Where Are Everyone's Nitrates Sitting?

[Mike Lemming]

I have been keeping a close eye on my tank parameters this go-around and my nitrates have been creeping a little. I am currently sitting at 42 per the Hanna Checker.

I've seen videos lately of people running over 100 in an SPS tanks.

Is 42 really something to be concerned about if the corals are looking okay?

Thanks for the input.
-Mike

 

[zedxplorer]

My nitrates sit around 30-50 and phosphate is around 1-2. Polyps extension on all the acros and no algae problem. I've noticed my high NP level doesn't really affect their health but dissolved organics are what I need to keep an eye on.

 

[SteveDola]

I checked with Hanna on Sunday. I did reduce my dosing in order to lower them a little but its important to keep them up. I like when mine sit around .15 and 12-15

 

[Ortizdrz]

I wouldnt follow anyone else's levels but rather find stability within your system and what your system likes. My tank in example sits at what i consider to be higher levels, I started to suddenly see hair algae after years of tank sitting at the same levels. I immediately thought that those caught up to me and started to play with lowering those levels only for my corals to not be happy, I later realized my hair algae issue was from having had played with my lighting intensity and not the levels at all.

 

[afboundguy]

I used to have nitrates in the 40-60 range and was freaking out but corals looked pretty good. I ended up doing carbon dosing with vinegar and setting up automatic water changes and my nitrates have been right around 8-10 and they actually dipped down to 6.9 and I thought about dosing less vinegar and then just thought I'd feed more!

My phosphates aren't the best (around 0.6) and I've been trying lanthium chloride dosing and I have them around 0.2-0.3 right now as I'd like to have them a little under 0.1.

If you think they're too high I have been very happy with carbon dosing. I dose 20 ml at 1 ml increments with a dosing pump during daytime when lights are on and it's been very easy. I started slow and didn't have to go much higher for dose but I agree with sentiments that if things look good with higher levels then there shouldn't be an issue.

 

[BiGGiePauls33]

 

[BiGGiePauls33]

View attachment 233888

This was after a 110 gallon water change. Dosing 30.2 MLS of vodka daily, gonna up it a bit this upcoming week to see if it'll help lower po4, if not I'll get a medium Icecap Algae reactor for a bit, recommended by my buddy Rich.
Y'all may know him as:

https://www.instagram.com/jacksons.reef?igsh=MXZsdXoyaWExbHV0cw==

 

[SteveDola]

those are some dong numbers

 

[BiGGiePauls33]

those are some dong numbers

It's crazy how well the coral grows in this system. My last one had some stupid high numbers as well and things also flourished, maybe it's all the elements that are being dosed daily

 

[Cpage101]

I have been keeping a close eye on my tank parameters this go-around and my nitrates have been creeping a little. I am currently sitting at 42 per the Hanna Checker.

I've seen videos lately of people running over 100 in an SPS tanks.

Is 42 really something to be concerned about if the corals are looking okay?

Thanks for the input.
-Mike

44.5 No3 & 0.5 Po4

 

[BiGGiePauls33]

44.5 No3 & 0.5 Po4

#twinsies

 

[Cpage101]

View attachment 233888

lol we are running pretty close level system

 

[Mike Lemming]

My nitrates sit around 30-50 and phosphate is around 1-2. Polyps extension on all the acros and no algae problem. I've noticed my high NP level doesn't really affect their health but dissolved organics are what I need to keep an eye on.

How do you keep an eye on those?

 

[Mike Lemming]

I checked with Hanna on Sunday. I did reduce my dosing in order to lower them a little but its important to keep them up. I like when mine sit around .15 and 12-15
View attachment 233884

What are you doing to lower nitrates?

 

[Mike Lemming]

I wouldnt follow anyone else's levels but rather find stability within your system and what your system likes. My tank in example sits at what i consider to be higher levels, I started to suddenly see hair algae after years of tank sitting at the same levels. I immediately thought that those caught up to me and started to play with lowering those levels only for my corals to not be happy, I later realized my hair algae issue was from having had played with my lighting intensity and not the levels at all.

What do you consider high?

 

[Mike Lemming]

I used to have nitrates in the 40-60 range and was freaking out but corals looked pretty good. I ended up doing carbon dosing with vinegar and setting up automatic water changes and my nitrates have been right around 8-10 and they actually dipped down to 6.9 and I thought about dosing less vinegar and then just thought I'd feed more!

My phosphates aren't the best (around 0.6) and I've been trying lanthium chloride dosing and I have them around 0.2-0.3 right now as I'd like to have them a little under 0.1.

If you think they're too high I have been very happy with carbon dosing. I dose 20 ml at 1 ml increments with a dosing pump during daytime when lights are on and it's been very easy. I started slow and didn't have to go much higher for dose but I agree with sentiments that if things look good with higher levels then there shouldn't be an issue.

That's what I was thinking. the reef "guidelines" tell you to be much lower than 42 but, if everything looks fine, why should I worry about it?

 

[Mike Lemming]

View attachment 233888

And your tank is crankin! Thanks brother!

 

[Mike Lemming]

44.5 No3 & 0.5 Po4

Love to see it! MY P04 is around .04 though

 

[Swordsman82]

My Nitrates are 10-7 ppm and Phos is 0.05. Corals are doing great, amazing polyp extensions on SPS.

I stopped using coral food and aminos, and i got my nutrients under control and they rarely drift. I am just starting again adding in aminos to the tank again, and i feed reef roids once every few months, just as a treat for my Meat coral and torches.

 

[Mike Lemming]

My Nitrates are 10-7 ppm and Phos is 0.05. Corals are doing great, amazing polyp extensions on SPS.

I stopped using coral food and aminos, and i got my nutrients under control and they rarely drift. I am just starting again adding in aminos to the tank again, and i feed reef roids once every few months, just as a treat for my Meat coral and torches.

Are you running anything special to keep the parameters that low? Or are you just consistent with water changes?