why have nitrates?

[stanleo]

I have been reading a lot of threads and comments about there being a benefit to having nitrates. Some say 5ppm others 10ppm. Until I started reading these I was always told that nitrates should be as close to zero as possible. When I test using API I show very little nitrates if any. Why should I want to have nitrates? What are the benefits? How do I increase my nitrates to a desirable level without letting them get too high? My phosphate is between 0 and .25 using API. That should be as close to zero as possible, right?

tank is 120 with sump and fuge with cheato. About 8 months old but I just put the in fuge in last week. Light on the fuge runs on a natural sun cycle of rising and falling.

 

[fish farmer]

What are you planning on keeping for corals? Softies and some LPS can tolerate higher levels. SPS like it cleaner, but both nitrates and phospates are needed for for life to happen.

 

[yan2pr]

I was asking myself the same thing, i was at my lfs having test my water and they told me that i needed to raise my nitrates because it was 0. I asked that i thought it was supposed to be 0 and a random guy thats always there told me corals need nitrates to grow. I am just quoting the guy im not even sure, but i guess nitrate at 0 is bad.
And the phosphates at .25 are high i think you have my same issue high phosphate and 0 nitrates. Phosphate should be between .03 to .08

 

[stanleo]

Right now I have all three and want a variety. A leather coral, xenia, green star polyps, hammer, and a birdsnest.

 

[stanleo]

API test kits aren't that precise. the level is below .25 but more than 0 on phosphate. I do have coral growth. The xenia spread, the polyps are growing onto the rock I put them on and the hammer looks bigger. Should I get a better test kit for these levels before I start messing with stuff? What's the best one to get?

 

[Auquanut]

Many reefers have very successful SPS dominant tanks with nearly undetectable nitrates in ultra-low nutrient (ULN) systems, while others are just as successful with much higher NO3 and PO4. Some nitrate and phosphate is necessary for coral growth. How much is a matter of opinion. I like to keep my nitrates at between 10 to 15. I keep everything from softies and LPS to acropora and everyhting seems to do very well. I've also heard that many softie's and LPS don't do well with low nitrate. Seems to be true in my case, but that's just me.

And I agree about the API test kits. I don't use them for my reef tank. They're fine for my FW, but not accurate enough for a reef in my opinion. I use Salifert, but there are many options. Some that I'm sure are more accurate.

 

[stanleo]

Many reefers have very successful SPS dominant tanks with nearly undetectable nitrates in ultra-low nutrient (ULN) systems, while others are just as successful with much higher NO3 and PO4. Some nitrate and phosphate is necessary for coral growth. How much is a matter of opinion. I like to keep my nitrates at between 10 to 15. I keep everything from softies and LPS to acropora and everyhting seems to do very well. I've also heard that many softie's and LPS don't do well with low nitrate. Seems to be true in my case, but that's just me.

And I agree about the API test kits. I don't use them for my reef tank. They're fine for my FW, but not accurate enough for a reef in my opinion. I use Salifert, but there are many options. Some that I'm sure are more accurate.

So I did order the Salifert tests for both Nitrate and Phosphate. The Nitrate test isn't here yet but the phosphate test reads at .03 ppm. Is that good enough?

You know, when my husband and I first got married he had a reef tank that was awful. It was full of every kind of algae you can imagine. I eventually took it over and made it better. The reason I bring this up is because there was one thing I loved about it. There was a mushroom leather coral that was absolutely beautiful, I'll post a pic of it. That tank had nitrates and phosphates out the wazzoo. It also had algae like you wouldn't believe. So I wanted another one that would be like that and got one and this one is not so impressive. The polyps do come out to where they look bumpy but nothing like that other one and it never gets tall like the other one did. In this tank I have been very careful about phosphate and nitrates getting high. Could this be why the new coral doesn't do as well as the old one?

The first one is the big beautiful one I used to have and the second pic is the new one. The other corals seem to do really well and GSP grows like a weed.

 

[blasterman]

Nitrate and phosphate are *not* required for sps growth. In the open ocean nitrate and phosphate are at near undetectable levels.

I've had plenty of sps frag tanks that grow and have healthy sps without the presence of any fish or feeding. Just coral. The only source of nutrients are contaminants in reef salt mixes which do add some trace ammonia levels. I buy from dealers who keep coral only tanks for maintenance reasons and do very well.

SPS might not color up as well and growth will be slowed, but RTN instances are vastly reduced and theres no need for skimming and water changes more than a couple times yearly.

