Phosphate and Nitrate keep going up

[fowler279]

So i have been having an issue with Phosphate and Nitrate continuing to climb. I have a 20G cube and installed a skimmer a little over 2 weeks ago. Tested water again today and nitrates are still over 20 and phosphates are at .27. They were .19 last week. I have been reducing the amount of food that i feed over the last 2 weeks as well but its still going up. Take is right at 5 months old. I dont seem to have an algae issue either like i figured i would with the high nutrients. Little bit of bubble algae but not much. No GHA at all. Anything else i can try other than NOPOX? Maybe doing a large water change? Currently do 4 gallons a week. Thanks for any help.

 

[EvanDeVita]

You could get some chemi-pure. I'm not sure why your nutrients aren't lowering. I have a 30 gallon and I change 5 gallons every other week or so. What's your stocking?

 

[fowler279]

I have 3 bags of Chemi-Pure Blue Nano in there currently. Stocking is 2 Clowns and a Cleaner Shrimp plus CUC and Coral.

 

[BeMoto]

Check you Rodi water for phosphates might be time two change out some filters.

 

[fowler279]

Check you Rodi water for phosphates might be time two change out some filters.

RODI tested at .05 phosphates.

 

[biophilia]

Phosphate binds your rock and sand and will release back into the water column until it reaches equilibrium. So if you do a water change and immediately after it test PO4, it's totally normal for PO4 to be higher a few day later even if you've not added any more phosphate to the system. Consider using some GFO or lanthanum chloride slowly over time until enough phosphate is unbound from your rock that the level remains where you like it. Large water changes on their own won't necessarily solve that issue (though they will help to get nitrate lower).

Be careful, though. You'll run into way more issues stripping NO3 and PO4 from your tank too quickly than you will just keeping it where it is.

 

[sawdonkey]

You said you lowered feeding, but how much are you feeding, what food are you feeding, and who’s eating it?

 

[fowler279]

You said you lowered feeding, but how much are you feeding, what food are you feeding, and who’s eating it?

I feed a mixture of foods. Flake, Pellet, and Frozen. Usually just a pinch recently and when frozen which isnt that often just a small piece of Rods. Everything eats it from the fish to CUC and some corals depending on what it is i feed that day. I only feed once per day.

 

[fowler279]

Phosphate binds your rock and sand and will release back into the water column until it reaches equilibrium. So if you do a water change and immediately after it test PO4, it's totally normal for PO4 to be higher a few day later even if you've not added any more phosphate to the system. Consider using some GFO or lanthanum chloride slowly over time until enough phosphate is unbound from your rock that the level remains where you like it. Large water changes on their own won't necessarily solve that issue (though they will help to get nitrate lower).

Be careful, though. You'll run into way more issues stripping NO3 and PO4 from your tank too quickly than you will just keeping it where it is.

I added a bag of phosguard back to my filter cup tonight so will watch it over the next few days.

 

[EvanDeVita]

I have 3 bags of Chemi-Pure Blue Nano in there currently. Stocking is 2 Clowns and a Cleaner Shrimp plus CUC and Coral.

What size? Three bags seems like too much

 

[fowler279]

What size? Three bags seems like too much

Its the Nano bags. They come in a pack of 5. Pretty small.

 

[EvanDeVita]

Its the Nano bags. They come in a pack of 5. Pretty small.

I just looked them up- that’s too much. I have a single of the 5.5 oz bags in my 30 gallon.

 

[((FORDTECH))]

RODI tested at .05 phosphates.

I thought phosphate test will only be accurate if used to test phosphates in saltwater. Rodi is freshwater I believe this test will not be accurate. Best to mix fresh saltwater and test that

 

[fowler279]

Tested new batch of Salt. Phosphate came out to .13 which seems high to me. Im using Tropic Marin Pro-Reef.

 

[Reef.]

Tested new batch of Salt. Phosphate came out to .13 which seems high to me. Im using Tropic Marin Pro-Reef.

your levels are not that bad, no need for drastic measures, 2 x 25% water changes will get your nitrates down to 10, I would then use Rowa to lower your PO4.

Imo Chemi blue is ok if your lvl s are acceptable but it won’t get them down from a high level.

I use separate carbon and purigen, and Rowa/phosguard, cheaper and you can change each one separately.

I have the same salt, it does register some PO4 but yours seems high, could it be your water/rodi?

I feed way more than you but only frozen, the pellets have a lot more nutrients than frozen, change to only frozen, see how you go?

 

[John08007]

Too much to read all these posts, I wouldn't be throwing chemicals at your tank to lower nitrate, phosphates. You need a plan because it's going to be ongoing. What does your biological filtration consist of? Refugium?

With this being a 20g you can prob get away with just doing water changes.

 

[EvanDeVita]

Too much to read all these posts, I wouldn't be throwing chemicals at your tank to lower nitrate, phosphates. You need a plan because it's going to be ongoing. What does your biological filtration consist of? Refugium?

With this being a 20g you can prob get away with just doing water changes.

Agreed. Water changes are the way to go in small tanks. Chemi pure (not actually a chemical l) just slows down how fast nutrient levels rise

 

[fowler279]

I have been doing weekly water changes of about 4 gallons and it keeps going up. Did an 8 gallon yesterday and will test again tonight to see if anything changes. Im honestly not too worried about the Nitrates more of the phosphates that continue to rise.