Nitrate and phosphates?

[denise willenborg]

Hi- I have had my 93 gallon cube set up for about a year now and have a question about test results. How do you get a true reading when testing for nitrates and phosphates if you have a refugium? Doesn't using a refugium give you false test results? If so, how do you get a true reading of what the levels are at? I probably overfeed and my nitrates and phosphates are always at zero and I do a 15% water change about every three - four weeks?

 

[sixty_reefer]

Your N and P will be what you test at a given time. If you reading 0 then the tank is exporting more than it should.

 

[COreef8]

I think I understand what you're saying. Testing 0 for NO3 and PO4 isn't necessarily a false test result. It is accurately testing the amount of NO3 or PO4 free in the water column. The algae is just capable of absorbing it as fast or faster than it is being added to the system.

The tank is like a bank account. If your bank account is always at $0 it doesn't mean you make no money or you're incapable of buying anything. It just means you spend it as fast as you make it.

 

[sixty_reefer]

I think I understand what you're saying. Testing 0 for NO3 and PO4 isn't necessarily a false test result. It is accurately testing the amount of NO3 or PO4 free in the water column. The algae is just capable of absorbing it as fast or faster than it is being added to the system.

The tank is like a bank account. If your bank account is always at $0 it doesn't mean you make no money or you're incapable of buying anything. It just means you spend it as fast as you make it.

Until you get the overdraft notification

 

[COreef8]

Until you get the overdraft notification

Haha, yes for that one piece of reefing equipment that is going to finally make the difference in your tank.

 

[Javamahn]

Until you get the overdraft notification

usually Delivered by the Dino Delivery service..

 

[denise willenborg]

Thanks for all the answers. So, if they are reading 0 should i not turn on the light in the refugium a few days a week or ?? I don't know why my nitrates and phosphates are so low considering the italian in me i tend to over feed . Another question I have is I have never added any supplements to the tank. My Calcium is always high and so is my Alk. Not sure why and I think my tank is pretty stocked ? Should I be adding some type of nutrients to it?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Saying zero is like saying it is too far to the store to walk (some folks will walk farther than others). What kits are you using? Some kits do not test low enough to say there’s a concern about being too low.

 

[denise willenborg]

The nitrate test kit is API and phosphate is a Salifert test kit?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Neither o

The nitrate test kit is API and phosphate is a Salifert test kit?

Neither of those can clearly say the nutrients are too low. You can be fine and not detect any.

 

[denise willenborg]

Oh! So, what would you suggest I use to test them? My local fish store uses Salifert as well. Should I invest in those digital ones?
Thanks

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Salifert is ok for most things, but if I really wanted to monitor low phosphate levels I’d get the Hanna ultra low phosphorus checker.