Possible to have high phosphates and low nitrates?

[iamsamuel93]

Hi guys, new reefer here. My tank is currently about a month old, recovering from a dino issue. Just measured my nitrates (using API testkit) and phosphates (hanna ULR) both 0 and 0.38 respectively. I suspect of high phosphates due to the fact that I was using a dechlorinator(seachem prime) instead of a rodi unit. I recently got a DI unit that was enough to produce 0 tds. But the high phosphate puzzles me considering the fact that some reefers say there'll be a 16:1 nitratehosphate ratio. I'm currently just running a skimmer & Aquaforest's carbon. Might throw in a bag of Phosphate minus soon.

Could anyone highlight the reason why my phosphate is high and how my nitrate is low?

 

[mcarroll]

I'm going to try to draw some conclusions, but I need help with the questions!

If you have a month old tank that's already recovering from "something" then you really got off on the wrong foot somehow. Can you test your tap water and see if you really have that much PO4 in it?

If that "something" your tank had to recover from is dino's, then that probably does point to a nutrient balance issue.

If the high phosphates does turn out to be confirmed in the tap water, then how did you get rid of the dinos? They are not known to give up.

Dosing small amounts of nitrogen (e.g. KNO3) would be the better way to "get rid" of that phosphate, BTW. If you are decided on GFO, then I would recommend taking it down VERY slowly....and no lower than 0.10 ppm.

And your tank would be well-served by dosing some KNO3 (e.g DIY, Seachem Flourish Nitrogen, Brightwell NeoNitro, etc.) at least in the short term...even if you're using GFO.

Check these out:

• A Nitrate Dosing Calculator For Better Tank Health (And Better Coral Color!)
• Dinoflagellates – Are You Tired Of Battling Altogether?

 

[iamsamuel93]

I think because I didn't cycle my tank long enough? Just a 1-2 weeks cycle. I tested and didn't see any Ammonia,nitrites and nitrates. Added a pair of purple gobies , waited for a week and still didn't see any. So i assume it was ok. Haha. Test phosphate from the tapwater meaning directly testing the tapwater i suppose?

 

[iamsamuel93]

I'm going to try to draw some conclusions, but I need help with the questions!

If you have a month old tank that's already recovering from "something" then you really got off on the wrong foot somehow. Can you test your tap water and see if you really have that much PO4 in it?

If that "something" your tank had to recover from is dino's, then that probably does point to a nutrient balance issue.

If the high phosphates does turn out to be confirmed in the tap water, then how did you get rid of the dinos? They are not known to give up.

Dosing small amounts of nitrogen (e.g. KNO3) would be the better way to "get rid" of that phosphate, BTW. If you are decided on GFO, then I would recommend taking it down VERY slowly....and no lower than 0.10 ppm.

And your tank would be well-served by dosing some KNO3 (e.g DIY, Seachem Flourish Nitrogen, Brightwell NeoNitro, etc.) at least in the short term...even if you're using GFO.

Check these out:

• A Nitrate Dosing Calculator For Better Tank Health (And Better Coral Color!)
• Dinoflagellates – Are You Tired Of Battling Altogether?

Oh, I blackout my tank by covering it with newspaper for 3 days and turning off the lights. Increased my pH by using kalkwasser to 8.4 . Dose NP Pro & Pro Bio S. Did a water change as well

 

[mcarroll]

I think because I didn't cycle my tank long enough? Just a 1-2 weeks cycle. I tested and didn't see any Ammonia,nitrites and nitrates.

This isn't necessarily a problem condition....it could just mean you need to take it slow when adding livestock....which is a very good idea anyway.....going slow can prevent algae blooms.

How was filtration setup at the beginning? GFO + carbon dosing? Just a skimmer? Some other combo?

Test phosphate from the tapwater meaning directly testing the tapwater i suppose?

Exactly.

Oh, I blackout my tank by covering it with newspaper for 3 days and turning off the lights. Increased my pH by using kalkwasser to 8.4 . Dose NP Pro & Pro Bio S. Did a water change as well

That's actually a pretty good shot! I'm not sure what all that is, but it sounds like you may have dosed some liquid N and P in there somwhere....and along with the blackout and pH increase that could have had the effect you saw.

 

[iamsamuel93]

This isn't necessarily a problem condition....it could just mean you need to take it slow when adding livestock....which is a very good idea anyway.....going slow can prevent algae blooms.

How was filtration setup at the beginning? GFO + carbon dosing? Just a skimmer? Some other combo?



Exactly.



That's actually a pretty good shot! I'm not sure what all that is, but it sounds like you may have dosed some liquid N and P in there somwhere....and along with the blackout and pH increase that could have had the effect you saw.

I suppose it's some Carbon liquid by AquaForest. Haha. No other combos I'm afraid. Planning to get some gfos and a Algae Scrubber soon. Any thoughts?

 

[mcarroll]

I suppose it's some Carbon liquid by AquaForest. Haha. No other combos I'm afraid. Planning to get some gfos and a Algae Scrubber soon. Any thoughts?

Less is better, so at least it was only carbon.

I would stay away from carbon, GFO and everything else like that, at least for the near future while you're dealing with the current situation.

Algae scrubbers are good, but it might be best to wait until you're past this to begin.

 

[iamsamuel93]

Less is better, so at least it was only carbon.

I would stay away from carbon, GFO and everything else like that, at least for the near future while you're dealing with the current situation.

Algae scrubbers are good, but it might be best to wait until you're past this to begin.

Pardon my newbie questions but, would they be implementing them asap be better? Considering the fact that gfo and algae scrubbers removes phosphates

 

[mcarroll]

What you really want is to raise nitrates

 

[mcarroll]

Sorry, more time to post now.

In your case, +Nitrates is more important than -Phosphates.

You need plentiful nutrients (not missing N or P!) during the recovery from dino's.

If you wanted to use GFO or anything else, I would wait until this is all over with.

 

[iamsamuel93]

Sorry, more time to post now.

In your case, +Nitrates is more important than -Phosphates.

You need plentiful nutrients (not missing N or P!) during the recovery from dino's.

If you wanted to use GFO or anything else, I would wait until this is all over with.

Hello sorry for the mega late reply. Fully recovered from dinos!. Just ordered an Ats in order to reduce nitrates and phosphates equally. Heard an experience from a friend that he uses Ats and didn't need any gfo. Thanks for your guidance!!