Expert sps guys need help with phosphate and nitrate to low

[apm3441]

400-500

I was doing opposite alk high calcium around 400-20 I’m going to try for 450 calcium and alk around 7.5-8 also am looking into a apex system seems people have great success with them and peace of mind

 

[apm3441]

What salt are you using to run ALK at NSW?

Rea sea pro salt I’ll prob switch to the regular Red Sea now

 

[Crustaceon]

You definitely want to run in a 7dkh range at that nutrient level. The low nitrate and phosphate numbers aren’t so much of a problem as is the constant uptake of them. You really have to ramp up feeding (fish and coral) to compensate.

 

[apm3441]

All is well now ..I bought a dose pump to make levels more stable and started using aqua forest pro ...have nice FAT corals and growth ..

 

[PirateMonkeyReefer]

So I have had this problem to both with my former 40 Breeder and now again with my 200g system. Right now I’m feeding 3-4 cubes a day and the N03 and P04 are still consumed faster then it can be added. So I dosed Neophos and NeoNitro. Now I’m dosing diy versions. I have a health amount of algae but I also have healthy corals. The tangs and blenny are always munching and my levels are consistently around 4-5 nitrate and .03-.05 phosphate. Just make sure you start slowly.

IMO your Alk and Ca look fine to me it’s around what I run at and it’s better for ph and more available for corals.

 

[ScottB]

Agree the move to Red Sea Blue bucket. Then you don't have to sweat it so much with nutrient on the lower side.

As to having measurable residual NO3 and PO4, it is simpler/safer to always have some. That said, if you are frequently feeding fish (4-8 times a day) and still with low residuals that is just fine. A tank stocked heavily with corals will consume a lot of nutrient. Heavy in / heavy out is perfectly safe.

 

[Yanir34]

Hi I currently have bare bottom reef tank 40 breeder with 25 gallon sump ..set up is about a year old ..I have mostly LPS corals and have kept them for a several years in a previous a tank with no problem

I’m starting to get into SPS and I am obsessed with them ..i want to excel and thrive with SPS .. I also understand nothing good happens fast in a reef tank .. I currently have a couple of frags that looked great but starting to decline ,this why I bought frags ..

calcium 419
Alk 9.3
Phos 0 (problem)
Nitrate 2 (problem)
Mag 1316
Salinity 1.026

I know my problem is phos and nitrate to low .. I want to know ur experience with dosing / supplement phos or nitrate ..Or do u find the sweet spot in feeding and adjust export as needed .. I currently turned off the skimmer and added 5 green chromis and will start feeding more often .. Any input or questions appreciated ..I dose kalk and use reef fusion 1 and 2 .. I was doing water changes with Red Sea salt weekly but will put that on pause

Hi I currently have bare bottom reef tank 40 breeder with 25 gallon sump ..set up is about a year old ..I have mostly LPS corals and have kept them for a several years in a previous a tank with no problem

I’m starting to get into SPS and I am obsessed with them ..i want to excel and thrive with SPS .. I also understand nothing good happens fast in a reef tank .. I currently have a couple of frags that looked great but starting to decline ,this why I bought frags ..

calcium 419
Alk 9.3
Phos 0 (problem)
Nitrate 2 (problem)
Mag 1316
Salinity 1.026

I know my problem is phos and nitrate to low .. I want to know ur experience with dosing / supplement phos or nitrate ..Or do u find the sweet spot in feeding and adjust export as needed .. I currently turned off the skimmer and added 5 green chromis and will start feeding more often .. Any input or questions appreciated ..I dose kalk and use reef fusion 1 and 2 .. I was doing water changes with Red Sea salt weekly but will put that on pause

I personally run my sps tank with "dirty" water - No 3 is at 10 ppm , PO4 is at 0.05 to 0.10
The colors of the sps is strong ,deep and vibrant.