Why no Nitrates at all?

WVH · 01/13/2020, 02:45 PM

Had this tank running or years with all the bells and whistles .
Then had a medical issue some years back and it crashed hard .

Have restarted it had it running again now for two years . Only five smaller fish and mixed corals all doing well.

This time I did a KISS approach . NO skimmer , NO Fuge and No Sump. After two years running with ZERO fish or coal losses which is very pleasing. I still am at a loss as to why when testing with more than one type of kit I am always zero or nearly zero Nitrates ?

There are a few too many Pulsing Xenia but still I am at a loss as to why no nitrates at all? I do keep them pretty well controlled . Also it has a lot of live rock in the tank almost to the surface in a couple of spots of a 72 bow.

But still the question lingers why no nitrates are Xenias that good at controlling nitrates after all?

billdogg · 01/13/2020, 03:12 PM

IME, yes, they are. Also remember that with a low bioload of fish there just won't be that much nitrate produced. I have the same issue in my 120, and also have nearly undetectable PO4. I would worry more about it but growth and coloration of the corals seems fine.

moondoggy4 · 01/20/2020, 12:38 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlhq8xgTntg Watch this video.

01/13/2020, 02:45 PM	#1
WVH Registered Member Join Date: May 2018 Posts: 61	Why no Nitrates at all? Had this tank running or years with all the bells and whistles . Then had a medical issue some years back and it crashed hard . Have restarted it had it running again now for two years . Only five smaller fish and mixed corals all doing well. This time I did a KISS approach . NO skimmer , NO Fuge and No Sump. After two years running with ZERO fish or coal losses which is very pleasing. I still am at a loss as to why when testing with more than one type of kit I am always zero or nearly zero Nitrates ? There are a few too many Pulsing Xenia but still I am at a loss as to why no nitrates at all? I do keep them pretty well controlled . Also it has a lot of live rock in the tank almost to the surface in a couple of spots of a 72 bow. But still the question lingers why no nitrates are Xenias that good at controlling nitrates after all? __________________ Warren 72 bow display. Back after years away.

01/13/2020, 03:12 PM	#2
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	IME, yes, they are. Also remember that with a low bioload of fish there just won't be that much nitrate produced. I have the same issue in my 120, and also have nearly undetectable PO4. I would worry more about it but growth and coloration of the corals seems fine. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

01/20/2020, 12:38 AM	#3
moondoggy4 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: menifee So cal Posts: 11,042	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlhq8xgTntg Watch this video.