low phosphate high nitrate

[Groovyg]

dt specs

12 fish
78 degrees
po4 .08
no3 30ppm
ppt 35
cal 1200
mag 450

dc 120 skimmer
red ogo growing well in refugium
dosing 5ml mb7
5ml bw reef bio fuel per day
6 month old dry rock
zero algae in dt
cuc package in place

daily filter sock change
skimmer cup every 3 days

20% water change every 3 weeks

so after a failed chaeto die off nitrates went from10- 15ppm to 30 and despite good husbandry for that last 2 weeks nitrate has stalled at 30ppm any ideas on what i could do?

 

[blaxsun]

You didn't indicate the size of your tank/sump or what the breakdown is of your cleanup crew. You could try dosing NOPOX (but I'd cut out the MB7 while you're doing that), but I suspect you may need more specialized inverts to help with the cleanup process.

 

[Groovyg]

You didn't indicate the size of your tank/sump or what the breakdown is of your cleanup crew. You could try dosing NOPOX (but I'd cut out the MB7 while you're doing that), but I suspect you may need more specialized inverts to help with the cleanup process.

100 gallon dt
30 gallon refugium sump
if you read my post the level jump was from a chateo die off

 

[shakacuz]

maybe dose neophos?

 

[Groovyg]

maybe dose neophos?

i was thinking that my phosphate to nitrate ratio is for sure off

 

[shakacuz]

i was thinking that my phosphate to nitrate ratio is for sure off

bumping it up with neophos may help valence it out a bit. or perhaps feed some reef roids?

 

[Groovyg]

bumping it up with neophos may help valence it out a bit. or perhaps feed some reef

bumping it up with neophos may help valence it out a bit. or perhaps feed some reef roids?

i suspect that the nitrate stall is do to the fact my phosphates are too low not allowing nitrates to come down and water changes will just compound the problem so dosing seems to be the logical solution

 

[shakacuz]

well if you’re dosing reef bio fuel, it should help with balancing it out for you. i may be wrong, but isn’t that the purpose of reef bio fuel? to balance our your No3/Po4?

 

[Groovyg]

well if you’re dosing reef bio fuel, it should help with balancing it out for you. i may be wrong, but isn’t that the purpose of reef bio fuel? to balance our your No3/Po4?

thats was my thought as well but does not seem to be working

 

[Groovyg]

well if you’re dosing reef bio fuel, it should help with balancing it out for you. i may be wrong, but isn’t that the purpose of reef bio fuel? to balance our your No3/Po4?

don't think the no3 can be processed if the po4 is too low

 

[Groovyg]

don't think the no3 can be processed if the po4 is too low

bio fuel is basically carbon dosing formula

 

[blaxsun]

100 gallon dt
30 gallon refugium sump
if you read my post the level jump was from a chateo die off

I'd still probably look at RedSea NOPOX just as an interim solution to help bring your levels down to a manageable level until the refugium completely recovers.

 

[Groovyg]

I'd still probably look at RedSea NOPOX just as an interim solution to help bring your levels down to a manageable level until the refugium completely recovers.

i been running red ogo for 6 weeks and harvesting 2 to 3 pounds every week

 

[Groovyg]

I'd still probably look at RedSea NOPOX just as an interim solution to help bring your levels down to a manageable level until the refugium completely recovers.

goes from softball size to volleyball in a week

 

[blaxsun]

i been running red ogo for 6 weeks and harvesting 2 to 3 pounds every week

You have a very high bio load then if your refugium is that active. I have 30 fish in my 200-gallon system, and my nitrates are always below 5ppm with phosphates below 0.03ppm. No refugium, but I have a very effective cleanup crew (probably 100+ snails, crabs and inverts).

 

[Groovyg]

I'd still probably look at RedSea NOPOX just as an interim solution to help bring your levels down to a manageable level until the refugium completely recovers.

with my po4 so low dont think the n03 can be metabolize. i am thinking doesing neophose and see if the no3 comes down

 

[Groovyg]

You have a very high bio load then if your refugium is that active. I have 30 fish in my 200-gallon system, and my nitrates are always below 5ppm with phosphates below 0.03ppm. No refugium, but I have a very effective cleanup crew (probably 100+ snails, crabs and inverts).

your running gfo and what else sir

 

[Groovyg]

your running gfo and what else sir

i agree my bio load is heavy

 

[Groovyg]

You have a very high bio load then if your refugium is that active. I have 30 fish in my 200-gallon system, and my nitrates are always below 5ppm with phosphates below 0.03ppm. No refugium, but I have a very effective cleanup crew (probably 100+ snails, crabs and inverts).

got 30 hermit crabs 2 emerald 3 porcelain sally lightfoot 2 conch 2 sand sifting starfish 2 brittle star 2 pincushin urchins 20+ snails

 

[blaxsun]

got 30 hermit crabs 2 emerald 3 porcelain sally lightfoot 2 conch 2 sand sifting starfish 2 brittle star 2 pincushin urchins 20+ snails

Without knowing the specifics of your feeding, it's hard to say if your cleaning crew is enough. You could be overfeeding or just the right amount. Cleaning and maintenance routines can also have an effect (ie: vacuuming and stirring up anything).

I'd still suggest something like NOPOX as a temporary/interim measure to bring your nitrates down (along with some phosphates). Phosphates at 0.08ppm is a little high (ideally you want this around 0.025ppm).