Would nitrate alone support green algae?

Chi6488 · 11/17/2009, 05:06 PM

I can't seem to get my nitrates down. They are still at around 80. Phosphates read 0; I am running a phosban reactor. Everything else is at good level.

I have done lots of water changes as well. I only feed every other day.

I am waiting for the LFS to get me some Dr gs nitrate remover to see if that helps.

seapug · 11/17/2009, 05:28 PM

Yes, nitrate is a plant fertilizer. But just because your phosphate test says 0 doesn't mean you don't have phosphate, too. How long have you been running the reactor? It took about 6 weeks and 1 media change at 3 weeks to get below the algae threshold in my tank, but once it got there, it all died and disappeared in about 1 week.

As for the Nitrate, I had much better luck with nitrate removal using AZ-NO3 than vodka, sugar, or any other bio-product out there. It brought a Nitrate level of over 40 down to 0 in less than a month. I haven't used the product in about 6 months and nitrates have remained undetectable. A good protein skimmer is a must, though.

Chi6488 · 11/17/2009, 07:10 PM

ok, thanks. I will try to dr g and buy a the az-no3 as well.. The reactor has only been running about a week. B4 that my phosphates were pretty high as well. I will give it more time

I just bought a reef octopus extreme 160 last week.

bertoni · 11/17/2009, 07:50 PM

It might take some time for the reactor to deal with the algae, if it can do that at all. No form of life can live without phosphorus; it's a macronutrient. Unfortunately, the algae likely can consume forms of phosphorus that the reactor won't bind, which can limit the effectiveness of GFO.

stevek480 · 11/17/2009, 08:19 PM

Are you using RO/DI water for your water changes? Have you tested the TDS reading on your water to make sure your RO unit is doing it's job? 80 seems like a really high number so it must be coming from somewhere...

11/17/2009, 05:06 PM	#1
Chi6488 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Ocala, FL Posts: 237	Would nitrate alone support green algae? I can't seem to get my nitrates down. They are still at around 80. Phosphates read 0; I am running a phosban reactor. Everything else is at good level. I have done lots of water changes as well. I only feed every other day. I am waiting for the LFS to get me some Dr gs nitrate remover to see if that helps.

11/17/2009, 07:10 PM	#3
Chi6488 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Ocala, FL Posts: 237	ok, thanks. I will try to dr g and buy a the az-no3 as well.. The reactor has only been running about a week. B4 that my phosphates were pretty high as well. I will give it more time I just bought a reef octopus extreme 160 last week. __________________ 110 Gal 30" tall tank; 2 @ 250 Watt MH 14k ; Reef Octopus extreme 160; 1/10 jbj chiller; 4 stage ro then into dual di resin; MP40W powerhead. 20" zebra eel, yellow tang, two clowns, red hawkfish, yellow wrasse and bubble coral; carpet anemone 34 gallon red sea max with 3 sea horses for the wife 90 Gal with 4 urchins, big snail, 2 sargeant majors caught from the keys. Horseshoe crab and about 5 starfish from gulf of mexico

11/17/2009, 07:50 PM	#4
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	It might take some time for the reactor to deal with the algae, if it can do that at all. No form of life can live without phosphorus; it's a macronutrient. Unfortunately, the algae likely can consume forms of phosphorus that the reactor won't bind, which can limit the effectiveness of GFO. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

11/17/2009, 05:28 PM	#2
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	Yes, nitrate is a plant fertilizer. But just because your phosphate test says 0 doesn't mean you don't have phosphate, too. How long have you been running the reactor? It took about 6 weeks and 1 media change at 3 weeks to get below the algae threshold in my tank, but once it got there, it all died and disappeared in about 1 week. As for the Nitrate, I had much better luck with nitrate removal using AZ-NO3 than vodka, sugar, or any other bio-product out there. It brought a Nitrate level of over 40 down to 0 in less than a month. I haven't used the product in about 6 months and nitrates have remained undetectable. A good protein skimmer is a must, though.

11/17/2009, 08:19 PM	#5
stevek480 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Flemington, NJ Posts: 605	Are you using RO/DI water for your water changes? Have you tested the TDS reading on your water to make sure your RO unit is doing it's job? 80 seems like a really high number so it must be coming from somewhere...