What is my Nitrates (pics), with salifert?

Ashish Patel · Jun 25, 2023

Yikes. Got my PO incontrolled and felt my NO was always under 20ppm but tested after 3 months and it seems like 100ppm. I generally on my other tanks dose NO weekly so tend to get almost .02 from the side view

im not sure how to even bring this down

BaliReefBox · Jun 25, 2023

100+
I think you need to get them down slowly

Ashish Patel · Jun 25, 2023

In real time i thought 25-50ppm bc its lighter when held of the color chart but now need someone else to give a definative range

Ashish Patel · Jun 25, 2023

gbroadbridge · Jun 25, 2023

Ashish Patel said:
Yikes. Got my PO incontrolled and felt my NO was always under 20ppm but tested after 3 months and it seems like 100ppm. I generally on my other tanks dose NO weekly so tend to get almost .02 from the side view

im not sure how to even bring this down

Definitely 100ppm +

Easy way to reduce Nitrate is water change.

50% WC will reduce by 50%

Ashish Patel · Jun 25, 2023

gbroadbridge said:
Definitely 100ppm +

Easy way to reduce Nitrate is water change.

50% WC will reduce by 50%

I have too much water 550g. I just did a 75 gallon and will have to find a cost effective solution. Corals dont seem to mind but my PO where going of the charts high so finally got them to ideal range with LC. Not liking turning my low maintence reef into a science project

gbroadbridge · Jun 25, 2023

Ashish Patel said:
I have too much water 550g. I just did a 75 gallon and will have to find a cost effective solution. Corals dont seem to mind but my PO where going of the charts high so finally got them to ideal range with LC. Not liking turning my low maintence reef into a science project

Oh, yes that size tank is trickier.

You can dose MB7 for Bacteria and then carbon dosing with Vinegar.

It'll get you there in the end, but will take 4-6 weeks before you start to see progress.

If nothing is bothered by the NO3 level, that's what I'd do.

Jasongtr · Jun 25, 2023

Im guessing with that water volume you've not been regularly testing nitrate, but are you sure the test is accurate. Dont nitrates creep up over time?

taricha · Jun 25, 2023

50? 100? High enough that I would not trust the test kit numbers, only in the sense that I know it's quite high.

Dan_P · Jun 25, 2023

Ashish Patel said:
Yikes. Got my PO incontrolled and felt my NO was always under 20ppm but tested after 3 months and it seems like 100ppm. I generally on my other tanks dose NO weekly so tend to get almost .02 from the side view

im not sure how to even bring this down

What is the nitrite level in the water? Nitrite makes the nitrate level appear to be very high.

Propane · Jun 25, 2023

Do you have a refugium?

Ashish Patel · Jun 25, 2023

Jasongtr said:
Im guessing with that water volume you've not been regularly testing nitrate, but are you sure the test is accurate. Dont nitrates creep up over time?

My systems is about a year old and I tested it maybe 3-5 times in 9 months and it was always clearly high but I just figured it was 10-25+. I trust Salifert test kit for letting me know when its Zero and that I have to dose but never for very high range.

Ashish Patel · Jun 25, 2023

Propane said:
Do you have a refugium?

No, I just use Lanthanum cloride for PO.

Ashish Patel · Jun 25, 2023

Dan_P said:
What is the nitrite level in the water? Nitrite makes the nitrate level appear to be very high.

Not sure I don't test Nitrite and assume its always at zero after cycle.

Ashish Patel · Jun 25, 2023

taricha said:
50? 100? High enough that I would not trust the test kit numbers, only in the sense that I know it's quite high.

I think its higher than 100 or maybe lower, I got a ICP test so will be good to finally get a 2nd opinion.

Ashish Patel · Jun 25, 2023

gbroadbridge said:
Oh, yes that size tank is trickier.

You can dose MB7 for Bacteria and then carbon dosing with Vinegar.

It'll get you there in the end, but will take 4-6 weeks before you start to see progress.

If nothing is bothered by the NO3 level, that's what I'd do.

Have you ever carbon dosed using Vinegar? Whats the dos and don't

gbroadbridge · Jun 25, 2023

Ashish Patel said:
Have you ever carbon dosed using Vinegar? Whats the dos and don't

Been doing it for 18 months or so.

There are a lot of threads - Try this one.

Vinegar Dosing questions.

Hi everyone, Right now I have high nitrates (around 50ppm) and low phosphates (around 0.1ppm). The phosphates might be a false reading since my tank is now filled with green hair algae (which Ive been trying to remove). I remove them manually when doing water changes weekly, and they still grow...

www.reef2reef.com

gbroadbridge · Jun 25, 2023

Ashish Patel said:
I think its higher than 100 or maybe lower, I got a ICP test so will be good to finally get a 2nd opinion.

But ICP does not measure Nitrate

Jasongtr · Jun 26, 2023

Ashish Patel said:
My systems is about a year old and I tested it maybe 3-5 times in 9 months and it was always clearly high but I just figured it was 10-25+. I trust Salifert test kit for letting me know when its Zero and that I have to dose but never for very high range.

Maybe you got a bit complacent with the levels not testing enough to see what was happening, its not the end of the world.

Im sure once they are down you'll test a bit more to keep an eye on it

All the best

Ashish Patel · Jun 26, 2023

Jasongtr said:
Maybe you got a bit complacent with the levels not testing enough to see what was happening, its not the end of the world.

Im sure once they are down you'll test a bit more to keep an eye on it

All the best

Honestly I was focused on bringing my PO down and felt Nitrates are good until 50. I am ok with them being higher bc the corals seem to be encrusting faster. I figured once the corals are actually colonies the NO will go down but now thinking I may have to bring them down