Low nutrients.

[SashimiTurtle]

I wouldn´t care about nitrate. Nitrate is just a kind of waste product of the nitrogen cycle. Only surplus nitrogen which is not taken up by the corals when it has been amino acids and ammonium ends up as nitrate ... and corals are very efficient in taking up ammonium. Besides this corals can make their own available nitrogen by nitrogen fixation of mutualistic bacteria.

I would care more about the dropping phosphate concentration. I recommend not to add nitrate in this situation. In my experience nitrate interferes with phosphate in corals. Acropora spp. but also other SPS are especially prone to phosphorus deficiency. I had bleaching of tabular Montipora after I changed from an organic nitrogen source to nitrate and it was not caused by nitrogen deficiency but by the interference of phosphate with nitrate since nitrate was available in surplus and phosphate was low.

How would you suggest increasing phosphates when feeding more does nothing to phosphates?

 

[Hans-Werner]

Feeding more helps in increasing phosphates. Who says it does nothing to phosphates? With generally low nutrients instead of adding nitrate I would suggest feeding more to the fish. If the fish are already sated you could start feeding corals. In my eyes feeding more is much better than dosing the one nutrient at first inducing a deficiency of the other, start dosing the other nutrient ... Dosing single inorganic nutrients in my eyes can create more problems than it solves. Feeding more is so much easier.

 

[Catchemall]

Having more phosphates than nitrate is an imbalance and will cause algae. by feeding more your adding nitrate but phosphate too. By adding potassium nitrate your adding only nitrate and such a small quantity of potassium that it isn't something worth worrying about.

If you have high alk your providing only part of the equation for growth. The corals are wanting to grow but don't have the fuel with the lower nutrients.

 

[Catchemall]

@Randy Holmes-Farley
@Twillard

These two can provide a more scientific approach to the conversation.

 

[sundog101]

If you have high alk your providing only part of the equation for growth. The corals are wanting to grow but don't have the fuel with the lower nutrients.

So high alk is more likely to cause bleaching than low alk?

 

[XNavyDiver]

Where is the demarcation for high alk? My water has been running on average the last month at 9.21. I had it in my mind that it is in the high range and am changing up my salt to lower it over time using WC.

 

[Catchemall]

So high alk is more likely to cause bleaching than low alk?

If all is high and nutrients are low It's more likely to cause burnt tips

 

[Catchemall]

Where is the demarcation for high alk? My water has been running on average the last month at 9.21. I had it in my mind that it is in the high range and am changing up my salt to lower it over time using WC.

I wouldn't consider that high I've always considered 10 or 11 high. But is likely still fine as long as nutrients are alittle higher as with lighting.

 

[MikeYasin]

So high alk is more likely to cause bleaching than low alk?

I don't think it's technically bleaching. It's been theorized that in low nutrient systems with high(er) Alk, the coral's skeleton grows faster than its tissue is able to catch up. That gives the appearance of burned tips, essentially being able to see the skeleton.

 

[Fishfinder]

how long did it take to see increased coloration after the addition of KNO3?

 

[Catchemall]

how long did it take to see increased coloration after the addition of KNO3?

It won't take long at all maybe 3 days to a week. For me it was like a light switch with colors. The colors will pop like you never knew they could. Growth too. If you have zoas or acans they love the extra nitrate

 

[Catchemall]

Not the best photos but enough to see the colors. Wish I had an updated one without the blues the colors are nice during the daylights as well.

 

[wrestle1952]

I am frustrated since I've dosed less than manufacturers guidelines in this case Two Little Fishies Part B. My alkalinity tested at 7.1 with Hanna Checker. Nitrates and phosphates are at the lowest level on API test kits but not quite zero. My EASY SPS (montis, birds nest, staghorn and pocillipora) show burning signs right away. A couple of acros exhibit some burn but not nearly as much. I'm frustrated at this point and feel like I'm throwing money down the drain

 

[Fishfinder]

@Catchemall what is your NO3 and PO4 levels now? I just started dosing KNO3 2 days ago. I have 2ppm NO3 now

 

[wrestle1952]

@Catchemall what is your NO3 and PO4 levels now? I just started dosing KNO3 2 days ago. I have 2ppm NO3 now

Like I said if you look at API kits it's at the second lowest levels on both . I forgot to mention I have a bare bottom tank and did not use live rock. I used BRS reefsaver rock to avoid algae blooms and pests. That part is successful. However I feel the problem of nutrients being too low is another thing I did not anticipate

 

[Catchemall]

I am frustrated since I've dosed less than manufacturers guidelines in this case Two Little Fishies Part B. My alkalinity tested at 7.1 with Hanna Checker. Nitrates and phosphates are at the lowest level on API test kits but not quite zero. My EASY SPS (montis, birds nest, staghorn and pocillipora) show burning signs right away. A couple of acros exhibit some burn but not nearly as much. I'm frustrated at this point and feel like I'm throwing money down the drain

There are many other things that come into play as well. parameters, lighting , flow

 

[Catchemall]

@Catchemall what is your NO3 and PO4 levels now? I just started dosing KNO3 2 days ago. I have 2ppm NO3 now

My nitrate is 2-3ppm salifert test kit.
Phosphate with Hanna low range was .03.

 

[wrestle1952]

Less on your nitrate level, a little lower on phosphate

 

[wrestle1952]

There are many other things that come into play as well. parameters, lighting , flow

Lighting- 2 AI Hydra 26 that come standard on Red Sea Max, added a Dual T5 fixture on the front

Flow- Three Jebao power heads churning out more than enough current in addition to the adjustable return flow from return pumps

 

[Catchemall]

Lighting- 2 AI Hydra 26 that come standard on Red Sea Max, added a Dual T5 fixture on the front

Flow- Three Jebao power heads churning out more than enough current in addition to the adjustable return flow from return pumps

Are you using a dosing pump. I noticed you mentioned your calcium and mag was pretty elevated. Which the main concern is stability. How old is the system