Less is More - Go Biological! - El Natrural

[Sevi]

So been running a 90 mixed reef for a little over a year. Not my first rodeo in the hobby but I would still say I am novice at best. I have struggled with little polyp extension, faded coloration, little to no coralline algae, and a fair share of coral losses. I test once a week using Salifert, Nitrate never gets above 5 ppm Phosphates 0 (to be expected with Salifert unless above 1 ppm so whateves). Okay here's the punch...I do 10% weekly water changes and skimmer maintenance, change my 200 micron filter socks every 3 days, run carbon as needed (to clarify water). Feeding schedule is 1-3 times a day, 10 fish & 40 corals.

Mechanical filtration aside from the sump sock is a reef octopus skimmer rated for 150-200 gallons, and black foam filter media in last baffle.
Bio filtration 1-2 in sand bed, 80-90 lbs of live rock (about 10 in mid sump chamber).

What did I do?

Buy product to put in my tank? Nope (not knocking anyone who is successful with a product method, just dialing in my preference "less maintenance & $ is more time & $ for me to enjoy").

Took some ole' school reefer advice, pulled all mechanical filtration other than that beast of a skimmer. Did this slowly one part at a time watching for nutrients spike. I am currently into the latter half of week two of no water change and this has had a reverse effect on all negatives. Color is returning, polyps are out, STN has stalled. Nitrates still sitting steady at btwn 5 & 10 ppm with a HAPPY TANK!

* I plan to watch my for Na once above 10 ppm do a 5% wc. Letting the tank set my schedule according to its need versus employing a practice I have read about and was told I should do this.

With this in mind we Reefers are scientists and in order to achieve the results we could only dream of we must know the pulse of the life we care for.

 

[Saltyreef]

I have no mechanical filtration in my sump, nor skimmer. Im barebottom too.
If left alone my nutrients will bottom out....
I do only have about 5 fish in a 40breeder though.

 

[Sevi]

I have no mechanical filtration in my sump, nor skimmer. Im barebottom too.
If left alone my nutrients will bottom out....
I do only have about 5 fish in a 40breeder though.

So what I have in question is when to water change if your nitrates never get to dangerous levels?

 

[happyhourhero]

I’ve always found the regular water change to be a good thing. I just do mine to replenish trace elements rather than to reduce nutrients. I’m also skimmerless and have a hard time keeping them up.

 

[Saltyreef]

So what I have in question is when to water change if your nitrates never get to dangerous levels?

Im ultimately planning to go full reef moonshiner once i get my macros restabilized.
Doing the hybrid balling now.

If my nitrates get too high, ill go buy some ulva again and run my fuge to lower them.
Took 1 week for 50+ ppm to suck down to nothing.
As it stands now im having to dose nitrates and phosphates here and there.