Nitrate and Phosphate Help

Discussion in 'Water Chemistry' started by mdbostwick, Jun 4, 2014.

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  1. mdbostwick

    mdbostwick Vlamingii Tang

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    The bulbs are actually pretty new, bought in april. So i haven't been looking in this direction at this point.

    Yeah and like i said, my system has the conditions for it to thrive, if it wasn't this cyano it would probably be something else, more likely worse.

    I fought a losing battle with my first tank with bubble algae. It completely took over. I am not letting this do the same, so that is why i am trying to be so aggressive with it.

    Are there any other thoughts on what the source of these nutrients could be coming from. Someone said leeching from rock/sand. Is there any way to check if that is the case? How long could it be leeched if that is what is happening?
     
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  3. mdbostwick

    mdbostwick Vlamingii Tang

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    I used chemiclean in my first tank. I am not too fond of throwing random chemicals in my tank this time around, "reefsafe" or not. So if i resort to something like this, it will be a last resort.
     
  4. Billme

    Billme Eyelash Blennie

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    MD, what are your nutrients reading? In sure they must be on the lower side with the attention you've been giving your tank. Have you had the LFS run the tests just to double check?
     
  5. Pete polyp

    Pete polyp Spanish Shawl Nudibranch

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    Yes, nitrate and phosphate can leach from rocks for a very long time. I really don't believe this is your problem at all because normally high nitrate would be seen with test kits. If it was phosphate you would most likely have algae issues, not just cyano. If you were testing the nitrate and were getting a consistent high reading, lets say 40ppm, and you performed a 50% water change it would instantly be 20ppm. Within a couple days when you check again it would be back at 40ppm. Your rock might be leaching a tiny bit of nitrate, but its not likely enough to cause issues. If it was leaching large amounts it would show. If the cyano were consuming nitrate that's released in a high amount then you would have a whole bunch of cyano. Just the same as phosphate..... If you were leaching high amounts of phosphate then you would have algae issues. There's no maybe have algae issues, its guaranteed. I do not trust any phosphate kit, and have found them entirely useless. The way I tell if there are increased phosphate is by looking at algae growth. How often am I having to wipe the glass clean? Are there any tiny little patches of green hair algae? If I'm wiping my glass once a week and no little patches of green hair algae then I know my phosphate is ok. When I'm wiping it every 2 days then I know their creeping up and I'll see those tiny specks of green hair algae soon.
     
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  6. civiccars2003

    civiccars2003 Great Blue Whale

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    IMG_5399[2].JPG
    Not guilty, just give information about the root cause and how it got there. Here is a few days of neglect (done on purpose) to give a better idea of the cyano itself.

    Edit: cannot post pic, too large.

    Edit #2: with Matt's help here is the picture I was refering too.
     
    Last edited: Jun 6, 2014
  7. oldfishkeeper

    oldfishkeeper Giant Squid

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    I think that picture clarifies for me. I was just confused by the description - blue/green cyano - and it didn't look like that in color but if that's what it is, then I don't think that phosphate reduction will take care of it because it's a bacteria, correct?
     
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  9. mdbostwick

    mdbostwick Vlamingii Tang

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    That is what my understanding is. But i really don't know much. That seems to be the consensus from the pros.

    If reduction in nutrients is not the way to go then hopefully someone will come in here.
     
  10. mdbostwick

    mdbostwick Vlamingii Tang

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    Sorry, didn't notice i missed this post.

    My Nitrate and Phosphates are reading 0. As close as i can get on my salifert test is 0.000 to 0.003. No blue at all. The LFS i frequent uses only api tests that i have seen so not sure if it would be worth my trouble.

    As far as the leeching from rock/sand, you think if this were the case something would be present on my tests?
     
  11. Billme

    Billme Eyelash Blennie

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    Salifert has been shown to vary from 50%-200% of the actual value but if there were something in the water I would think it would show something. On the other hand, a large outbreak of cyano can absorb nutrients and give the false impression of clean water. I would think it would be worthwhile to see if you can get a university or Monterey bay aquarium to analyze a sample so you know exactly what you are dealing with. That might point you in the direction of how to treat it. If you like, I can take a look for someone that might be willing?
     
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  12. mdbostwick

    mdbostwick Vlamingii Tang

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    I would be most grateful if you knew someone who would be willing.