Nitrate & Phosphate Levels

[Plandauesq]

Can someone please advise, what’s the recommended target level of phosphates and nitrates for an SPS mixed reef tank?

 

[tripdad]

Oh boy, you're going to get a thousand opinions,lol. In my opinion.....PO4 between .02 and .1 and nitrates between 2 and 10ppm. It really depends on nutrient throughput more than numbers. In other words if you can feed a ton every day so all animals are extremely well fed and remove all leftovers resulting in zero's on both then that's fine. But if your starving everything so you can have zero's or .02 PO4 and .05 Nitrates then that's bad. For most of us we try and reach a compromise with some residual amounts in the tank at all times.

 

[HD_Reefer]

Oh boy, you're going to get a thousand opinions,lol. In my opinion.....PO4 between .02 and .1 and nitrates between 2 and 10ppm. It really depends on nutrient throughput more than numbers. In other words if you can feed a ton every day so all animals are extremely well fed and remove all leftovers resulting in zero's on both then that's fine. But if your starving everything so you can have zero's or .02 PO4 and .05 Nitrates then that's bad. For most of us we try and reach a compromise with some residual amounts in the tank at all times.

Totally agree. The range is the range, but how you get there and stay there is the key!

 

[EuphylliaAddict]

I'd say less than 0.10 on po4 and less than 5 nitrate. I use vinegar as a carbon source to keep these numbers in range. You'll want to lower feeding if the numbers get out of range, by that I mean if you feed 2 cubes a day do one cube a day, if you see them starting to pale you'll want to add some reef roids once a week or spot feed if you have a little system.

 

[SPR1968]

I’d say less than 0.03 phosphate and around 5 nitrate, that’s what I target anyway

I think keeping phosphate locked down very low is more important than nitrate though

 

[EuphylliaAddict]

I’d say less than 0.03 phosphate and around 5 nitrate, that’s why I target anyway

Yeah that's the like preferred parameters, that's my target exactly. 0.03 is good for a mixed reef also.

 

[Plandauesq]

Thank you everyone for the helpful responses.

 

[RobertTheNurse]

Right now I have VERY LOW on both levels. But I also have a lil hair algae, which I'll take any day than cyano or dinos.

I'm learning to trust my tank. It's good to look at numbers. But I also think it's important to look at the health of your ecosystem.

If it ain't broke, don't fix?

 

[mfollen]

Make sure you’re not around 0 nitrate. Acros will suffer with little to no nitrate, and it will lead to issues like cyano.

 

[Oregon Grown Reef]

I just tested my nitrates. They're around 30 right now. Phosphates are at 0.1. My tank is 3+ years old though and doesn't care at all. Everything is growing well and color is fine. I could probably lower those numbers, but I'm not freaking out about it. IMO unless you're trying to sell these and get the craziest colors for photos, feed the fish and corals what they want. When things get a little high (like where mine are), do a water change. I'm doing a 50% water change tomorrow after 2 months of no water changes. My corals will look the same either way.

 

[rusgum]

Nitrate 1. Phosphate 0.1.

 

[leptang]

The ratio that is commonly found in ocean water would be at a 10:1 ratio. Meaning 10 parts nitrates and 1 part phosphates, so if looking to have a low nutrient amount of No3 and PO4. Would be 1ppm nitrate and 0.01ppm phosphate.

 

[Oregon Grown Reef]

Nitrate 1. Phosphate 0.1.

How did you get nitrate so low, but phosphate so high in regards to ratio?

 

[Oregon Grown Reef]

The ratio that is commonly found in ocean water would be at a 10:1 ratio. Meaning 10 parts nitrates and 1 part phosphates, so if looking to have a low nutrient amount of No3 and PO4. Would be 1ppm nitrate and 0.01 phosphate.

That's 100:1.

 

[leptang]

That's 100:1.

Woops 1ppm nitrate to 0.1 phosphate

 

[rusgum]

How did you get nitrate so low, but phosphate so high in regards to ratio?

I have a bacterial export method. My system sits on the Tropic Marin N / P Bacto Balance. Sometimes I make adjustments

 

[Oregon Grown Reef]

I have a bacterial export method. My system sits on the Tropic Marin N / P Bacto Balance. Sometimes I make adjustments

Have you tried sending in your water to be tested? It's famously difficult for one to be able to read nitrates at an accurate level with hobby level kits. I'd be interested in knowing what your actual levels are at. I haven't looked much into ICP testing for nitrates, but maybe @Randy Holmes-Farley will have more to say on that.

 

[rusgum]

Have you tried sending in your water to be tested? It's famously difficult for one to be able to read nitrates at an accurate level with hobby level kits. I'd be interested in knowing what your actual levels are at. I haven't looked much into ICP testing for nitrates, but maybe @Randy Holmes-Farley will have more to say on that.

I'm not worried about the accuracy of the nitrate test. I think this parameter does not need measurement accuracy. But I still check each test with a reference liquid. I should have written earlier that nitrate is about one.

 

[Oregon Grown Reef]

I'm not worried about the accuracy of the nitrate test. I think this parameter does not need measurement accuracy. But I still check each test with a reference liquid. I should have written earlier that nitrate is about one.

That doesn't need to be clarified. I agree in that I don't think one needs to freak out about nitrate. I'm only curious if it's below 1. Are you worried about dinos at all?

 

[rusgum]

That doesn't need to be clarified. I agree in that I don't think need one needs to freak out about nitrate. I'm only curious if it's below 1. Are you worried about dinos at all?

I figured out the question. Yes, I worry when I see zero, so sometimes I add sodium nitrate