 

[Sailfinguy21]

I have around 10ppm nitrates snd i dont bother checking phosphates...

You see this acropora coral ? ..that huge white pinkish growth on the left.. is 2 months of growth.

 

[Bramzor]

Nitrates are used by bacteria and having no bacteria in your aquarium is a bad idea.
That being said, measuring 0 nitrates means that you cannot test for it at that moment. If you have algae for example when measuring 0 nitrates, its probably because they use it instead of the bacteria which is again, not that great.

So even though you need them, in a clean aquarium with no algae, its probably there even though you cant measure it. Because bacteria use it up all the time to grow.
Do corals NEED it? I guess not as in natural sea water its hard to detect as well.
Is it bad to have it in your tank? As long as its used by bacteria and not by algae, not at all.

 

[C. Eymann]

I like keeping NO3 at .25-1ppm in SPS tanks, LPS /mixed tanks at 2-5ppm.

In the wild ocean measurements vary of course but very rarely above .5 ppm

Sure you can keep NO3 higher, but you may run into issues with coloration and algae.

that's just like......my opinion man

 

[stanleo]

Nitrates are used by bacteria and having no bacteria in your aquarium is a bad idea.
That being said, measuring 0 nitrates means that you cannot test for it at that moment. If you have algae for example when measuring 0 nitrates, its probably because they use it instead of the bacteria which is again, not that great.

So even though you need them, in a clean aquarium with no algae, its probably there even though you cant measure it. Because bacteria use it up all the time to grow.
Do corals NEED it? I guess not as in natural sea water its hard to detect as well.
Is it bad to have it in your tank? As long as its used by bacteria and not by algae, not at all.

I just got the Salifert test for Nitrate in the mail ten minutes ago and already ran it lol. It says my nitrates are 2 ppm. So I am 2 ppm for Nitrate and .03 ppm for phosphate. Is this good enough? If not, how do I go about raising them slowly?

I don't have algae in the display tank and would prefer to keep it that way. I do have it growing in the fuge though.

 

[Bramzor]

I just got the Salifert test for Nitrate in the mail ten minutes ago and already ran it lol. It says my nitrates are 2 ppm. So I am 2 ppm for Nitrate and .03 ppm for phosphate. Is this good enough? If not, how do I go about raising them slowly?

I don't have algae in the display tank and would prefer to keep it that way. I do have it growing in the fuge though.

Those values look perfect and if you have no algae in your tank, that's the proof that your tank is in balance.

 

[homer1475]

Those numbers are fine IMO.

If you have no algae, and everything is doing well, then why try to change it?

 

[Auquanut]

I just got the Salifert test for Nitrate in the mail ten minutes ago and already ran it lol. It says my nitrates are 2 ppm. So I am 2 ppm for Nitrate and .03 ppm for phosphate. Is this good enough? If not, how do I go about raising them slowly?

I don't have algae in the display tank and would prefer to keep it that way. I do have it growing in the fuge though.

In my absolutely unqualified opinion, 2 ppm NO3 And .03 ppm PO4 is pretty darned good. I personally wouldn't make any drastic changes to try to bring them within a range that is honestly a matter of personal preference anyway. Over time you will discover what is best for you.

Now, about that toadstool leather. How long have you had it? I've got one (not like yours) that took quite a while before it really took off.

 

[stanleo]

In my absolutely unqualified opinion, 2 ppm NO3 And .03 ppm PO4 is pretty darned good. I personally wouldn't make any drastic changes to try to bring them within a range that is honestly a matter of personal preference anyway. Over time you will discover what is best for you.

Now, about that toadstool leather. How long have you had it? I've got one (not like yours) that took quite a while before it really took off.

Ok cool thank you so much. I will just keep doing what I am doing then.

I have had that toadstool ( I thought they were called mushroom) for a little over three months. Took a couple weeks to find a good spot for him and just the other day I moved him again so that could part of it.

 

[Auquanut]

Was he extending his polyps before the move?

 

[stanleo]

no not really. its hard to explain, he looked like were extended just far enough that they would almost open but would never open, if that makes sense.

 

[C. Eymann]

Throw some more flow it's way! sacrophyton leathers LOVE flow and it helps prevent necrosis, coaxes them toopen up and assist with their shedding.

 

[stanleo]

Throw some more flow it's way! sacrophyton leathers LOVE flow and it helps prevent necrosis, coaxes them toopen up and assist with their shedding.

That's why I moved him this last time, to get him some more flow. Glad to know I did the right thing.