Nitrates not budging even when dosing

[JosephM]

So I ended up finding out I was running a ULNS on accident so I picked up some neonitro. My phosphates are steady 0.04-0.06 (Hanna ULR) but I can’t not get my nitrates up, they’ve stayed at 0 for about a week now (salifert) I’ve dosed enough to raise my nitrates 0.5ppm twice a day since Sunday and not seeing any rise. Is there something out of balance in my system or do I need to maybe up my dose to 1ppm twice a day? I understand I have heavy export methods and Im fine with dosing just don’t want to overdose or be covering up some other problem.

 

[Jekyl]

Turn off skimmer, remove socks, feed heavy

 

[JosephM]

Turn off skimmer, remove socks, feed heavy

I can turn off skimmer. Already feeding heavy with 1-2 frozen feedings a day and multiple times of flakes a day. But I’m just worried about taking filter sock out because I don’t want sand somehow to get to my pump or I should be fine as long as I’m not stirring it up?

 

[NeonRabbit221B]

How old is the test kit? Might be worthwhile to test fresh SW with a standard relative dose in it to verify you are adding what you think you are. I have the exact opposite problem, I can't get phosphates up besides an overdose of P through reef roids.

 

[Dan_P]

So I ended up finding out I was running a ULNS on accident so I picked up some neonitro. My phosphates are steady 0.04-0.06 (Hanna ULR) but I can’t not get my nitrates up, they’ve stayed at 0 for about a week now (salifert) I’ve dosed enough to raise my nitrates 0.5ppm twice a day since Sunday and not seeing any rise. Is there something out of balance in my system or do I need to maybe up my dose to 1ppm twice a day? I understand I have heavy export methods and Im fine with dosing just don’t want to overdose or be covering up some other problem.

No harm in upping the dose and no need to wait a week to increase it again, just measure before you dose.

 

[Jekyl]

If you're trying to get nitrates up keeping your skimmer running 24/7 is counter-productive. Either test isn't correct or maybe only run the skimmer 4 or 5 days a week and see what happens. Once a reef becomes more and more established the skimmer will play less of a role due to inhabitants consuming.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Just dose more. A tank can use a lot more than 1 ppm in a day.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

If you're trying to get nitrates up keeping your skimmer running 24/7 is counter-productive. Either test isn't correct or maybe only run the skimmer 4 or 5 days a week and see what happens. Once a reef becomes more and more established the skimmer will play less of a role due to inhabitants consuming.

IMO, I would NEVER turn off a skimmer just to allow nitrate to rise.

it does all sorts of useful things that are unrelated to nutrients.

Oxygenation, pH stabilization, and organic removal are all very useful, IMO.

 

[Jekyl]

IMO, I would NEVER turn off a skimmer just to allow nitrate to rise.

it does all sorts of useful things that are unrelated to nutrients.

Oxygenation, pH stabilization, and organic removal are all very useful, IMO.

Other benefits never even crossed my mind. Looks like that reef chemist tag just isn't destined to be mine

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Other benefits never even crossed my mind. Looks like that reef chemist tag just isn't destined to be mine

lol

Here, you can test yourself:

Not sure if the answers still work lol

https://web.archive.org/web/20070304001156/http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-01/rhf/index.php

90-100%​	Master Reef Chemist
80-89%​	Senior Reef Chemist
60-79%​	Reef Chemist
40-59%​	Apprentice Reef Chemist
26-39%​	Novice Reef Chemist
12-25%​	Neophyte Reef Chemist
0-11%​	For heaven's sake, it's a multiple choice test!

 

[JosephM]

Haha thank you so much guys. I didn’t think about the other effects of the skimmer either as Randy stated, it’ll stay on. For now I’ll up dosing to 1ppm twice a day and see where I stand in a few more days. Luckily it’s a small tank so dosing doesn’t get too expensive.

 

[Jekyl]

lol

Here, you can test yourself:

Not sure if the answers still work lol

https://web.archive.org/web/20070304001156/http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-01/rhf/index.php

90-100%​	Master Reef Chemist
80-89%​	Senior Reef Chemist
60-79%​	Reef Chemist
40-59%​	Apprentice Reef Chemist
26-39%​	Novice Reef Chemist
12-25%​	Neophyte Reef Chemist
0-11%​	For heaven's sake, it's a multiple choice test!

I think we should get an apartment together

 

[nereefpat]

lol

Here, you can test yourself:

Not sure if the answers still work lol

https://web.archive.org/web/20070304001156/http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-01/rhf/index.php

90-100%​	Master Reef Chemist
80-89%​	Senior Reef Chemist
60-79%​	Reef Chemist
40-59%​	Apprentice Reef Chemist
26-39%​	Novice Reef Chemist
12-25%​	Neophyte Reef Chemist
0-11%​	For heaven's sake, it's a multiple choice test!

I can't get the results or answers to work, but I doubt that I passed.