Low nitrates and chaeto

[blebs]

some of my sps started to pale which i attribute to low nutrients and/or bright lights.

i took my gfo online.

nitrates are low around .2 ppm. i run a fuhe with chaeto on reverse cycle.

should i keep the chaeto running even with low nitrates? I'm considering dosing stump remover. if i do, is there a point on still having chaeto while dosing nitrates?

 

[Brew12]

some of my sps started to pale which i attribute to low nutrients and/or bright lights.

i took my gfo online.

nitrates are low around .2 ppm. i run a fuhe with chaeto on reverse cycle.

should i keep the chaeto running even with low nitrates? I'm considering dosing stump remover. if i do, is there a point on still having chaeto while dosing nitrates?

Chaeto will still remove phosphates and other impurities. It does more than just remove nitrates. Not to mention that it harbors beneficial life forms. So, imo, it is worth keeping it running even if you have to dose NO3.

 

[Breadman03]

You could also consider adjusting the intensity or duration of your fuge lighting, or maintaining a smaller amount of chaeto.

 

[jda]

That is not dangerously low nitrates. You can have a perfectly thriving tank with that level and I would not jack with them. Mine are at .1.

Low is when people use organic carbon to drive them towards zero - keep in mind that while .01 and .2 might both seem low, .2 can support life just fine and .01 can be very dangerous unless you really know what you are doing.

Unless you are artificially driving N low with organic carbon, then you are fine.

 

[Newb73]

I just add some reef chilli, reef energy or zoo plankton or phyto plankton a coupke times a week.

Food for the corals and the rest just makes the cheato grow that much faster.

When i have zero nuisance algae i know its too clean....usually you need just a touch of cyano or diatoms goin on in a healthy tank.

 

[Rakie]

Don't get stump remover. Get FW planted fertilizers, they're just as picky as us and the product doesn't have a chemical smell. Spectracide smells like chemicals (some notice, some don't -- I do)