Nitrates at 0ppm

[Fr4nkthet4nk]

I know that Nitates at level 0ppm is not.good for my tank. I have a lot of sps and I don't want that something happen. Any advice please.

 

[Nburg's Reef]

Get a low range test kit like red sea, and dose nitrate. I use spectricide stump remover which is pure potassium nitrate. Keeps my nitrates up, preferably betwee 3 and 5 ppm

 

[WWIII]

What size tank? How many fish? Any macro algae?

 

[1WildBill]

Before you go throwing chemicals in your tank, tell us about your system. Tank size, GFO, are you running a fuge?

 

[Skynyrd Fish]

If you dose NO3 your PO4 will go down. How do your corals look? If there rocking I'd consider not doing anything. Maybe feed a bit more.

 

[Fr4nkthet4nk]

What size tank? How many fish? Any macro algae?

120 gallon tank. 15 fish. A lot macro algae

 

[Fr4nkthet4nk]

Before you go throwing chemicals in your tank, tell us about your system. Tank size, GFO, are you running a fuge?

Yes my tank is a 120 gallon with a sump. A lot of macro algae, 15 fish, bubbles magus skimmer, it has been decreasing since last month. 2 weeks ago it was 2.5ppm Nitrates

 

[Fr4nkthet4nk]

Picture of my sump

 

[WWIII]

120 gallon tank. 15 fish. A lot macro algae

Yes my tank is a 120 gallon with a sump. A lot of macro algae, 15 fish, bubbles magus skimmer, it has been decreasing since last month. 2 weeks ago it was 2.5ppm Nitrates

In that case, I would probably dose nitrate. I use sodium nitrate found here...

https://www.loudwolf.com/store/inde...&products_id=158&zenid=abV269HOP1zXXfxR7uyqc3

Or you can use potassium nitrate or stump remover, but I just assume use sodium nitrate since it's cheap and available.

Here's a calculator that can be used...

http://www.theplantedtank.co.uk/calculator.htm

The calculator is for potassium nitrate. If using sodium nitrate like I linked above you would multiple potassium nitrate result by 0.84 (so 0.84 grams sodium nitrate instead of 1 gram potassium nitrate)


This is what I would personally do. You could also remove the refugium or try to feed more, but to me that would be more of a pain than dosing nitrate.

 

[pelphrey]

I went with green leaf kno3

 

[Fr4nkthet4nk]

I went with green leaf kno3

Thank you! I have been following you in YouTube for a long time. Nice channel and tank

 

[hatfielj]

It makes no sense to dose nitrate and grow macro algae. Your first move if you wanna raise nitrates is to get rid of the macro algae. That will probably fix the problem right there.

 

[WWIII]

It makes no sense to dose nitrate and grow macro algae. Your first move if you wanna raise nitrates is to get rid of the macro algae. That will probably fix the problem right there.

Some guys like their refugiums for reasons other than just nutrient control. But I agree it is an option!

 

[1WildBill]

It makes no sense to dose nitrate and grow macro algae. Your first move if you wanna raise nitrates is to get rid of the macro algae. That will probably fix the problem right there.

That’s why I was asking about the system. From the pics, cut way back on the macros. That alone will raise your nitrates. I would also say your running your fuge light too long, what’s the time on the fuge?

 

[Fr4nkthet4nk]

It makes no sense to dose nitrate and grow macro algae. Your first move if you wanna raise nitrates is to get rid of the macro algae. That will probably fix the problem right there.

I just remove half of my macro algae. Should I remove more?

 

[1WildBill]

Start there and see what happens. It won’t happen fast. Give it a couple of days and check parameters.

 

[hatfielj]

I just remove half of my macro algae. Should I remove more?

That algae is remarkably good at removing nitrates and phosphates from the water. It directly competes with the algae in the corals. Your system is probably clean enough that it won't need macro algae. You could still run a refugium, just not with the algae growing.
I have trouble keeping my nutrients up with just my skimmer running. I have a small refugium/remote frag tank, but it doesn't have any macro algae growing. I have to dose nitrates and phosphates currently. I'm even thinking about putting my skimmer on a timer so it can be turned off periodically each night.

 

[reefaboo]

That algae is remarkably good at removing nitrates and phosphates from the water.

What macro is that ?? Any name ??

 

[hatfielj]

What macro is that ?? Any name ??

Chaetomorpha is what I've grown in the past and looks like that's what the OP is growing. It lowered my nutrients too much. After I removed it, my corals instantly improved.

 

[Fr4nkthet4nk]

Chaetomorpha is what I've grown in the past and looks like that's what the OP is growing. It lowered my nutrients too much. After I removed it, my corals instantly improved.

I don't know the name of that but is not chaetomorpha I removed a walmart plastic bag of it. Like a half what I have in my sump