Phosfate, nitrate,and nitrite

[Jayrock93]

This is my very first time with salt water tanks what should my levels be on nitrate nitrite and phosfate also shout I be using equilibrium after I use rodi water?

 

[LeBon]

rodi makes total sense. altho it will remove good trace elements they will be theoretically re-added with the salt rather than conditioners. if a good salt.

nitrites/bad. 0

depends what you are raising in the tank renitrates. fish and'easy corals (zoas etc) will want some nitrates. up to say 30ish the more delicate the inhabitants the lower the nitrates should be.ie.sps. Maybe -5ish. Phos'phates' low too to prevent algae as much as anything. Mine currently around 0.1 which is low.

dont chase exact numbers,just get ballpark across the board

 

[Jayrock93]

Ok thank you I'm only doing fish right now but want coral really bad just scared to spend that much on them till I get more knowledge! So nitrates aren't bad only nitrites?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Unless you are monitoring nitrite for fun during cycling, it's not an issue for reef tanks and I wouldn't bother measuring it. It is not toxic in marine systems at levels we attain.

A good range for nitrate is 2-10 ppm and phosphate 0.02 to 0.1 ppm.

 

[Jayrock93]

Unless you are monitoring nitrite for fun during cycling, it's not an issue for reef tanks and I wouldn't bother measuring it. It is not toxic in marine systems at levels we attain.

A good range for nitrate is 2-10 ppm and phosphate 0.02 to 0.1 ppm.

Thanks buddy I test with tunes and chemicals and it shows I have 0.3 and 0.5 of nitrite and nitrate is that ok?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks buddy I test with tunes and chemicals and it shows I have 0.3 and 0.5 of nitrite and nitrate is that ok?

I'm not sure what you are saying, but IMO, 0.5 ppm nitrate is too low and risks problems that including getting the pest dinos.

Is this a new tank?

If it's not new, I'd feed more to raise nitrate.

 

[Jayrock93]

I'm not sure what you are saying, but IMO, 0.5 ppm nitrate is too low and risks problems that including getting the pest dinos.

Is this a new tank?

If it's not new, I'd feed more to raise nitrate.

Yes it's new I was told not to feed for a week by the store I'm still learning this

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yes it's new I was told not to feed for a week by the store I'm still learning this

I'd look elsewhere for advice. They are probably mistakenly thinking nitrite is toxic.

 

[Jayrock93]

I'd look elsewhere for advice. They are probably mistakenly thinking nitrite is toxic.

That why I came to this forum lol thanks buddy

 

[jda]

Run your tank for a few months while being caution not to overfeed at get a large ammonia spike. Get the salinity and temperature right. Let the ulgy algae come and then go. After this, then you can hone in more on some parameters and stuff.

 

[Jayrock93]

Run your tank for a few months while being caution not to overfeed at get a large ammonia spike. Get the salinity and temperature right. Let the ulgy algae come and then go. After this, then you can hone in more on some parameters and stuff.

Ok I have fish already what test should I be taking as of now so they don't die my amonia is barly visible my salinity is1.022 and my nitrate and nitrite are are not visible in test tubes

 

[jda]

Nitrate and nitrite matter not for fish. Phosphate does not matter either. Just be good feeding them and you will be OK. I would get the salinity up to full reef strength of 35 ppt.

Most ammonia test kits are terrible (API) so don't overfeed or get a better test kit if you are worried.

 

[Jayrock93]

Nitrate and nitrite matter not for fish. Phosphate does not matter either. Just be good feeding them and you will be OK. I would get the salinity up to full reef strength of 35 ppt.

Most ammonia test kits are terrible (API) so don't overfeed or get a better test kit if you are worried.

35 ppt ok so what test salinity because I thought it was the thing you fill with water and tells you if your salt is right

 

[Jayrock93]

Nitrate and nitrite matter not for fish. Phosphate does not matter either. Just be good feeding them and you will be OK. I would get the salinity up to full reef strength of 35 ppt.

Most ammonia test kits are terrible (API) so don't overfeed or get a better test kit if you are worried.

So this doesn't measure salinity? Bc mine is 1.022 with this

 

[jda]

That is a hydrometer. They are notoriously inaccurate. I would prioritize a refractometer. For now, it will do OK for a swag.

 

[Jayrock93]

That is a hydrometer. They are notoriously inaccurate. I would prioritize a refractometer. For now, it will do OK for a swag.

Thank you so much!!!