NO3 Level

[kategreatwhite]

My NO3 level is 40 ppm. I think it is supposed to be as close to 0 as possible. I think it has caused the copious amounts of algae in my tank. How do I lower it?

 

[cloak]

Use decent source water, don't overstock, don't overfeed, clean any sort of mechanical filtration on a regular basis, blast your rocks with a power head every now & then, stir up or vacuum your sand bed on occasion, run GFO/GAC if need be, incorporate a refugium if you have the space etc. GL.

 

[sc50964]

Hope it's fish only. If so, you can just use phosphate remover and lower it chemically.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

My NO3 level is 40 ppm. I think it is supposed to be as close to 0 as possible. I think it has caused the copious amounts of algae in my tank. How do I lower it?

Just to clarify, having high nitrate does not cause algae to grow. It must have more than a minimum of phosphate, nitrogen (as ammonia or nitrate or others), iron, light, space, and a variety of other elements.

Having 40 ppm nitrate is no better or worse from an algae perspective than 190 ppm or 10 ppm. All are more than enough to allow growth, assuming the other requirements are also met.

But lowering it is a fine plan, and there are many ways. I use macroalgae, vinegar dosing, having lots of live rock in refugia, and skimming.

This article has more on the various ways to reduce nitrate:

https://www.reef2reef.com/blog/nitrate-in-the-reef-aquarium/

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Hope it's fish only. If so, you can just use phosphate remover and lower it chemically.

It is elevated nitrate, not phosphate.

 

[sc50964]

It is elevated nitrate, not phosphate.

That's right. I got confused by the mentioning of algae growth.