Lower Alk or raise nutrients?

[Michigan Reefer]

Tests have been stable for 3-4 months now with:

Alk: 8.0
Calc: 440-450
Nitrates : Non-detect-Salifert
Phosphates : 0.00-0.03 Hannah
Mag: 1400

I've been trying to increase nutrients with heavier feeding and reduce skimming in hopes to improve SPS coloration and growth. I do see a chunks of hair algae every so often when I really feed heavy, but still no nutrient readings. Red Sea reefer recipe for ULN systems has Alk at 7 with 0 Nitrate and phosphates. Would it be easier or better to hold back dosing my two part to lower the alk instead of increasing nutrients and just live with a ULN system?

Other variables are stable, so lets assume only nutrients vs alkalinity at this point that i'd like to experiment with.

Lights (radions G4s), flow (maxspect-ecotech), temp, salinity, ect are all in check. Rock, corals, equipment, and fish have all been part of a 4-5 year setup, but just switched tanks around in the last year, but these parameters have been stable for months now. Thanks for any advice.

 

[SPR1968]

With the Red Sea ULNS they also advise to use higher doses of Reef Energy to make sure the corals get fed, otherwise the water is to sterile

The easiest way to raise nutrients is to add more fish and feed them.

And personally I would stick around 8 with the alkalinity as at 7 you don’t have any ‘wiggle’ room if it drops

 

[Michigan Reefer]

With the Red Sea ULNS they also advise to use higher doses of Reef Energy to make sure the corals get fed, otherwise the water is to sterile

The easiest way to raise nutrients is to add more fish and feed them.

And personally I would stick around 8 with the alkalinity as at 7 you don’t have any ‘wiggle’ room if it drops

I agree, I'd rather not "try" for an ULN system and keep my alk where it is. I went from a 75 and 45 gallon system to a 25 and 45 gallon system, so I did get rid of some fish in the process.