Dosing nutrients

[ctyler85]

Another thread about all my dying SPS has brought up a point that I do not have enough nutrients. Nitrates are 0.00. The question is how is everyone dosing nutrients? ammonium, nitrates, etc.

 

[PatW]

I run a low nutrient SPS dominate system. I have chaeto, a skimmer and filter socks for nutrient removal. I feed pellets and nori. I have tangs and they poop out quite a bit of the consequences of eating norI. Even though my nutrients are low, my LPS corals like Eupylla flourish.

Right now I intermittently dose phosphate as needed. Sometimes I dose nitrate.

I dose phosphate as trisodium phosphate analytical reagent grade and food grade sodium nitrate.

I understand that some SPS coral aquaculture operations run very high flows and feed their corals primarily with fish poop (so I suppose they have fish like tangs and feed them a bunch).

 

[ctyler85]

I run a low nutrient SPS dominate system. I have chaeto, a skimmer and filter socks for nutrient removal. I feed pellets and nori. I have tangs and they poop out quite a bit of the consequences of eating norI. Even though my nutrients are low, my LPS corals like Eupylla flourish.

Right now I intermittently dose phosphate as needed. Sometimes I dose nitrate.

I dose phosphate as trisodium phosphate analytical reagent grade and food grade sodium nitrate.

I understand that some SPS coral aquaculture operations run very high flows and feed their corals primarily with fish poop (so I suppose they have fish like tangs and feed them a bunch).

I also run skimmer, cheato and filter socks, my LPS are doing amazing, but my sps are really suffering, I'll look into the sodium nitrate

 

[Gtinnel]

I don’t have to dose phosphate but I do periodically dose nitrates when my nitrates drop close to 0. I just use a solution made from food grade sodium nitrate as well. I bought a 5lb bag from Amazon that will last me for many years to come.

 

[LeftyReefer]

My SPS will also RTN when nitrates bottom out. I've had to dose nitrates several times when they drop too low.

I'm in the process of adding a few fish. They are still in QT right now. I'm going to see how the tank reacts with having a few more fish. Would prefer to look at a few nice fish rather than dosing from a bottle if I can help it.

 

[ctyler85]

My SPS will also RTN when nitrates bottom out. I've had to dose nitrates several times when they drop too low.

I'm in the process of adding a few fish. They are still in QT right now. I'm going to see how the tank reacts with having a few more fish. Would prefer to look at a few nice fish rather than dosing from a bottle if I can help it.

Yeah I want to add some more bigger fish, locally they haven't had crap in stock and I haven't had very good luck with live aquaria, but adding more fish is definitely on the list

 

[homer1475]

My SPS will also RTN when nitrates bottom out. I've had to dose nitrates several times when they drop too low.

I'm in the process of adding a few fish. They are still in QT right now. I'm going to see how the tank reacts with having a few more fish. Would prefer to look at a few nice fish rather than dosing from a bottle if I can help it.

This^^

Your corals prefer ammonia over nitrates. Increasing the bioload will increase ammonia production, which in turn will increase nitrates.

I have found a nice balance with my tank between my bioload(fish), and nutrient levels. My corals look their healthiest, and have the best color when I have that exact bioload(nutrient levels where I like them to be).

Of course dosing is a perfectly fine way to go too. But I prefer to look, and feed my fish over dosing something. More of a natural balance.

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

My SPS will also RTN when nitrates bottom out. I've had to dose nitrates several times when they drop too low.

I'm in the process of adding a few fish. They are still in QT right now. I'm going to see how the tank reacts with having a few more fish. Would prefer to look at a few nice fish rather than dosing from a bottle if I can help it.

Fish can be more expensive than a bottle, plus more work and they don't always get along with what you have, adding n03/p04 is a "clean" way to increase nutrients. Fish food can get expensive not to mention the fish that may not make it or fight with your already favorite fish.

Sometimes you gotta dose from a bottle, put baby in the corner

 

[ScottB]

This^^

Your corals prefer ammonia over nitrates. Increasing the bioload will increase ammonia production, which in turn will increase nitrates.

I have found a nice balance with my tank between my bioload(fish), and nutrient levels. My corals look their healthiest, and have the best color when I have that exact bioload(nutrient levels where I like them to be).

Of course dosing is a perfectly fine way to go too. But I prefer to look, and feed my fish over dosing something. More of a natural balance.

I am also in the more fish school of thinking. I can see it across 3 tanks that share the same water/sumps.

The other thing I can clearly see is the value of zebrasoma (orange shoulder) and foxface in a tank versus not being in there. Awesome utility fish.

 

[Lavey29]

This^^

Your corals prefer ammonia over nitrates. Increasing the bioload will increase ammonia production, which in turn will increase nitrates.

