Nitrate levels

[Joseph.lovato]

So I know I might sound like a total newb I'll admit I'm new to this amazing and beautiful hobby. But yesterday morning I did my water testing and my trates were up from normal 5ppm from 0ppm so it just absolutely bothered me to death so I looked at my aquamaxx hob 1.5 skimmer and noticed some junk floating around the bottom so I decided to break it all down and give it a quick rinse outside with the water hose after drying I put it all back together and back in action so now 8 hours later I retested and trates are back to 0.

 

[Reefltx]

What are you testing with?

 

[lou dog420]

Personally I prefer 5 to 10 PPM.

 

[Joseph.lovato]

So 5 to 10 is OK then. And I'm testing with API.

 

[Lninwa]

The reason you need low levels of p04 and n03 is to feed the corals. Eventually you may want to upgrade your test kits.wait until you run out of API. I use a Hanna Checker for dkh and p04. They are $50 each so I would get the dkh first. This time around I test dkh daily which was recommended by both BRS and Mike Paletta.

 

[Lninwa]

You don't need to do frequent dkh testing until your corals start using alkalinity. I use kalk in my ato and then supplement with 2 part as needed