Feeding coral to increase nitrates

[fishead]

Hi guys, I've been working on my water parameters before stocking my tank.
A bit of a history is in order I guess.
The tank is about 700 gallons and has been established for a few years. I used a heap of premium live rock in the beginning and had a long road fighting nutrients for a long time. I assume from die off in the live rock that loaded everything with phosphates. Anyhow long story short it's been a fowlr for a few years and I've got all keen on coral again and want to make everything as right as possible before slowly stocking.
Phosphates hover .03 to .07.
Nitrates undetectable on Elos.
kH about 7.8
Calcium about 400
I want to make the tank montipora dominant. They are my favourite corals and I've also got a love for acans so thinking the slight bit more nutrients that the montis like will benefit the acans too.
So my question is will feeding the corals most nights make up for my No3 deficiency ?
I can't seem to raise nitrates even with heavy fish feeding.
Hope that made some sense.

 

[JMacedo]

May I ask why you want to raise NO3? I know it is a new trend nowadays, but why you don't feed some Amino Acids or coral foods instead?

Edit: or turn your skimmer off for a few hours a day?

 

[fishead]

Yeah that was basically my question. I can't seem to get my nitrates up from zero so will feeding the corals offset this?
Also what would be best to feed the montis with?
Ironic, I put in a deep sand bed to fight the nitrates and now I'm trying to put some back in.

 

[JMacedo]

Yeah that was basically my question. I can't seem to get my nitrates up from zero so will feeding the corals offset this?
Also what would be best to feed the montis with?
Ironic, I put in a deep sand bed to fight the nitrates and now I'm trying to put some back in.

IMO aminos and coral food will offset the lack of NO3 despite I believe your water contain some ( have a look at Redfield ratio), but then you can also stop skimming for a few hours a day and see how things go. Have a look at the tank in my signature... I will be devastate if I find detectable nitrates! lol. Try the skimmer on and off first and see if it works.

 

[JMacedo]

Noticed now these are your first posts on reef2reef. Please feel very welcome here. Lots of good people here to help.

 

[fishead]

Thanks very much mate. I've been researching all I can and Reef2Reef definitely looks like a little community I'd love to be part of.
A wealth of great folks and information for sure!
Edit to ad that I just watched your tank video. Absolutely beautiful! Love the Red Coris. I keep reading they're not to be trusted in a reef tank but obviously he's not causing you any grief. All your corals and fish look a picture of health.

 

[JMacedo]

Thank you! About the Red Coris... He is now 4 years old and he cannot be trusted with shrimp anymore, he eats large Fire shrimp and Cleaner Shrimp, my 3 year old Banded Coral Shrimp is the only survivor. Also he kills any new wrasse and flips any rock weighing less than one pound/500gr!