Low nitrate possible cause

[Reefer911]

I’m reading the current issue of Reef Hobbyist Magazine and on page 21 reading about low nitrate, the author states that low NO3 “may indicate insufficient biological filtration.”
Makes sense, and in that scenario, I’m sure one would see rising ammonia.
I have been dealing with low nutrients for a while now and always attributed it to too efficient biological filtration. I really think I have too much rock in my system, along with filter media in the sump. I have been planning on removing a large 24” plateau from the display to make way for better flow in the tank. I was also thinking this would help my low nutrients.
Guess I could take an ammonia reading, and I will, but thought this could be a good discussion for the weekend.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

How would low nitrate indicate insufficient biological filtration?

I do not believe any established reef tank accumulates ammonia or nitrite at the levels that impact nitrate readings significantly.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

"Biological filtration" is not a well defined term. We usually think of NITRIFYING bacteria (which would increse nitrates) but DENITRIFYING bacteria (which converts nitrate back to nitrogen gas) is also often present in an established tank.

 

[Reefer911]

@Randy Holmes-Farley
Yeah I’m not sure how that would indicate insufficient filtration now that I really think about it.

 

[Dan_P]

I’m reading the current issue of Reef Hobbyist Magazine and on page 21 reading about low nitrate, the author states that low NO3 “may indicate insufficient biological filtration.”
Makes sense, and in that scenario, I’m sure one would see rising ammonia.
I have been dealing with low nutrients for a while now and always attributed it to too efficient biological filtration. I really think I have too much rock in my system, along with filter media in the sump. I have been planning on removing a large 24” plateau from the display to make way for better flow in the tank. I was also thinking this would help my low nutrients.
Guess I could take an ammonia reading, and I will, but thought this could be a good discussion for the weekend.

I would say that low nitrate is caused by a very efficient biological filtration. How? A high carbon fish food would shift nitrogen removal to heterotrophic bacteria, or micro algae growth could remove nitrogen from the system.