High nitrates , 0 phosphate help!

[fadecase]

Hey guys , so I am stumped been in this hobby for 10 years and never had this issue..

So this is a new tank been running for about 11 months . No corals , 5 fish , and my nitrates have been hovering around 60 ppm
For the last 6 months ... I been doing weekly 30% water changes for the past 2 months (was doing twice a month prior) but no change. Using a seachem test kit my phosphate is 0 clear as day . I cant get my nitrates to drop with feeding once a day.i have never had so much problems with nitrate in my previous set ups and I am out of ideas.. and fish are happy

Specs:
180g tank with 55g sump
Over 200lbs of live rock
Vertex 180 skimmer
Less than half inch sand bed

Thank you kindly

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[Frogger]

Nitrates are harmless to fish at the levels you have.

Why worry about them? If you were growing corals they would likely use up the nitrates.

[fadecase]

Oh! Yea I am not worried about the fish , I want to introduce some easy lps, but worried they will not survive the high nitrates .. yea I heard xenia reduces nitrates but not sure if it will survive in my tank

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[gregzz4]

Bringing your PO4 up should help reduce your NO3. I use Seachem Flourish Phosphorus liquid plant food.
Start with small doses until you see an effect. Once you get the NO3 down you should be able to stop dosing.

[gregzz4]

Actually, I’m not sure that will work since you have no corals to consume it.
You may need to chemically remove the nitrates

[Frogger]

Originally Posted by gregzz4

Actually, I’m not sure that will work since you have no corals to consume it.
You may need to chemically remove the nitrates

That is what I was thinking. If he started added phosphates now he will just get algae and more cyno. I think the high nitrates are fine, once he starts adding corals if he brings his phosphates slowly up his corals will start using the nitrates and he may be fine.

[fadecase]

Thank you I will try that this weekend , and see how it goes

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[gregzz4]

Originally Posted by Frogger

once he starts adding corals if he brings his phosphates slowly up his corals will start using the nitrates and he may be fine.

Ya, I agree

Originally Posted by fadecase

Thank you I will try that this weekend , and see how it goes

You mean adding some corals, right? Don't add any phosphates right now

[gregzz4]

On a side note, unless you want it all, you don't need so much rock.
I have a 60g sump on my 75g DT for a total of 115g system water with less than 40lbs of LR. I have a decent skimmer and change out a 7" sock weekly.

With so much rock I forsee detritus issues in your future with PO4 and NO3 leaching back into your water.

[DEAD_BY_DAWN]

https://www.jlaquatics.com/orca-labs...bes-500ml.html