Need to raise nitrate to acceptable level for SPS coloration

[ReeferMadniss]

I believe I need to raise my nitrates and am looking for advice on whether I should just up my fish load or consider dosing nitrate. My tank is a 70 gallon SPS dominant mixed reef with a light bio load (2 smaller tomato clowns and a small spotted mandarin)

All of the corals are doing very well overall, but after recent testing, I am effectively running ULNS with the current set up. I run Kalkwasser in my ATO, a small refugium with Ulva Sea Lettuce, and Rowaphos/GAC in a dual reactor. Daily dosing of Red Sea AB+ for carbs/aminos....lighting is a 4 bulb T5 with 2 ATI blue + and 2 coral +.

Phosphates appear to be near .03 and nitrate is registering undetectable. Ca, dkh, mg, and ph are all in line.

Although there is obvious growth on almost all of my corals.... there is a handful of SPS (Montipora Hirsuta, GARF bonsai, and JF Fender Bender Cyphastrea) that are also visibly growing, but fading in color substantially. These 3 all have excellent PE/polyp coloration, but faded flesh.

The rest of my Acropora/SPS species are coloring up very nicely along with growth.....so I believe that this can be contributed this to low nitrates.

I don’t believe lighting intensity is a concern ....although the Bonsai and Hirsuta are fairly close to the t5’s (approx. 20” above). The Cyphastrea is approx. 3ft below the lighting, so I would lean more towards nitrate being the concern.

Would love some input please!

 

[Sallstrom]

Try dosing KNO3 a period and see if you can see any change in colour.
That is also what I dose when in your nutrient situation and Cyano starts popping up.

 

[Larry L]

I'd try dialing back your existing nitrate export before attempting any dosing. Maybe try running your fuge lighting for fewer hours per day. Same for skimming, if you have a skimmer.

 

[ReeferMadniss]

I'd try dialing back your existing nitrate export before attempting any dosing. Maybe try running your fuge lighting for fewer hours per day. Same for skimming, if you have a skimmer.

No skimmer & fuge light is fairly weak also.

I am honestly leaning more towards the natural route of adding more fish just to play it safe.

 

[Frag_mad]

Randy Holmes Farley has a good sodium nitrate recipe. Try that, it’s cheap to do and more controllable than adding fish. By all means if you have your eye on a specific fish go for it, but if you don’t, don’t add one for sale of upping no3 you may be disappointed