Low nutrient system

[reeferparty]

Over the last 2 months without paying particularly close to nitrates, I let it slip to near undetectable and my phosphates around .06-.08. Some of my SPS and even LPS aren't happy and losing some color. I tried feeding heavier but no luck. Tried dosing acropower at 2ml/day for a week and started getting a small cyano outbreak so I did a large water change and stopped the acropower. I got brightwell aquatics neonitro and hoping to use that to slowly dose up my nitrates to 5-10ppm. I don't have any experience with nitrate dosing but will I run into a similar outcome with this like the AP?

 

[SJ-reefer]

What size skimmer do you have, what size is your tank and how many fish?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I don't have any experience with nitrate dosing but will I run into a similar outcome with this like the AP?

The AP?

 

[reeferparty]

What size skimmer do you have, what size is your tank and how many fish?

Simplicity D.C. 350 rated for 250+g skimmer. My tank is roughly 85 total water volume with 8 fish

 

[reeferparty]

The AP?

AP =acropower

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

You might just try dosing 1 ppm nitrate per day for a few days.

 

[reeferparty]

You might just try dosing 1 ppm nitrate per day for a few days.

I've stopped dosing AP for 3-4 days now. Dosing the nitrates wouldn't fuel the cyano/dinos I have going on? It's manageable right now and I don't want them to get out of control

 

[Centerline]

I have the same problem. Finally started using Red Sea Reef Energy, AP and feed fairly heavy.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I've stopped dosing AP for 3-4 days now. Dosing the nitrates wouldn't fuel the cyano/dinos I have going on? It's manageable right now and I don't want them to get out of control

Adding nitrate to an N deficient tank might fuel all photosynthetic organisms, same as foods will as they release N and P to the system.

It is an experiment that is easily halted if the results are not good.

 

[reeferparty]

Adding nitrate to an N deficient tank might fuel all photosynthetic organisms, same as foods will as they release N and P to the system.

It is an experiment that is easily halted if the results are not good.

Definitely an uneasy experiment. Maybe I'd give the cyano/dinos a few more days to hopefully cut back before I try doing more nutrients. Also I dose brightwell microbact7 once a week per directions labeled after WC. Should I continue to do that to help promote bacterial growth to compete with pest bacterial?

 

[reeferparty]

I have the same problem. Finally started using Red Sea Reef Energy, AP and feed fairly heavy.

Did you experience any cyano/dinos outbreak from dosing AP?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Definitely an uneasy experiment. Maybe I'd give the cyano/dinos a few more days to hopefully cut back before I try doing more nutrients. Also I dose brightwell microbact7 once a week per directions labeled after WC. Should I continue to do that to help promote bacterial growth to compete with pest bacterial?

Bacterial additives may help with cyano problems, yes. Especially if you are organic carbon dosing. if not, it may not be as helpful.

 

[reeferparty]

Bacterial additives may help with cyano problems, yes. Especially if you are organic carbon dosing. if not, it may not be as helpful.

Great thanks randy! One more question, I've been trying to suck out the "cyano" with a turkey baster but I'm getting little to no luck which is why it leads me to believe that it may be dinos (some brown and some red) since it have small air bubbles that float up from some strains. Is it okay to scrub and blow it off the rocks? Or would that promote it to spread? Last night I lowered photoperiod of lights a bit, slightly turned down intensity, and running all blues. I don't want to shock the tank since I'm pretty coral heavy and don't want things to get out of hand

 

[Centerline]

Did you experience any cyano/dinos outbreak from dosing AP?

No I didn't. You might want to try the polylab stuff and see if that helps.

 

[GoVols]

I have the same problem. Finally started using Red Sea Reef Energy, AP and feed fairly heavy.

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I run (ULNS) phos. and nitrate parameters but I dose "Reef Energy" almost everyday to keep organics up in the water column.

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If you can find a way to keep your phos. and nitrates in check with out carbon dosing, Then so long cyano!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Centerline]

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I run (ULNS) phos. and nitrate parameters but I dose "Reef Energy" almost everyday to keep organics up in the water column.

Aside from dosing N&P its the only thing that has seemed to keep their levels detectable. Also started the Colors program - both products really seem to work pretty well.

 

[GoVols]

Aside from dosing N&P its the only thing that has seemed to keep their levels detectable. Also started the Colors program - both products really seem to work pretty well.

They are "Good Stuff".

 

[reeferparty]

..................

I run (ULNS) phos. and nitrate parameters but I dose "Reef Energy" almost everyday to keep organics up in the water column.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you can find a way to keep your phos. and nitrates in check with out carbon dosing, Then so long cyano!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wasn't trying to go for a ulns it just happened and I'm hoping all this dosing will be temporary once I get things to where they need to be

 

[GoVols]

I wasn't trying to go for a ulns it just happened and I'm hoping all this dosing will be temporary once I get things to where they need to be

I hope you find your fix.

Regards, GoVols

 

[GoVols]

Maybe I'd give the cyano/dinos a few more days

Can you post some close up pictures (with your blues off, if you run leds) so we can see what you see?