug 6, 2016

For me I try to run 4ppm nitrate and I run .03 phosphate. I use to run too much gfo and it stripped the water

Vaughn17 · Aug 6, 2016

I aim for NO3 betweeen 2.5 and 5 ppm and PO4 .25. Phosphate appears to be the limiting nutrient. My corals (primarily sps) use it up much faster than nitrate.

Evan West · Aug 6, 2016

Hmm interesting, I will be running mostly LPS corals so would that change anything?

Vaughn17 · Aug 7, 2016

They are generally more tolerant of higher phosphates (and nitrates).

Anthony kolodziej · Aug 7, 2016

nitrates above 10 PPm maybe a bit higher will start to affect sps , especially spongedodes . Phosphate doesn't seem to have much affect . My system seems to settle in around .17 po4 and nitrates close to 0 . I never believe there is a total 0 hobby kits are about 10-15 % off either way . All I do is have a bunch of rock in sump and a 40 breeder fuge . and no carbon most of the time and no GFO. And a big skimmer sps are growing like crazy . I went through a bleaching event out 5-6 months ago that I am not sure what caused it . But I believe it was chemical warfare from softies since removed .

Salty1962 · Aug 7, 2016

I run No3 @ 5 and try to keep my Po4 @ .025 for my tank.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Aug 7, 2016

I discuss nutrients and other issues in these articles:

Optimal Parameters for a Coral Reef Aquarium: By Randy Holmes-Farley
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/o...-reef-aquarium-by-randy-holmes-farley.173563/

Phosphate In The Reef Aquarium
https://www.reef2reef.com/blog/?p=3184

Nitrate in the Reef Aquarium - REEFEDITION
https://www.reef2reef.com/blog/nitrate-in-the-reef-aquarium

Myka · Aug 7, 2016

Vaughn17 said:
I aim for NO3 betweeen 2.5 and 5 ppm and PO4 .25. Phosphate appears to be the limiting nutrient. My corals (primarily sps) use it up much faster than nitrate.

Is that a typo? 0.25 ppm PO4 is a lot in a reef.

jason2459 · Aug 7, 2016

Nitrate levels are never a problem unless they are.

I've seen many great looking tanks in a wide range of nitrate levels from undetectable to well over 20.

They can be a problem if to low, corals fading or bleaching, or if to high, corals browning or nuisance algae/bacteria growing.

I tend to not worry about nitrates unless I see something off. Though I personaly target under 5 and above undetectable. If its over 10 I might consider doing something unless everything is looking great.

Vaughn17 · Aug 9, 2016

Myka said:
Is that a typo? 0.25 ppm PO4 is a lot in a reef.

Not a typo.

saltyfilmfolks · Aug 9, 2016

Good stuff Evan.

renato120 · Aug 9, 2016

My Nitrates are 20ppm as of today. A few months ago it was 40. No issues its been like this for 3 months. Phosphates are 0. My sps's never looked so good.

Russ265 · Aug 9, 2016

nitrate wont kill sps. contrary to 1990s thinking. ive seen 100 ppm systems do fine.

phosphate... different.

i wouldnt go above .2

not .02. .2 as you will have some brittle coral.

jason2459 · Aug 9, 2016

I probably wouldnt let my nitrates run that high (100's) but if they were 20-60 consistently with no apparent issues and everything looked great and growing I wouldn't worry about it.

Russ265 · Aug 9, 2016

jason2459 said:
I probably wouldnt let my nitrates run that high (100's) but if they were 20-60 consistently with no apparent issues and everything looked great and growing I wouldn't worry about it.

yeah. i was speaking in extremes. if the parameters are right. whatever.

try to keep it below 20... but if not no big. just get bigger lights.

im speaking in broad terms here.

jsker · Aug 9, 2016

I like running my No3's between 4 and 8 ppm. Po4's .02 to .04 ppm anything higher on the phosphates the coral start look un happy

Reefing4eva · Aug 9, 2016

I run my system (or try to maintain )at 20ppm with nitrates. .as stated in other treads.I also dose my system with seachem flourish nitrogen to maintain that!..I don't run gfo or carbon..I only run my skimmer 3 days a week and I add special blend bacteria every other week as recommended on the bottle..no algae and no faded corals.I been running my system (60 cube sps dominant )