What to do with Low Nitrates and slightly high phospates

[calanprc]

Hi my 1.5yr old reef tank has according to my hanna checkers phospates at .07 and nitrates at .2ppm. What should I over feed frozen food? My skimmer has been turned off for a week now. Only running mechanical filter with socks.

 

[bushdoc]

Are U sure phosphates are 9? Not 0.9 or 0.09ppm?

 

[calanprc]

Thank you. I just ran another test and it reads .07. So it’s way low.

 

[calanprc]

Are U sure phosphates are 9? Not 0.9 or 0.09ppm?

Thx. It’s .07 for phosphate.

 

[bushdoc]

So phosphates are OK.
I would try to raise Nitrates with extra feeding, decreasing skimming time and if it doesn’t help, you could dose nitrates.

 

[Dburr1014]

Thank you. I just ran another test and it reads .07. So it’s way low.

No way low by any means.
0.3 is the low side.
Just feed more. Don't get hung up on having low NO3 as long as you get a reading.
Coral need ammonium not NO3 anyway.

 

[calanprc]

So phosphates are OK.
I would try to raise Nitrates with extra feeding, decreasing skimming time and if it doesn’t help, you could dose nitrates.

Thank you Sir!! I guess with extra feedings both will come up to acceptable ranges.

 

[TheBear78]

0.07 is pretty much spot on. Definitely no need to work on changing that.
Nitrate can be increased by decreasing its removal as well as adding it in the form iof food and dosing.
You already covered reducing the skimming time. Some other ways are a reduction in water changes (don't stop completely if needed for trace elements) and longer periods between sock changes.

 

[Rmckoy]

Generally we want phosphates between 0.03 and 0.1 ppm
Nitrates at 2ppm is ok as well .
Ideally you can increase them a little with feeding .

 

[14 foot reef]

Where are you learning about reefing? what are your local and not so local choices for learning about this awesome hobby ? Do you have a great LFS? Friends also reefing ? Where have you picked up most of your current knowledge in the hobby ?
What reefing books do you have on your shelf as reference guides ?

 

[Spare time]

This is the exact scenario where I like using amino acids as they add a nitrogen source without adding any phosphate

 

[bushdoc]

Where are you learning about reefing? what are your local and not so local choices for learning about this awesome hobby ? Do you have a great LFS? Friends also reefing ? Where have you picked up most of your current knowledge in the hobby ?
What reefing books do you have on your shelf as reference guides ?

I read “Reef Aquarium for Dummies “ and visit Influencer’s blogs daily.

 

[Rmckoy]

I read “Reef Aquarium for Dummies “ and visit Influencer’s blogs daily.

As an introduction and jump start I personally haven’t read it but like other books I’m sure it’s helpful as a crash course to jump in .

 

[14 foot reef]

I would look into stepping your game up a little bit and choose some books written by some of the well known and respected authors in the reef community.....
Robert Fenner
Mike Paletta
Julian Sprung

A very trusted site for reef book reference guides found here.

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If you like watching videos more than reading, try any of these YouTube channels

https://www.youtube.com/@ReefDudes

https://www.youtube.com/@melevsreef

https://www.youtube.com/@BRStv

https://www.youtube.com/@ReefBum

https://www.youtube.com/@ReefTherapy

You can't go wrong with any of these listed above.