MarlinHooker
Member
So can nitrates be too low? My tank is a mixed reef with a some SPS, LPS, anemones, clams, fish, inverts, etc. Is it ok for there to be undetectable nitrates or can that be bad for some animals ...?
What's the right level of nitrates?
- Thread starter MarlinHooker
- Start date
cab395
New member
I think you're going to get mixed answers on this one depending on what exactly you are trying to keep (sps/lps, etc). Personally, in my tank which is mostly LPS with some softies and SPS thrown in, I've noticed a pretty dramatic increase in coloration and growth when I raised my nitrates from 0 to only 2-3 ppm. This is purely anecdotal, though, so I cannot say for sure if that is what led to the sudden increase.
hkgar
Active member
You might find this thread of interest.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2346279
Want to join the "dirty tank club"?
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2346279
Want to join the "dirty tank club"?
Our hobbyist test kits aren't all that precise, so a reading of 0 on a nitrate test kit tells us very little, unfortunately. So "undetectable" could mean a level that's fine, or a level that's too low. Once the kits get down towards their detection limits, watching the animals is a lot more effective, IMO.
MarlinHooker
Member
my Red Sea test kit says .5 ppm. I had a HA problem which I just got under control so I don't want that to start up again ...
MarlinHooker
Member
I feed roti feast, coral smoothie & phyco pure 3X/week and Fuel trace elements 2x/week ...
MarlinHooker
Member
ok, thx. I've tried kalk paste on a small patch of bryopsis and it seems to work. So I think for the time being I'll stick with the Red Sea treatment for the HA & kalk paste for bryopsis ...
MarlinHooker
Member
thx, at least my wife will stop asking what I'm doing about "... all that hair algae ..."
