How should I raise my nutrients without dosing?

[jonny4ever]

So I have a 60 breeder (48 x 18 x 16) with a 10g sump that’s 8inches filled. I have a really small skimmer (tunze 9001) that fills the cup twice a week. I have 5 fish, A yellow eye kole tang, African flameback angel, peculiar clown pair and a 6 line wrasse. I never really test nitrate/phosphate but since I recently transferred the tank and used new sand a little over a month ago and have a tiny bit of diatoms I decided to test. Salifert couldn’t detect nitrate and my Hannah checker gave me 0.01ph.

I feed a nice amount, usually flakes. I feed some reef roids about once a week. I do weekly water changes of about 7 gallons, should I stop water changes for a week to see how much the level rise? Only thing I’m considering is either adding more fish which my tanks looks pretty darn fish deprived, or do less water changes. I really wanna upgrade to a bigger skimmer but since I tested the water I’m holding back on that since it’s already low on nutrients

 

[sfin52]

So I have a 60 breeder (48 x 18 x 16) with a 10g sump that’s 8inches filled. I have a really small skimmer (tunze 9001) that fills the cup twice a week. I have 5 fish, A yellow eye kole tang, African flameback angel, peculiar clown pair and a 6 line wrasse. I never really test nitrate/phosphate but since I recently transferred the tank and used new sand a little over a month ago and have a tiny bit of diatoms I decided to test. Salifert couldn’t detect nitrate and my Hannah checker gave me 0.01ph.

I feed a nice amount, usually flakes. I feed some reef roids about once a week. I do weekly water changes of about 7 gallons, should I stop water changes for a week to see how much the level rise? Only thing I’m considering is either adding more fish which my tanks looks pretty darn fish deprived, or do less water changes. I really wanna upgrade to a bigger skimmer but since I tested the water I’m holding back on that since it’s already low on nutrients

Wheres your nutrients at? Why do you want to raise?

 

[CookieRdReef]

Just dose nitrates.

 

[jonny4ever]

Wheres your nutrients at? Why do you want to raise?

salifert didn't detect nitrate and hannah checker ulr said my phosphate is 0.01

 

[sfin52]

salifert didn't detect nitrate and hannah checker ulr said my phosphate is 0.01

Gotcha. Feed frozen foods over flakes.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

I'd probably just turn off the skimmer, continue with generous feedings, and reduce water change frequency.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Dosing is cheap and easy, but feeding more is another option. If you have a refugium, light it fewer hours. I'm not a fan of turning off a skimmer due to loss of aeration.