Phosphate/Nitrate Question

jdm01 · 01/05/2008, 09:50 AM

Following are my water parameters:

Calcium (ppm) 440
(KH) Alkalinity (meg/L) 3.2
KH (Alkalinity) (dKH) 9.0
Salinity 1.028
Temperature 78
pH (acceptable 7.8-8.5) 8.0
Nitrate (ppm) 10.0
Phosphate (ppm) <.03 ppm between.025 and 0.5

The salinity snuck up on me and I am in the process of bringing it back down. My concern is with the nitrate and phosphate numbers. I will probably take a water sample to the LFS just to have them double checked. What can cause nitrate and phosphate to creep up? I do not believe I am overfeeding. I am running phosguard in a filter sock in the sump. I notice some detritus (I assume) building up on the sump floor. could this be part of the problem?

I want to stock some additional corals, but not until I am sure the water is safe. If these parameters are safe enough, you might let me know that as well.

jdm01 · 01/05/2008, 10:01 AM

Here is another thought on the matter. I had a nuisance algae problem that i could not get to go away. I ended up taking the infected rocks out and replaced with some dry rock. That could be the problem. presumably the algae was helping export the phosphates/nitrates and now that the algae is gone it may take some time for the macro and phosban to catch up.

01/05/2008, 09:50 AM	#1
jdm01 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Greenfield Posts: 904	Phosphate/Nitrate Question Following are my water parameters: Calcium (ppm) 440 (KH) Alkalinity (meg/L) 3.2 KH (Alkalinity) (dKH) 9.0 Salinity 1.028 Temperature 78 pH (acceptable 7.8-8.5) 8.0 Nitrate (ppm) 10.0 Phosphate (ppm) <.03 ppm between.025 and 0.5 The salinity snuck up on me and I am in the process of bringing it back down. My concern is with the nitrate and phosphate numbers. I will probably take a water sample to the LFS just to have them double checked. What can cause nitrate and phosphate to creep up? I do not believe I am overfeeding. I am running phosguard in a filter sock in the sump. I notice some detritus (I assume) building up on the sump floor. could this be part of the problem? I want to stock some additional corals, but not until I am sure the water is safe. If these parameters are safe enough, you might let me know that as well. __________________ John Martin Current Tank Info: 29 Gallon BioCube

01/05/2008, 10:01 AM	#2
jdm01 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Greenfield Posts: 904	Here is another thought on the matter. I had a nuisance algae problem that i could not get to go away. I ended up taking the infected rocks out and replaced with some dry rock. That could be the problem. presumably the algae was helping export the phosphates/nitrates and now that the algae is gone it may take some time for the macro and phosban to catch up. __________________ John Martin Current Tank Info: 29 Gallon BioCube