What do you keep your Nitrates at?

[wopadobop]

My nitrates are 160.

Paul . Your posts should come with a disclaimer. Results are real but not typical. You should not expect the same results. Your tank is also 20+ years old too which is crazy.

 

[aeras1131]

Do you use an amino product? @Jimmy Lee. I run my tank at 2ppm nitrates. I noticed my coralline algae was disappearing. I started drip dosing aquavitro fuel, and the bioavailable nutrients in the tank went up and it brought my coralline algae back . If you have any questions pm me.

 

[Paul B]

Paul, I reckon your LFS has willy wonka test kits, or perhaps the operator was willy wonka?

I don't even know what they use for test kits. The next time I go, I will let them test it again. Maybe I need to change some water.

he’ll be the first to admit he doesn’t have any smooth skinned SPS in his tank. Maybe some skinny dipping bud light girls! I like what he does have. His setup is unique. Different strokes for different folks.

.

Correct, I keep no delicate SPS corals at this time, first off I don't like them as much. I went through that phase. Now I like gorgonians, LPS and sponges better and they seem to enjoy high nitrates, go figure.

 

[Brian W]

Do you use an amino product? @Jimmy Lee. I run my tank at 2ppm nitrates. I noticed my coralline algae was disappearing. I started drip dosing aquavitro fuel, and the bioavailable nutrients in the tank went up and it brought my coralline algae back . If you have any questions pm me.

Yes I dose Acro Power 5ml/weekly
I just started a month ago, so Im taking it slow right now.

 

[jimmy2times]

I keep mine in a range of around 15ppm I’m not quite sure how people can get such accurate measurements using a home kit or what gives basically. I know zero is bad for corals but knowing it to a half percent is confusing to me. I just use salifert test kit is there something I’m missing?

 

[wopadobop]

I keep mine in a range of around 15ppm I’m not quite sure how people can get such accurate measurements using a home kit or what gives basically. I know zero is bad for corals but knowing it to a half percent is confusing to me. I just use salifert test kit is there something I’m missing?

Think it’s just a best guess between the color markers.

 

[sghera64]

I keep mine in a range of around 15ppm I’m not quite sure how people can get such accurate measurements using a home kit or what gives basically.

Red Sea Pro discriminates down to 0.25 ppm NO3.

 

[Lasse]

I dose NO3 every day - my system is nitrogen driven - measurements -Red Sea´s pro test - vary between 0 and 15 ppm

Sincerely Lasse

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I’ve been having dinos at 0 nitrates also. Anyone know why?

The hypothesis is that very low nutrients prevent the growth of algae or other organisms that would otherwise be outcompeting the Dino’s from some critical trace element, such as Iron.

 

[aeras1131]

I use the Salifert Nitrate test kit. It has a color scale for ultra low nitrates. I hove the vial above the ultra low colors and compare the underlying colors to vial liquid colors when you are looking through it and compare. Based on this procedure, I can semi-accurately tell what my super low nitrates are currently. I really want a nitrate hanna checker.

 

[aeras1131]

I would say that the first portion of that hypothesis low nutrients causes Coraline and hard glass algae to not grow/grow slower to be true whether the latter portion of the statement is true. I do not know. It seems logical. I could foresee that being a problem if your tank is out of balance and you have an excess of an element or two. Honestly, I don't know the answer to the second half of the equation and I do not want to find out. It is one of the reasons why I would rather do 5g weekly water changes with Red Sea blue bucket then dose traces. Everything in balance

 

[recess62]

This is such an interesting issue. I had been running my tank with 0 nitrate 0. Phosphate and doing Red Sea A&b. My SPS never thrived. I decided to let my nutrients rise and now run my nitrate at 10. And phosphate at. .03-.06. My SPS are now thriving with great color and growth. I think every system is different. Each reefer needs to observe their animals and Taylor the parameters to their needs

One side note. I do have a small amount of hair algae but so do natural coral reefs.
This is such a fun and challenging hobby

 

[aeras1131]

@recess62 do you run a denitrifying reactor or does carbon. Ironically, I have no algae. My phosphates are at 2.5 ppm 2ppm nitrates. I scrape the glass and watch the Coraline grow. I had to counteract the reactor with aminos. I witnessed with my own eyes my Coraline algae disappear at the nutrient levels stated above. My tank is crystal clear.

 

[recess62]

@recess62 do you run a denitrifying reactor or does carbon. Ironically, I have no algae. My phosphates are at 2.5 ppm 2ppm nitrates. I scrape the glass and watch the Coraline grow. I had to counteract the reactor with aminos. I witnessed with my own eyes my Coraline algae disappear at the nutrient levels stated above. My tank is crystal clear.

I run biopellets. I cut back on the amount of pellets I was using in the reactor. It worked like a charm to bring my nitrates down

 

[wattson]

No3 at 20...high nutrients with a big clean up crew and most of my corals are liking it..very minimal algea just because of a big clean up crew..
PO4 is usually low due to high No3..
Alk 7-8
the less i do the better it usually is

 

[aeras1131]

Yes I dose Acro Power 5ml/weekly
I just started a month ago, so Im taking it slow right now.

I would recommend upping dose to the recommended dose in a 4 week span. I would increase 25% weekly dose till you reach the packages target does. I would monitor nitrates and tank for any issues during that period of time.

 

[dragonfish]

i got a mix tank phoos 0ppm nitrates 5-7 dosing vsv
all my sps are doing more then good coloores r good softies r also good
all this years i thought that 0 nitrate is the best but i guess it was worng

 

[Brian W]

i got a mix tank phoos 0ppm nitrates 5-7 dosing vsv
all my sps are doing more then good coloores r good softies r also good
all this years i thought that 0 nitrate is the best but i guess it was worng

very nice looking colors