Nutrients 0?

[Notsolostfish]

My phosphate and nitrate were 0 and im bringing them up slowly. And its time for my biweekly water changes and im not aure how should i do it? Because i know when i do the water change they will drop back to 0.

 

[AFHokie]

So don’t do the water change. Are you just doing it as a matter of routine?

 

[Notsolostfish]

So don’t do the water change. Are you just doing it as a matter of routine?

Yes and my tank is only 3 months old.

 

[Garf]

Yes and my tank is only 3 months old.

You’ve got nowt taking out trace elements in your tank. You’ve got no elevated nutrients in your tank (not that I think that’s a problem within reason).
Don’t do a water change, simple.

 

[AFHokie]

You’ve got nowt taking out trace elements in your tank. You’ve got no elevated nutrients in your tank ( not that I think that’s a problem within reason).
Don’t do a water change, simple.

Exactly this. The likelihood of your essential elements being depleted is extremely small. At this point water changes would only be needed to remove excess nutrients, which you don’t have.

Just skip the change. It will make your life a little easier, help get your nutrients back up, and most likely improve overall stability.

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

So don’t do the water change. Are you just doing it as a matter of routine?

This. If your bottoming out, as I've seen in several threads now, stop the water changes. Test for alk, cal and mg and chill out man. It doesn't happen overnight, as several have told you already. I'd slowly dose n&p until your good and wait a bit

 

[Notsolostfish]

This. If your bottoming out, as I've seen in several threads now, stop the water changes. Test for alk, cal and mg and chill out man. It doesn't happen overnight, as several have told you already. I'd slowly dose n&p until your good and wait a bit

But my alk is 7.0 and i feel like if i dont a water change it would keep dropping?

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

How's your calcium? What salt are you using? I should prolly remember, but it's a lot of threads to go through.

 

[Notsolostfish]

How's your calcium? What salt are you using? I should prolly remember, but it's a lot of threads to go through.

Tropic marin. Calcium is 450

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

After glancing at TM salt, it's low on the alk end. Try Red Sea or IORC. It's typically mixing to higher alk. Start there and stop testing daily.

 

[mdb_talon]

I agree with others the simple answer is no water change(though would also say I think you are overestimating the nutrient reduction amount of said water change) As for the alk you are using a low alk salt. Keeping a higher alk even in a low demand tank is gonna require dosing...or switching salts.

 

[Notsolostfish]

I agree with others the simple answer is no water change(though would also say I think you are overestimating the nutrient reduction amount of said water change) As for the alk you are using a low alk salt. Keeping a higher alk even in a low demand tank is gonna require dosing...or switching salts.

But i love tropic marin. Im happy with it. I thought low alk is nkt an issue as long as its stable

 

[mdb_talon]

But i love tropic marin. Im happy with it. I thought low alk is nkt an issue as long as its stable

Haha I am not suggesting your lower alk values is an issue you were the one concerned about that!

 

[V A R I A N T]

No need for water change when nutrients are zero.

 

[Notsolostfish]

Haha I am not suggesting your lower alk values is an issue you were the one concerned about that!

Can i run a small carbon reactor just because im worried if there's something in my water? or carbon is bad?

 

[Spare time]

But my alk is 7.0 and i feel like if i dont a water change it would keep dropping?

This is why dosing is far better than doing water changes for controlling things like alk. It ends up getting expensive and time consuming without dosing. Plus, it lowers nitrate and phosphate even if you don't want to lower those.

 

[AFHokie]

Can i run a small carbon reactor just because im worried if there's something in my water? or carbon is bad?

What do you think is in your water that you need carbon for?

Remember a day or two ago you posted about how much trouble you are having and almost ready to quit? Part of the reason is that you get tons of advice on here but seem to dismiss most of it and constantly find new ways to complicate things.

As for alkalinity, are you actually seeing daily drops? As I mentioned yesterday, I stopped dosing because my demand is low and “something” is causing my alkalinity to rise. I have many corals that are actively growing yet still don’t lose alkalinity.

If you really are losing alkalinity but other elements are okay there are ways to keep it up, like alkalinity dosing.

 

[Notsolostfish]

What do you think is in your water that you need carbon for?

Remember a day or two ago you posted about how much trouble you are having and almost ready to quit? Part of the reason is that you get tons of advice on here but seem to dismiss most of it and constantly find new ways to complicate things.

As for alkalinity, are you actually seeing daily drops? As I mentioned yesterday, I stopped dosing because my demand is low and “something” is causing my alkalinity to rise. I have many corals that are actively growing yet still don’t lose alkalinity.

If you really are losing alkalinity but other elements are okay there are ways to keep it up, like alkalinity dosing.

Im not complicating things. All im asking if i can run carbon. Im worried if i have something in my water bothering my corals. Thata what im worried for. U know we add corals with our hands in and im just worried. Just a thought. And since im not doing water changes. I figured why cant i run carbon thats all.

 

[mdb_talon]

Can i run a small carbon reactor just because im worried if there's something in my water? or carbon is bad?

You certainly can. I am not a fan of continuous carbon use, but I dont think it hurts for occasional use. I doubt you will see a benefit either though.

 

[Spare time]

Just keep the carbon in and don't worry about that. The carbon isn't to blame for 0 nitrate and phosphate. I don't think any tank with fish should run not be running carbon 24/7 as these fish may be trapped in a box with hormones that may take a bit of time to decay. I'd imagine that if these hormones are taking a while to break down, they could be having adverse effects on the fish.