I have found a nice balance with my tank between my bioload(fish), and nutrient levels. My corals look their healthiest, and have the best color when I have that exact bioload(nutrient levels where I like them to be).

Of course dosing is a perfectly fine way to go too. But I prefer to look, and feed my fish over dosing something. More of a natural balance.

I also think fish are the best fertilizer for the tank but do you dose any coral vitamin supplements to? I use PNS yellow sno and red sea AB plus during the week.

 

[sixty_reefer]

This^^

Your corals prefer ammonia over nitrates. Increasing the bioload will increase ammonia production, which in turn will increase nitrates.

I have found a nice balance with my tank between my bioload(fish), and nutrient levels. My corals look their healthiest, and have the best color when I have that exact bioload(nutrient levels where I like them to be).

Of course dosing is a perfectly fine way to go too. But I prefer to look, and feed my fish over dosing something. More of a natural balance.

Dosing chemicals, is very natural in the hobby we are also. And balance can be achieved.

 

[homer1475]

I also think fish are the best fertilizer for the tank but do you dose any coral vitamin supplements to? I use PNS yellow sno and red sea AB plus during the week.

Nope, and I do not directly feed my corals either.

I feed pellets in the AM(TDO, NLS algae max, and NLS Marine), then in the evening I feed roughly 240ml live phyto, a large chunk of PE mysis, and either a large chunk of LRS or my homemade frozen.

I feed my entire tank, not individuals.

 

[homer1475]

Dosing chemicals, is very natural in the hobby we are also.

And dosing is a perfectly fine way to go to, as i said in my original post. I have done it in the past too. I just find that with the right bioload, and right nutrient export methods, dosing is not needed, and simpler to manage.

 

[Spare time]

Another thread about all my dying SPS has brought up a point that I do not have enough nutrients. Nitrates are 0.00. The question is how is everyone dosing nutrients? ammonium, nitrates, etc.

Amino acids are my preferred way unless you have cyano

 

[Lavey29]

Nope, and I do not directly feed my corals either.

I feed pellets in the AM(TDO, NLS algae max, and NLS Marine), then in the evening I feed roughly 240ml live phyto, a large chunk of PE mysis, and either a large chunk of LRS or my homemade frozen.

I feed my entire tank, not individuals.

That's a good approach. I don't spot feed either just broadcast feed frozen food and the corals catch what they can. 240ml is a lot of daily phytoplankton. I do 20ml a day. I stopped pellets due to raising phosphate on me with anything uneaten.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Amino acids and regular feeding for me.

 

[X-37B]

Make sure you have enough fish in your system and feed heavy.
I practice heavy in heavy out with oversized skimmer and filter sock.
I setup a 30g remote fuge and it keeps no3 <3 and po4 <.1 on my 120.
I dont like lights in my sump but did put a small led and run DB and ogo macro algae.
This keeps same levels with heavy feeding.
120 had 17 fish
45 frag system has 7
Nano cube has 3.
30 remote fuge has 7.
With the fuges I have stopped running po4 reducing media and hardly ever check no3 and po4 anymore.

With heavy feeding their is no need to feed the corals unless you have ones that require it. Im mostly sps.

The fuge has been one of the best things I have done for my systems in 30+ years of reefing.

I took down the 120 and this is the 30g remote thats still running and my 45 frags 40 breeder fuge with a pic of the 45.

 

[Lavey29]

Make sure you have enough fish in your system and feed heavy.
I practice heavy in heavy out with oversized skimmer and filter sock.
I setup a 30g remote fuge and it keeps no3 <3 and po4 <.1 on my 120.
I dont like lights in my sump but did put a small led and run DB and ogo macro algae.
This keeps same levels with heavy feeding.
120 had 17 fish
45 frag system has 7
Nano cube has 3.
30 remote fuge has 7.
With the fuges I have stopped running po4 reducing media and hardly ever check no3 and po4 anymore.

With heavy feeding their is no need to feed the corals unless you have ones that require it. Im mostly sps.

The fuge has been one of the best things I have done for my systems in 30+ years of reefing.

I took down the 120 and this is the 30g remote thats still running and my 45 frags 40 breeder fuge with a pic of the 45.

Is that coraline covering your fuge tank?

 

[X-37B]

Is that coraline covering your fuge tank?

Yea coraline grows fast in all my systems because I have lots of live rock covered in it.
That fuge is only 3-4 months old and one of the reasons I dont like light in my sumps, lol.
This is the light. It grows macro algae and coralline well.
I just took the fuge pick.

 

[ctyler85]

I am also in the more fish school of thinking. I can see it across 3 tanks that share the same water/sumps.

The other thing I can clearly see is the value of zebrasoma (orange shoulder) and foxface in a tank versus not being in there. Awesome utility fish.

I love both those fish, but they have not been available locally