Nitrate levels and reducer .

[Thomasplatts1]

My nitrate levels in my tank are reading 20 ppm on Hanna nitrate checker .I have been doing water changes .Cant seem to get it down .I have a Octopus protien skimmer .I also have Instant ocean nitrate reducer .Is this a good product ? Should i use it .I have a 406 fluval can filter and also have matrix in it with bio max .I was thinking of putting all matrix .Show i clean the filter out to will this help ? 60 gallon tank .Source water 0 nitrate .Phosphate .036

 

[Saltyreef]

Start a fuge
Ulva rapidly reduced my nutrient levels together vs any media i tried. Took about a week after adding.

 

[Fish Think Pink]

My nitrate levels in my tank are reading 20 ppm on Hanna nitrate checker .I have been doing water changes .Cant seem to get it down .I have a Octopus protien skimmer .I also have Instant ocean nitrate reducer .Is this a good product ? Should i use it .I have a 406 fluval can filter and also have matrix in it with bio max .I was thinking of putting all matrix .Show i clean the filter out to will this help ? 60 gallon tank .Source water 0 nitrate .Phosphate .036

+1 vote for refugium with macroalgae to biologically, naturally help. Chemically becomes a slippery slope that we have to keep dosing, as needed. I prefer red ogo macroalgae, but that is only because I have tangs and it does 2nd duty as snack food source

I also dose Red Sea NOPOx, but keep an eye on your phosphate.

Is that phosphate reading with Hanna ULR at .036... ? Just double checking that conversion from phosphorus to phosphate computed into result, else your .036 ppb phosphorus is really .110 ppm phosphate... In which case really recommend Red Sea NOPOX just to get it down but you can also put some GFO in for phosphate... IF you also have phosphate problem... but macroalgae helps both nitrates and phosphates

https://www.hannainst.com/hubfs/006-finished-content/Aquarium/phosphorus-to-phosphate-conversion-table--hanna-instruments.pdf

 

[Susan Edwards]

I read this that the po4 reading was from his water source

 

[Saltyreef]

Not sure how accurate a marine p04 test kit is on freshwater.
Fuge will help both though.

 

[Pistondog]

Start a fuge, or carbon dose,, but those nutrient levels aren't too bad.

 

[Dkmoo]

Get rid of your cannister, or clean the mechanical filter every few days. Its all that rotting gunk in the canister thats contributing to your nitrate source.

 

[Thomasplatts1]

+1 vote for refugium with macroalgae to biologically, naturally help. Chemically becomes a slippery slope that we have to keep dosing, as needed. I prefer red ogo macroalgae, but that is only because I have tangs and it does 2nd duty as snack food source

I also dose Red Sea NOPOx, but keep an eye on your phosphate.

Is that phosphate reading with Hanna ULR at .036... ? Just double checking that conversion from phosphorus to phosphate computed into result, else your .036 ppb phosphorus is really .110 ppm phosphate... In which case really recommend Red Sea NOPOX just to get it down but you can also put some GFO in for phosphate... IF you also have phosphate problem... but macroalgae helps both nitrates and phosphates

https://www.hannainst.com/hubfs/006-finished-content/Aquarium/phosphorus-to-phosphate-conversion-table--hanna-instruments.pdf

The phosphorus reading was done on a hanna and read 36 ppb i converted to .036

 

[Thomasplatts1]

Get rid of your cannister, or clean the mechanical filter every few days. Its all that rotting gunk in the canister thats contributing to your nitrate source.

Replace with somthing better ?

 

[fryman]

The phosphorus reading was done on a hanna and read 36 ppb i converted to .036

36 ppb phosphorus is 0.110 ppm phosphate *not* 0.036 ppm. There's a conversion table

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.hannainst.com/hubfs/006-finished-content/Aquarium/phosphorus-to-phosphate-conversion-table--hanna-instruments.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjL1_a32NPvAhUdCTQIHRGPA5EQFjAOegQIAxAC&usg=AOvVaw1iguiZq9_3VX4jFkLnh197&cshid=1616958685908

 

[Susan Edwards]

I use this on my freshwater. Used it on a QT tank too. Used rubble in a bag. Not sure how good for all the time. But sure is easier to clean than a canister. I do use a canister on my freshwater along with the aqua clear.

 

[Thomasplatts1]

36 ppb phosphorus is 0.110 ppm phosphate *not* 0.036 ppm. There's a conversion table

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.hannainst.com/hubfs/006-finished-content/Aquarium/phosphorus-to-phosphate-conversion-table--hanna-instruments.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjL1_a32NPvAhUdCTQIHRGPA5EQFjAOegQIAxAC&usg=AOvVaw1iguiZq9_3VX4jFkLnh197&cshid=1616958685908

I did not know this i feel so dumb now . Thank you .I thought they were the same .So yes my phosphate level is .110 this is alittle to high right .

 

[WallyB]

I did not know this i feel so dumb now . Thank you .I thought they were the same .So yes my phosphate level is .110 this is alittle to high right .

Phosphate of (0.1 ppm) is PERFECT. I notice my Corals including SPS do best between 0.08-0.14 ppm.

However if you don't have SPS corals. LPS and Softies, can do very well in 0.4 ppm.

That's why having SPS and mixed corals is a challenge.
Mixed tanks want a bit dirtier water, higher nitrate and phosphates, while SPS prefer lower.

 

[reefinatl]

20ppm nitrate isn't the end of the world but as others have said, start a refugium. Even with a cheap Amazon grow light your problem will be keeping the nitrates at detectable levels when running chaeto.

 

[Rst]

20ppm nitrate isn't the end of the world but as others have said, start a refugium. Even with a cheap Amazon grow light your problem will be keeping the nitrates at detectable levels when running chaeto.

I also have nitrate at over 20 ppm and grow Chaeto in the sump in abundance. Somehow Chaeto isn’t the answer for me. I personally will try a nitrate reducer(sulphur) now.