So I'm sure some of you have seen my posts recently about my phos and nitrates being 0 causing a Dino outbreak twice. So my Dinos are starting to leave again after stopping water changes and dosing nitrates and phosphates. My current nitrates are at 10ppm and my phosphates are 0.03-0.05. My dinos came back after doing a water change last time, I have a low nutrient system, I recently added another fish to try stabilize it. Thoughts on this? I have a 60 gallon system and I usually do 5 gallon changes weekly, but I've stopped that.
Afraid to do water change
- Thread starter Shawn4455
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X-37B
Fight The Good Fight
Saw your last post. I dont do water changes anymore. When I did it was only 5% a week but I was consistent every week. You may want to do smaller water changes depending on how much you change now and be consistent.
Randy Holmes-Farley
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I’d feed more or dose nitrate and phosphate.
my theory on why water changes appear to make dinos worse is the addition of trace elements, not the further reduction of nitrate and phosphate.
my theory on why water changes appear to make dinos worse is the addition of trace elements, not the further reduction of nitrate and phosphate.
Seanybaggs123
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I'd be interested to see how others answer this. I am in a similar predicament and am wondering the same. Why the conflicting advice. Can someone bridge the gap?
rfgonzo
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I would hold off on water changes for the time being and see what happens. Unless you add to much No3 and PO4.
It's good to do water changes but it's not alway needed. You'll learn over time if you need W/C or not. I've gone years without water changes then with neglect or over feeding, I'll start to see coral not doing good or algae growing. Then I play catch-up with water changes.
It's good to do water changes but it's not alway needed. You'll learn over time if you need W/C or not. I've gone years without water changes then with neglect or over feeding, I'll start to see coral not doing good or algae growing. Then I play catch-up with water changes.
Ah okay. Makes sense I guess. One last question I have a bottle of NeoPhos (I guess its phosphorus) is this the same as dosing phosphates? did I order the wrong one? From what I'm reading its a difference between inorganic and organic? but essentially the same thing?
rfgonzo
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Not sure, I don't use that product. I use Monopotassium Phosphate KH2PO4. I will assume it's perfectly fine to ues though.
Randy Holmes-Farley
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yes, that’s normal. I think low N or P may act by reducing growth of organisms that can outcompete dinos, possibly competing for the trace elements I mentioned.
Randy Holmes-Farley
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what are you saying?
RMS18
I keep water chemistry as my hobby
I wouldn't worry about 10ppm. I'm around 20ppm with sps and acros. I've been clear of dinos visually for 3 weeks now. But I have zero plans on rushing to get my parameters to the point where sps look their best. Need to solve the dino issue 100% before worrying about corals or nutrients imo.
rfgonzo
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I use greenleaf aquariums product
