austin_socal
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What do you guys think the nitrate levels and phosphate levels should be in a 25gal lagoon? TIA
Nitrate/Phos Levels
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Snowxcross
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I don't think size matters, you want to be around natural sea water. Somewhere hobbiests tend to be are PO4 0.03-0.1, NO3 5-20. Just watch your corals and see how they do.
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austin_socal
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Ok thank you- just wondering bc my nitrates are at about 0 and my phos is at about 0.25
Snowxcross
Active Member
Do you have algae? Nitrates could be 0 because they're being consumed by that. I mean phos is on the higher end, something causing a slight imbalance.
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austin_socal
Active Member
Yeah I am currently fighting off GHA and dinos
NonstopSoda
Well-Known Member
I keep my 26 g nitrates at 15-20ppm, my phos is currently zeroing out but I just ordered neo phos to help boost it up a bit
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austin_socal
Active Member
Ok- thank you. Should I try to boost my nitrates or no?
Snowxcross
Active Member
Cool. Do you have corals that need a lot of light? Something that will help is at the very least kill your white lights. No need for them especially when you have GHA and Dino's. Are the dinos the type that come out during the day but hard to see at night? If so, you can increase your flow, don't feed, don't do a water change, open your skimmer all the way. You can get a cheap 9w UV that you can put in the tank off Amazon. Run that 24/7. If those type of dinos, they'll be gone in about a week or so. If you don't have corals I would keep the lights off during this time. Not sure how bad your GHA is, you may have to do some manual removal. But ya that's why your showing 0 for nitrates.
Snowxcross
Active Member
No your GHA is consuming nitrates. Eliminate GHA.
NonstopSoda
Well-Known Member
Corals need nitrogen to grow! 0 will cause problems in growth as well as the microbial level dino outbreaks are a result of low nitrate. I would try to raise them!
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austin_socal
Active Member
Ok, thanks bro. For the not feeding- I have a clownfish, six line wrasse and a bsj, so can I feed them? And I don’t have coral needing light so I will blackout the tank.
NonstopSoda
Well-Known Member
i agree before boosting nitrate to get rid of GHA because it would add fuel to fire! i need to read closer
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austin_socal
Active Member
Ok, sound good- ty
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austin_socal
Active Member
Thank you!i agree before boosting nitrate to get rid of GHA because it would add fuel to fire! i need to read closer
NonstopSoda
Well-Known Member
I recommend Reefcleaners if you wanna pump up your CUC, my last order from them was awesome and they gave me some extra snails too : ) and with a boost of snails as long as the GHA is trimmed back they should devour it quickly
Snowxcross
Active Member
You're welcome, good luck. It will work out!
Edited: Randy's comment made me realize I missed out some more details.
I usually follow a 100:1 ratio for NO3 and PO4.
For instance, if No3 - 5ppm then Po4 - 0.05ppm Or No3 - 10ppm then Po4 - 0.1ppm.
I personally keep my No3 ~ 15 - 20 ppm and my Po4 ~ .15 - .2 ppm.
I usually follow a 100:1 ratio for NO3 and PO4.
For instance, if No3 - 5ppm then Po4 - 0.05ppm Or No3 - 10ppm then Po4 - 0.1ppm.
I personally keep my No3 ~ 15 - 20 ppm and my Po4 ~ .15 - .2 ppm.
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Randy Holmes-Farley
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What if nitrate is 0.1 ppm. Ratio planning would give 0.001 ppm phosphate. Both are likely too low, pointing out the flaw in ratios.
It is never wrong, IMO, to give absolute targets for nitrate and phosphate independent of each other.
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austin_socal
Active Member
Thank you bro
