N03 absorption

[xabo]

Cannot keep detectable N03 without dosing. There's no algae to speak of and N03 always test 0 unless I dose. Any idea as to what sucking it up? Have 6 small SPS frags in the tank.

[wildcrazyjoker81]

This is very hard to answer only because every tank is setup so different and has different biome/bacteria. I guess I would start with knowing if you maybe have too much bio filtration/media as that is great at producing bacteria that consume NO3. Also any type of macroalgae running? Another great consumer of NO3. The list can keep doing, feeding regiment, carbon dosing, skimmer hours, etc.

NO3 is actually a bit more difficult to keep elevated with current technologies that we use on tank builds. I had to remove bio bricks from two of my tanks to help NO3 from bottoming out and even then once the corals grew out I had to dose again. That said I do run fuges on both systems so I know that doesn't help.

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[gws3]

Keep in mind NO3 is at the end of the nitrogen cycle. Zero NO3 does not necessarily mean you don't have any nitrogen available to organisms via ammonia or nitrite. If you're feeding the tank there is nitrogen being provided and consumed.

 

It's likely bacteria consuming it. Keep in mind they need nitrogen, phosphorous and carbon. 0 nitrate could mean nitrogen is the limiting resource.

 

I'm a proponent of controlling nutrient import and export in more natural ways before resorting to using chemicals. To increase your nitrate adding fish and increasing feeding is the way to go in my opinion. This is the approach I take first. I suppose I'm being a bit hypocritical though, as I use LaCl to keep phosphate in check. My PO4 levels will increase without it if I'm trying to maintain NO3 levels via nutrient import.

 

Another interesting consideration I've heard is NO3 is in the water column and doesn't bind to organic surfaces like live rock, while PO4 does. So PO4 has a sink in a sense, if PO4 in the water column drops it will be buffered via PO4 bound to the live rock. If NO3 in the water column is consumed it would need replaced via import.

 

 

Edited May 30, 2024 by gws3

[xabo]

5 hours ago, gws3 said:

It's likely bacteria consuming it. Keep in mind they need nitrogen, phosphorous and carbon. 0 nitrate could mean nitrogen is the limiting resource.

 

Could this be considered a good thing?

[gws3]

Having a healthy population of nitrifying bacteria is a good thing I'd say. How does the tank and corals look? What is your PO4 level. I wouldn't worry about it if everything looks happy.

[xabo]

Tank looks okay. Decent PE.

P04 is 0.12 per Hana checker.

[ranger]

Heres the best test kit in my experence .

Comes with a reference sample easy to read as well.

You have the best situation you can have just dose nitrate

 until you hit 5 and test weekly with the seachem.

If you feed more or add fish then you chase po dont mess up a great thing.

My 150 for 10 years had 0 nitrates...had a crash....set up the same way

 now i dose vinager/sugar to controll nitrates.

Every tank even the same tank redone over reacts differently.