Nutrients issue (0 Phos, 2.1 Nitrate)

[SomeHappyFish]

My last water change was the 9th of march.
Can't get phosphate up or nitrates up with heavier feeding once a day or once + pellets.
I'm using a skimmer.
I'm also using a filter sock which I changed twice in two weeks (once a week)

What should I do? What is causing this? My macro algae?

 

[CláudioMenezes]

Are you having problem wifth this? Your algae is probably eating them.

 

[tbrown]

I'm assuming the rock and sand wasn't old, correct? If that's the case your rock and sand could be absorbing the phosphates to reach equilibrium with the water. It took me a few weeks of dosing phosphates to reach equilibrium to where I could back off on th dose.

I would say that your macros and skimmer could also be playing a roll in lowering both your nitrates and phosphates.

 

[reeftivo]

macro and skimmer combo on a light bio load =sure it can drop down nutrients

Shut off the skimmer or set it to skim dry (concentrated).

Tank looks pretty new. What do you feed, also what kind of bioload do you have so far (fish, corals, inverts etc..) ??

 

[SomeHappyFish]

I'm assuming the rock and sand wasn't old, correct? If that's the case your rock and sand could be absorbing the phosphates to reach equilibrium with the water. It took me a few weeks of dosing phosphates to reach equilibrium to where I could back off on th dose.

I would say that your macros and skimmer could also be playing a roll in lowering both your nitrates and phosphates.

Rock and sand are new. My macro doesn't seem to be growing could it be the bad algae on the rocks?

macro and skimmer combo on a light bio load =sure it can drop down nutrients

Shut off the skimmer or set it to skim dry (concentrated).

Tank looks pretty new. What do you feed, also what kind of bioload do you have so far (fish, corals, inverts etc..) ??

My skimmer is dry skimming already haha and I would like to keep it on for aeration...

Fish:
2 antenna gobies
1 Firefish
1 midas
1 snow storn clown about 1"

Corals:
1 Kenya tree about 3" tall
2 zoanthid (2-3 heads each)
2 Gorgonian frags (2-3" long)
1 Acan lord with 2 heads
few corals and small, more to be bought soon

Inverts:
3 nerith
2 blue leg
3 nassarius
2 trochus
5 cerith
1 conch

 

[tbrown]

Rock and sand are new. My macro doesn't seem to be growing could it be the bad algae on the rocks?


My skimmer is dry skimming already haha and I would like to keep it on for aeration...

Fish:
2 antenna gobies
1 Firefish
1 midas
1 snow storn clown about 1"

Corals:
1 Kenya tree about 3" tall
2 zoanthid (2-3 heads each)
2 Gorgonian frags (2-3" long)
1 Acan lord with 2 heads
few corals and small, more to be bought soon

Inverts:
3 nerith
2 blue leg
3 nassarius
2 trochus
5 cerith
1 conch

Yes to the algae, it uptakes some nutrients.

 

[reeftivo]

Rock and sand are new. My macro doesn't seem to be growing could it be the bad algae on the rocks?


My skimmer is dry skimming already haha and I would like to keep it on for aeration...

Fish:
2 antenna gobies
1 Firefish
1 midas
1 snow storn clown about 1"

Corals:
1 Kenya tree about 3" tall
2 zoanthid (2-3 heads each)
2 Gorgonian frags (2-3" long)
1 Acan lord with 2 heads
few corals and small, more to be bought soon

Inverts:
3 nerith
2 blue leg
3 nassarius
2 trochus
5 cerith
1 conch

I wouldn't worry too much unless you start seeing dinos.

do you test with titration kits or hanna checkers? if kits then they have a much wider range of error and your nutrients may not be as low as you think.

 

[SomeHappyFish]

I wouldn't worry too much unless you start seeing dinos.

do you test with titration kits or hanna checkers? if kits then they have a much wider range of error and your nutrients may not be as low as you think.

Hanna.

Should I add any bioload? Or keep doing what I'm doing

 

[reeftivo]

Hanna.

Should I add any bioload? Or keep doing what I'm doing

what size system is it? pictures look like it's pretty shallow

i would just stay with what you're doing. the rock algae uglies will change as the tank matures.

i wouldn't worry about nitrates but if you want to bump the PO4 a bit you could always get some dry Nori sheets and break off a piece to wedge under a rock. Nori has a good amount of phosphate in it. it would also be a good snack for your clean up crew.

other than that to bump your Phosphate, i wouldn't worry

 

[MrGisonni]

Try feeding some un-rinsed mysis shrimp and occasional reef roids until you hit your sweet spot
Most will agree, 10-15 ppm nitrate and .03- .1 phosphate

PE Frozen Mysis Shrimp - Hobbyist & Retailers | Piscine Energetics

Piscine Energetics, headquartered in British Columbia, Canada has been revolutionizing the ornamental aquaculture and aquarium industry through innovation in aquatic nutrition.

www.mysis.com

Reef-Roids

Reef-Roids is a blend of naturally occurring marine planktons, which contains a species of zooplankton that is unique to our product. Go pro with Reef-Roids!

www.polyplab.com

 

[dadnjesse]

Try taking out the filter sock the tank will run a little dirtier.

 

[SomeHappyFish]

what size system is it? pictures look like it's pretty shallow

i would just stay with what you're doing. the rock algae uglies will change as the tank matures.

i wouldn't worry about nitrates but if you want to bump the PO4 a bit you could always get some dry Nori sheets and break off a piece to wedge under a rock. Nori has a good amount of phosphate in it. it would also be a good snack for your clean up crew.

other than that to bump your Phosphate, i wouldn't worry

33g / 45G total
36wx18dx12"h

I can try the nori! Midas might like it!
Thanks.

Try feeding some un-rinsed mysis shrimp and occasional reef roids until you hit your sweet spot
Most will agree, 10-15 ppm nitrate and .03- .1 phosphate

PE Frozen Mysis Shrimp - Hobbyist & Retailers | Piscine Energetics

Piscine Energetics, headquartered in British Columbia, Canada has been revolutionizing the ornamental aquaculture and aquarium industry through innovation in aquatic nutrition.

www.mysis.com

Reef-Roids

Reef-Roids is a blend of naturally occurring marine planktons, which contains a species of zooplankton that is unique to our product. Go pro with Reef-Roids!

www.polyplab.com

I feed a mix of these package, un-rinsed.

How often should I feed reefroid? I have some.

 

[reeftivo]

i would suggest once the first week, then if no boost twice a week is fine

 

[SomeHappyFish]

Is this algae the cause of my low nutrients?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It uses nutrients, though I do not know that you can say it is THE cause. New sand and rock can absorb significant phosphate for quite a while.