Zero nitrates! What are my options?

[calimatty]

My tank is about 6 months in. I had my (1st?!) green hair algae battle recently. My nitrates were high. I think my phosphates were high but my API test kept giving me 0 readings (I have since switched to a Hanna). I got the algae under control with a combo of Vibrant, manual removal as well as adding 3 Mexican Turbos (those guys are awesome). The problem now is that my nitrates were decimated and I have a dino bloom. Also my LPS are not doing well and my softies are stunted. What can I do to get the nitrates up and not create another problem that I have to turn to this lovely community to solve?

I'm skimming less and feeding a bit more. Is there an additive like the Phosphat-E (it worked very well) but to raise nitrates?

I have a Red Sea E 260 (69 Gallon)
Paramitters:
Ammonia: .1
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0 (this is the issue)
Phosphate: .08 (down from .35)
Calcium: 440
Alk: 8.512
Magnesium: 1400
Salinity: 1.026
pH: 8.1
temp 76.28

 

[MA Reefer]

My tank is about 6 months in. I had my (1st?!) green hair algae battle recently. My nitrates were high. I think my phosphates were high but my API test kept giving me 0 readings (I have since switched to a Hanna). I got the algae under control with a combo of Vibrant, manual removal as well as adding 3 Mexican Turbos (those guys are awesome). The problem now is that my nitrates were decimated and I have a dino bloom. Also my LPS are not doing well and my softies are stunted. What can I do to get the nitrates up and not create another problem that I have to turn to this lovely community to solve?

I'm skimming less and feeding a bit more. Is there an additive like the Phosphat-E (it worked very well) but to raise nitrates?

I have a Red Sea E 260 (69 Gallon)
Paramitters:
Ammonia: .1
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0 (this is the issue)
Phosphate: .08 (down from .35)
Calcium: 440
Alk: 8.512
Magnesium: 1400
Salinity: 1.026
pH: 8.1
temp 76.28

Less water change frequency or i dose a bit of Seachem Flourish nitrogen 5-10 ml in ATO per week.

Not an expert but i wouldnt do it until u get ur phos lower. I noticed less than 0.05 phos is required to really reduce hair algae.

Adding nitrogen with higher phos invites an algae bloom

 

[1guydude]

I would do small wcs and some carbon in a media bag
D

 

[Gtinnel]

I used to fight will 0 nitrate and there are commercial products you can dose to raise nitrates. I used stump remover personally though.

 

[Gtinnel]

NeoNitro by brightwell is the additive that increases nitrates that I usually hear about the most.

 

[HB AL]

I would try to naturally bring it up versus dosing something to bring them up. You can use some natural things to bring em up like feeding fish a little more, and broadcast feeding the corals with some coral food.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Feeding more or dosing nitrate are the best options,. Food grade sodium nitrate is cheap and easy to dose.

 

[MA Reefer]

I'm debating on getting the hanna ultra low nitrate checker but not sure it matters

If API registers 0.....there is probably some nitrate in there. Not sure i would really care if its 0.5 or 2.....both would probably register 0 on traditional color kits.

Testing all the time might just be a waste of time and $$

 

[Dan_P]

I'm debating on getting the hanna ultra low nitrate checker but not sure it matters

If API registers 0.....there is probably some nitrate in there. Not sure i would really care if its 0.5 or 2.....both would probably register 0 on traditional color kits.

Testing all the time might just be a waste of time and $$

When it comes to nitrate concentration, knowing the approximate level seems like “good enough” for hobby.