Nitrates disappearing

[Dkmoo]

If you had socks before and you don't change them out frequently enough (every couple of days), then all the food waste and detritus gets trapped in there and rot, causing what people used to refer to socks as "nitrate factories"

Once you stopped using socks, the waste then had a higher chance to be caught and exported via skimming, locked up in the substrate, or directly absorbed by corals and cuc before they break down to nitrate.

In theory this could cause nitrate to drop if a poorly maintained sock schedule is the nitrate factory

 

[emain879]

I’m guessing it was my socks, but I changed them about every 3-4 days

 

[Dkmoo]

I’m guessing it was my socks, but I changed them about every 3-4 days

Probably a combination of socks, new torch absorbing, and general maturation of tank.

 

[Duncan62]

I added one torch last week, but I also stopped using filter socks, so I’m not sure if the filter socks would cause nitrates

They would

 

[emain879]

Yeah I was

Probably a combination of socks, new torch absorbing, and general maturation of tank.

thinking the socks also, the tank should be fine there tho I would assume

 

[emain879]

If you had socks before and you don't change them out frequently enough (every couple of days), then all the food waste and detritus gets trapped in there and rot, causing what people used to refer to socks as "nitrate factories"

Once you stopped using socks, the waste then had a higher chance to be caught and exported via skimming, locked up in the substrate, or directly absorbed by corals and cuc before they break down to nitrate.

In theory this could cause nitrate to drop if a poorly maintained sock schedule is the nitrate factory

My concern is will I have to start dosing nitrate

 

[moz71]

Fyi on a second tank of mine. I am having zero nitrates after 7 months of higher nitrates. This tank has no sump skimmer etc. I chalk it up to bioadversity and bacteria as I have matrix in hang on filter. How big is your load? How many fish? I suspect light load

 

[emain879]

I have 7 decent size fish in a 200

 

[emain879]

Fyi on a second tank of mine. I am having zero nitrates after 7 months of higher nitrates. This tank has no sump skimmer etc. I chalk it up to bioadversity and bacteria as I have matrix in hang on filter. How big is your load? How many fish? I suspect light load

The load is decent size I have 7 fish in it

 

[moz71]

I have 7 decent size fish in a 200

Never know for sure the reason but I bet on diverse bacteria. I never had cheato dramatically reduce nitrate does more damage on phosphate. And just can’t imagine removing socks doing that impact. But just my opinion based on my personal experience. I am still amazed I have no nitrate in a tank with no sump and skimmer but Battling nitrates on my large tank with every piece of equipment. Lol

 

[emain879]

Never know for sure the reason but I bet on diverse bacteria. I never had cheato dramatically reduce nitrate does more damage on phosphate. And just can’t imagine removing socks doing that impact. But just my opinion based on my personal experience. I am still amazed I have no nitrate in a tank with no sump and skimmer but Battling nitrates on my large tank with every piece of equipment. Lol

Yeah, I have no idea what’s going on

 

[emain879]

My concern would be dinos showing up with no nitrates

 

[moz71]

My concern would be dinos showing up with no nitrates

Yes that would be a concern. I dose the stump remover stuff from lowes to at least keep a little in there

 

[emain879]

Yes that would be a concern. I dose the stump remover stuff from lowes to at least keep a little in there

I thought I had a fluke outbreak so I added a dose of prazipro a few days ago, do you think that would cause anything with the nitrate ?sounds dumb but I just remembered that

 

[moz71]

I thought I had a fluke outbreak so I added a dose of prazipro a few days ago, do you think that would cause anything with the nitrate ?sounds dumb but I just remembered that

No dumb questions. Not sure but think it would do the opposite as it “could” kill beneficial bacteria if overdosed so don’t think any impact

 

[emain879]

Yes that would be a concern. I dose the stump remover stuff from lowes to at least keep a little in there

I may feed more. I don’t feed a ton, and I’ll start dosing my reef roids a day a week or so I think would help

 

[emain879]

Recently tested my nitrates they’re at 0.0 on my hanna checker and I did a salifert test as well. They’re usually at a 10. What could cause this? My phos is at a .02 they’re usually around a .07

@JaimeAdams help

 

[JaimeAdams]

start feeding more. You don't want to sit there with your nutrients bottomed out.

how often were you changing those filter socks/floss out prior to removing them/it? If it was longer than 3 days I bet that was what did it.

 

[emain879]

start feeding more. You don't want to sit there with your nutrients bottomed out.

how often were you changing those filter socks/floss out prior to removing them/it? If it was longer than 3 days I bet that was what did it.

I read something earlier that prazipro will drop nitrates also

 

[emain879]

start feeding more. You don't want to sit there with your nutrients bottomed out.

how often were you changing those filter socks/floss out prior to removing them/it? If it was longer than 3 days I bet that was what did it.

Yeah I’ve been feeding more, I spot fed some reef roids also yesterday, I haven’t had them socks in for over a week, but I was changing them 3-4 days