No nitrate and phosphate

[Perthegallon]

So my tank is three years old and I am still battling phosphate and algae and I’m just sick of it

I keep testing and getting no nitrate and phosphate
I have corals and I think the algae is killing them what can I do I’m just so exhausted

 

[Rmckoy]

Although there are zero detectable nutrients they are bound in the algae
The only true way to eliminate algae would be to find the source such as high tds. Over feeding
only assuming you’re using rodi water producing zero tds ?

pictures might help

 

[Perthegallon]

Although there are zero detectable nutrients they are bound in the algae
The only true way to eliminate algae would be to find the source such as high tds. Over feeding
only assuming you’re using rodi water producing zero tds ?

pictures might help

I do like feeding my corals

 

[OfficeReefer]

Hi @Perthegallon, sorry to hear about your troubles!

Would you be willing to share an image or describe the tank and provide us some water parameter history by chance?

 

[OfficeReefer]

Nice tank! Is this the tank now with the issues?

The 23K blues are making it hard to see but I don't see a lot of algae. I see coralline and I see corals that are opened up, I also see what appears to be two pumps alternating flow. Is there a sump underneath by chance?

I do agree with @Rmckoy that if you have algae, kill it off but don't address the primary cause, the algae will reform itself with the released nutrients. I have seen this happen after a blackout session with hair algae.

 

[Perthegallon]

Hi @Perthegallon, sorry to hear about your troubles!

Would you be willing to share an image or describe the tank and provide us some water parameter history by chance?

Yes above ^

Nice tank! Is this the tank now with the issues?

The 23K blues are making it hard to see but I don't see a lot of algae. I see coralline and I see corals that are opened up, I also see what appears to be two pumps alternating flow. Is there a sump underneath by chance?

I do agree with @Rmckoy that if you have algae, kill it off but don't address the primary cause, the algae will reform itself with the released nutrients. I have seen this happen after a blackout session with hair algae.

there isn’t to much it’s just keeps coming back which is annoying! I do keep taking out as it comes back. There is a sump under it. There is a good amount of coralline growth and the corals just seem to be slowly getting worse though no acros and my sps are doing amazing though. I think though the corals had to many issues with flow

 

[Rmckoy]

I do like feeding my corals

I have a wife that feeds the tank by online feeding requirements per fish .
I went through the trashed water and still dealing with the algae .

 

[Rmckoy]

Yes above ^

there isn’t to much it’s just keeps coming back which is annoying! I do keep taking out as it comes back. There is a sump under it. There is a good amount of coralline growth and the corals just seem to be slowly getting worse though no acros and my sps are doing amazing though. I think though the corals had to many issues with flow

I’m the sump do you have room for a little cheato and a grow light ?
Or even an algae scrubber ?

the idea behind it is the algae will grow on the sump instead of in the sump .
the algae can be harvested removing some of the nutrients with it .
The issue is if there are phosphates bound in the rocks and sand it will release small
Amounts to maintain balance in the water column

manually removing algae is a forever process but until you find the main source it will always be a thorn in your side

 

[vetteguy53081]

So my tank is three years old and I am still battling phosphate and algae and I’m just sick of it

I keep testing and getting no nitrate and phosphate
I have corals and I think the algae is killing them what can I do I’m just so exhausted

Can you post pics of tank under white lighting?
Generally with both at zero you would be getting flagellates or dino-flagellates. Green hair and cyano coincides with elevated levels. What test kits are you using ?

 

[Perthegallon]

I’m the sump do you have room for a little cheato and a grow light ?
Or even an algae scrubber ?

the idea behind it is the algae will grow on the sump instead of in the sump .
the algae can be harvested removing some of the nutrients with it .
The issue is if there are phosphates bound in the rocks and sand it will release small
Amounts to maintain balance in the water column

manually removing algae is a forever process but until you find the main source it will always be a thorn in your side

I’ve done the sump algae before and every time I have it has died on me and made my tank worse. Do you think I should try the scrubber?

 

[Perthegallon]

Can you post pics of tank under white lighting?
Generally with both at zero you would be getting flagellates or dino-flagellates. Green hair and cyano coincides with elevated levels. What test kits are you using ?

I actually just tried my other test kit and it looks like 5-10 nitrate which seems more realible as that one’s brand new and the phosphate is 0 or close to that

 

[vetteguy53081]

I actually just tried my other test kit and it looks like 5-10 nitrate which seems more realible as that one’s brand new and the phosphate is 0 or close to that

Phos range is not too far off as good range .04 - .08

 

[Perthegallon]

Phos range is not too far off as good range .04 - .08

It could be that it’s really hard to see with the salfart test kits

 

[fish farmer]

It could be that it’s really hard to see with the salfart test kits

It is hard to get a good low phos reading with the salifert. It might not be zero with that kit.

 

[Rmckoy]

It could be that it’s really hard to see with the salfart test kits

I’d strongly suggest picking up a Hanna ulr phosphorus checker and covert the result to phosphates

 

[Rmckoy]

5-10 ppm nitrate is a good range and as long as you can test 0.03-0.1 ppm phosphates but it will require another test kit designed to do so

 

[ZoWhat]

YOU SERIOUSLY NEED TO WATCH THIS VIDEO

 

[Perthegallon]

I’d strongly suggest picking up a Hanna ulr phosphorus checker and covert the result to phosphates

Do you think I should do a Red Sea instead I never really liked the Hannas

 

[Rmckoy]

Do you think I should do a Red Sea instead I never really liked the Hannas

I’m not familiar with Red Sea phosphate test kit .

 

[caller89]

So my tank is three years old and I am still battling phosphate and algae and I’m just sick of it

I keep testing and getting no nitrate and phosphate
I have corals and I think the algae is killing them what can I do I’m just so exhausted

Do you run siporax and ceramic media in your sump ? If low flow then anaerobic bacteria will consume nitrates.

Do you feed more than once a day ? Do you wash your frozen food ? When I suffer low phosphate I don't wash , unwashed frozen mysis shrimp are full of phosphate, multiple feeds can help with nitrates.

Is your aquarium heavily stocked with SPS? SPS can consume nutrients alot faster than most , many hobbyist actually dose nitrates and Phosphates.

These are just some of my thoughts