Nitrates and phosphates bottoming out

[k2-]

Hi guys, both are reading 0 and algae is showing on the glass and rocks. I did try to put some kno3 (worth 6 ppm nitrates) but wondering how everyone else is achieving this equilibrium ?

my nitrates/ phosphates were fine for a long time but then added a lot of new acros.

many suggestions to naturally maintain some nitrates ?

 

[blaxsun]

You'll need to post more details (a lot more) on your setup.

 

[gbru316]

many suggestions to naturally maintain some nitrates ?

Either feed more or dose something like Brightwell Neonitro or AF NO3+

I prefer dosing because IMO it offers better control.

 

[k2-]

Something about my system -
Total size around 250G
2 display tanks - 150 / 55 g each
1 refugium - 40 gallon
Sump 30 g

I use kz method so run Zeovit and doze Kz products including corals trace 1-4 and run ca reactor.

ph 8.2
Alk 8.2
Ca 400
Mg 1130
Nitrates / phosphates 0 each

use / partially dose anything that might not be fulfilled with my ca reactor (it’s been slowing not able to keep up recently after bunch of sticks got added) .

inhave a lot of rock and also 2 bio bricks run skimmer

Fish - 2 yellow tang
1 blue tang
1 naso tang
3 oscillaris
1 fox face
1 blenny
3 mandarin
2 more fish can’t remember the name

 

[bushdoc]

Welcome to the club, had similar issue. I removed large bio-brick and other bio media from my sump. It wasn't enough, so I started dosing Calcium Nitrate, but after about 6-8 weeks ,levels started raising and I stopped dosing. You can also run skimmer intermittently instead 24/7.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I agree that feeding more or dosing are both suitable options, unless the algae is quite substantial, in which case a better approach is to get the algae under control since it is consuming a lot of N and P.

 

[k2-]

IN retrospect i need to put 2 information in forefront

1) its a ULNS system
2) I used chemiclean product very recently and looks like adversely affected the balance of system

I had been dosing KZ cyano clean and flatworm stop and to me it sounds like it does help some management of these components. but will keep an eye.

 

[TokenReefer]

If algae is present (along with corals) I don't quite see the mystery; just have to physically remove the algae imo