Nitrates and Phosphates (Again ;) )

[Joe Batt]

It seems that the hobby drifts towards and then away from the ultra low range nutrients systems on a regular cycle. It leads the 'newbies' (of which I still believe I am one) to the incorrect initial conclusion that you need 0 Nitrates and 0 Phosphates.

I have a mixed reef and endeavor to keep my Nitrates around the 2 mark and my Phosphates still at the ultra low end at 0.03. So far I am steady at these levels, but as I read more there are articles leaning towards higher Nitrates, even up to 5 from what I have seen.

My question is that I haven't seen anything with regard to the Phosphates at this ultra low end. As we edge up the Nitrates should the Phosphates also be slightly higher, higher than the 0.03 that I am trying to keep mine at?

 

[Damien Buckley]

Definitely interested in this too. Point of note is that Red Sea just released 'recipes' for various tank types & their 'mixed reef' recipe prescribes nitrate at 1-2ppm & phosphate at 0.08-0.12ppm so I'm assuming those to be balanced.

My nitrate is sitting at 4ppm at the moment & my phosphate at 0.2ppm which is IMO a little high but I've been feeding heavily due to a disease outbreak. If 1-2/0.08-1.2 are 'balanced' it's safe to suggest that 4/0.2 are probably not far out as well.

But, definitely interested in others' opinions on this one.

 

[clownsrcool]

Look into the redfield ratio. There is a balance between nitrate and phosphate that is listed there and a good target to shoot for.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I recommend 0.01 to 0.02 ppm phosphate for most tanks, but if algae is limited some other way (herbivores, maybe low iron, etc.), higher doesn't seem to cause issues.

 

[Reefing Madness]

Table 1. Parameters critical to control in reef aquaria.

Parameter: Reef Aquaria Recommendation: Typical Surface Ocean Value:1
Calcium 380-450 ppm 420 ppm
Alkalinity 2.5-4 meq/L
7-11 dKH
125-200 ppm CaCO3 equivalents 2.5 meq/L
7 dKH
125 ppm CaCO3 equivalents
Salinity 35 ppt
sg = 1.026 34-36 ppt
sg = 1.025-1.027
Temperature 76-83° F Variable2
pH 7.8-8.5 OK
8.1-8.3 is better 8.0-8.3 (can be lower or higher in lagoons)
Magnesium 1250-1350 ppm 1280 ppm
Phosphate < 0.03 ppm 0.005 ppm
Ammonia <0.1 ppm Variable (typically <0.1 ppm)

Table 2. Other parameters in reef aquaria.

Parameter: Reef Aquaria Recommendation: Typical Ocean Value:1
Silica < 2 ppm, much lower if diatoms are a problem <0.06 - 2.7 ppm
Iodine Control not recommended 0.06 ppm total of all forms
Nitrate < 0.2 ppm Variable (typically below 0.1 ppm)
Nitrite < 0.2 ppm typically Variable (typically below 0.0001 ppm)
Strontium 5-15 ppm 8 ppm
ORP Control not recommended Variable
Boron < 10 ppm 4.4 ppm
Iron Below Kit Detection Limits (additions OK) 0.000006 ppm

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/