Zero nitrate and phosphate

[Magman]

Is having zero nitrate snd phosphate levels potentialy dangerous?

 

[Mikedawg]

Many corals need some of both to do well.

 

[Magman]

Many corals need some of both to do well.

Is there a danger of algae outbrake from this? What lenel of nitrate do you propose for a reef that includes SPS

 

[Sottish_Reefer]

Is there a danger of algae outbrake from this? What lenel of nitrate do you propose for a reef that includes SPS

I have had an algae outbreak due to low nutrients. I'm dealing with dinos at the moment.

I've raised my phosphate to 0.08ppm - 0.1ppm and nitrates to 7ppm - 12ppm

 

[Magman]

I have had an algae outbreak due to low nutrients. I'm dealing with dinos at the moment.

I've raised my phosphate to 0.08ppm - 0.1ppm and nitrates to 7ppm - 12ppm

How did you raise them?

 

[Mikedawg]

Some reefers think that zero values make your tank more susceptible to cyano and dyno and other nuisance algae. You might find this article interesting: http://www.saltwatersmarts.com/ultra-low-nutrient-system-acropora-other-sps-ulns-6313/

For a mixed reef with softies, LPS and SPS my experience is that these levels work well:

 

[Sottish_Reefer]

How did you raise them?

I just increased my feeding and my phosphates raised naturally.

For nitrates I dosed KN03 (potassium nitrate)

I also cut down on water changes. I thought I was loosing my acan due to the algae suffocating it but turns out that it was being starved of nutrients. The difference after a couple of days of dosing KN03 was unbelievable

 

[lapin]

Also corals will adapt to different levels over time. But they do need N and P . At the lower end of N and P levels, corals can be more sensitive to other changes in the tank such as temp, lighting and alk.

 

[Magman]

I use a skimmer, antiphosphorus and an organics remover resin... maybe I should remove the resin for starters....

 

[dwest]

I use a skimmer, antiphosphorus and an organics remover resin... maybe I should remove the resin for starters....

Definitely remove anti P resin. If you started with dry rock, I believe you are very succeptable to dinos. You don’t want to go there.

 

[Magman]

Definitely remove anti P resin. If you started with dry rock, I believe you are very succeptable to dinos. You don’t want to go there.

I am using 100% live rock, moved to my tank in water. No ammonia from start. I placed zoas on day 2 and clownfish within a week. This is my reef

 

[Magman]

I want to add that since today I face diatoms. It spread really fast from lights up untill 6 hours later.

 

[Ferrell]

I have had an algae outbreak due to low nutrients. I'm dealing with dinos at the moment.

I've raised my phosphate to 0.08ppm - 0.1ppm and nitrates to 7ppm - 12ppm

I’m in the same boat. I have phosphate just no nitrate...oh and cyano and gha
I’ll be raising nitates this weekend

 

[Magman]

I’m in the same boat. I have phosphate just no nitrate...oh and cyano and gha
I’ll be raising nitates this weekend

For how long where you in 0 nitrate?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Is there a danger of algae outbrake from this? What lenel of nitrate do you propose for a reef that includes SPS

No. Dinos, yes, but not algae.

Adding nutrients will promote growth (or have no effect) of all types of algae.

Adding nutrients can shift the type of organisms that thrive. That's why it is recommended to stop dinos. Not because the nutrients hurt dinos, but it spurs other organisms that outcompete the dinos for other needs.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I want to add that since today I face diatoms. It spread really fast from lights up untill 6 hours later.

Dinos are best deal with by stopping any added source of silicate, such as tap water.

 

[Magman]

Dinos are best deal with by stopping any added source of silicate, such as tap water.

So I feed almost heavily but still have 0 nitrates and phosphates. Also algae in my refugium and some diatoms on my sandbead. I use RO for my WC so i suppose have no silicate in the water. Do you recomend removing perharps the resin to raise no3 and phosphate? Or is the algae that drops them to zero?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So I feed almost heavily but still have 0 nitrates and phosphates. Also algae in my refugium and some diatoms on my sandbead. I use RO for my WC so i suppose have no silicate in the water. Do you recomend removing perharps the resin to raise no3 and phosphate? Or is the algae that drops them to zero?

How are you measuring zero? Some kits cannot really read low enough to indicate a problem, and algae and diatom growth might support the idea that there is enough.

But regularly dosing more N and P is not likely a problem.

 

[Magman]

I use Salifert test for measuring.

I will wait untill diatoms dissapear and then dose N and P