High Nitrates... and Phosphates.

[cagirly2006]

Hello, I've been battling high phosphates for a couple weeks since revamping our tank. Didnt realize until recently that nitrates being as high as they are were making it basically impossible to lower phosphates all the way.

Planning on setting up a refugium this weekend but is there anything else we can do to aid in lowering the nitrates??

We are running a GFO/Carbon reactor but obviously need to address the nitrates badly.

[TysTanks]

Water changes are probably the safest and most immediate way to lower nitrates.

[cagirly2006]

Water changes are probably the safest and most immediate way to lower nitrates.

How often you think? Been doing them every 6 days and cut back on feeding although I don't think we overfed.

[TysTanks]

How often you think? Been doing them every 6 days and cut back on feeding although I don't think we overfed.

I’d say it depends on tank size, size of water changes, and nitrates. Every 6 days along with some other changes (feeding less + refugium) could be totally fine.

[cagirly2006]

I’d say it depends on tank size, size of water changes, and nitrates. Every 6 days along with some other changes (feeding less + refugium) could be totally fine.

180 gallon with at least a 20 gallon sump. Nitrates were around 40 before my last WC. Trying to get a light for a fuge ASAP.

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[Sicklid]

Just my 2 cents
I stopped testing for nitrates, last time I checked it it was like 60ppm
However i got rid of my sand, i have a small refugium and a skimmer rated for 40 gals to 75 gals when my tank is only 25 gals, i feed my fish at least 3 times a day and i have 4 of them. The only parameters i test often are alkalinity and Phosphates, my PO4 levels are super love like 0.012ppm, i do not run carbon or other media, i do 4 gals water change every Saturday
Corals look super happy
I would invest in a good skimmer and be consistent with water changes.



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[Philip271]

do you have a sand bed? might have collected lot of detritus and now causing the high nutrient problem. if that's the case, vacuum small sections at each water change. do not stir it or risk nuking the whole tank.

[cagirly2006]

No sand bed. Its bare bottom. We did "cook" or killed off the LR and let it sit running with no light for 6 months... then took off our nice AI lights and replaced with some cheap LED's from Amazon til we get ours sent in to be fixed. We have a Nac 7 skimmer that's working fine. It did not get proper water changes while it sat running but has been super consistent past 8 weeks. Been testing with the Hanna kit (alk, phosphates , calcium) and salifert for the others.

[dizzyjay]

Fuge should help. Dosing nopox has worked for me to get levels down quick. If you go that route I recommend stopping the other export methods so you can dial in the correct dose.

[cagirly2006]

Fuge should help. Dosing nopox has worked for me to get levels down quick. If you go that route I recommend stopping the other export methods so you can dial in the correct dose.

Do you use nopox in addition to a fuge?

[dizzyjay]

Do you use nopox in addition to a fuge?

I did but now don’t need a fuge (extra spot for coral now!!!). They both work to achieve the same end (one is a natural approach). You can do both and dose less nopox. Just have to monitor your phos & nitrate to make sure you don’t overdo the export & find the right balance -adjust accordingly. (Definitely start with half the recommended nopox dose and work up)

[cagirly2006]

I did but now don’t need a fuge (extra spot for coral now!!!). They both work to achieve the same end (one is a natural approach). You can do both and dose less nopox. Just have to monitor your phos & nitrate to make sure you don’t overdo the export & find the right balance -adjust accordingly. (Definitely start with half the recommended nopox dose and work up)

Thanks. The reason I was asking is were told by a LFS yesterday not to dose nopox in addition as it would kill our chaeto. Was curious if that was true...

[cagirly2006]

We just need some more macro algae. Have not used nopox yet. Going to do a WC today and test again tomorrow and see where we're at. But I am still running GFO although I'm sure its mostly spent and needs to be changed out again anyways.


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[dizzyjay]

Good plan. Looks great. You’ll have plenty of chaeto before too long- if the chaeto doesn’t have a natural tumble you’ll want to rotate it every now & again.

[cagirly2006]

Good plan. Looks great. You’ll have plenty of chaeto before too long- if the chaeto doesn’t have a natural tumble you’ll want to rotate it every now & again.

Will do. Thanks for your input!