Zoas and Nitrates

**barriosman** · 08-20-2012, 05:58 PM

So, from what I have gathered reading the various posts in this forum, low level nitrates (btwn 5-10ppm) aren't particularly bad for Zoas. Is that the general consensus?

**Cliff** · 08-20-2012, 06:49 PM

5ppm is better, but I have seen them do OK in much much higher amounts of nitrate.

**barriosman** · 08-20-2012, 06:57 PM

what would you consider "much higher". My nitrates are ranging from 5-10ppm right now. I am installing some chem pure in my filter tomorrrow, which, along with a water change, will get the nitrate down to 0-5ppm.

**sweeneyc** · 11-26-2012, 11:53 PM

Barrios, as close to zero is the best as you can probably gather. But I have seen my zoas do okay in 10. They tend to shrink a little when the Nitrates increase. So it is an excellent sign in my tank of when it is headed downhill.

Chemi-pure is pretty awesome stuff. I use Clearmax from Fluval. The stuff works amazingly in my reef tank and did an excellent job removing those excess nitrates before I had my refugium installed.

What time of filtration do you have?