Newer tank 7months Po3/Po4 problems

[SaltyCrabs]

Ok so I am at a loss. I have had my 150G tank up and running for about 7 months. I started by adding 2 clown fish and some starter corals. I noticed my corals started to degrade. From the research I have done seems to me like I need some nitrates in the water column to feed the corals. I do have a huge outbreak in bubble algae. So to combat that I bought a one spot fox face and a naso tang. With in a week they have munched most of it away I would say it is 60% eradicated. I do have signs of coralline alage growing on the glass and on the overflows. So I have to be doing something right. My water parameters is what I am concerned about more about phosphate and nitrate. My nitrate is reading 0 or maybe just above 0 hard to tell with the salifert test. My phosphates are reading 0.05. I feel like my corals should be doing better then they are. Should I add more fish to up my bio load? I am not running a skimmer nor a fuge. I have a skimmer but unsure if I should run it with such a load bio load.

Alk 10.5
Ca 410
PH 8.0
Salinity 1.025
Po4 .05
Po3 0ish

 

[Spare time]

What test do you use?

But yes in general 0 nitrate is not ideal in this hobby

 

[mdb_talon]

Personally yes I would add more bioload. Whether that be through additional fish or use of coral food, etc.

I know some disagree, but in my opinion if you are near 0 nitrate and phosphate is at .05 without a fuge or skimmer then I would be concerned their is not enough food for your corals. Most coral need food to thrive. Whether that food is through fish waste, feeding them, plankton, etc.

 

[SaltyCrabs]

What test do you use?

But yes in general 0 nitrate is not ideal in this hobby

Salifert

 

[Spare time]

Salifert

Ok yeah I would feed more or get more fish. You could also add some coral food daily. I use reef energy

 

[SaltyCrabs]

Do you guys possibly think all the bubble algae is throwing the nitrate readings off and consuming the nutrients?

 

[mdb_talon]

Do you guys possibly think all the bubble algae is throwing the nitrate readings off and consuming the nutrients?

Yes it certainly can. It sounds like though your reading are bot going up even as the algae has went down substantially.

 

[Spare time]

Do you guys possibly think all the bubble algae is throwing the nitrate readings off and consuming the nutrients?

If you have a ton smothering the tank then possibly they are grabbing it before the coral can. I don't buy into the whole false reading thing because the number is accurate regardless of how fast something is consuming it.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Add a pouch of chemipure blue or elite and will solve issues with PO4 and NO3 by keeping them in check and also polishing tank water

 

[SaltyCrabs]

Add a pouch of chemipure blue or elite and will solve issues with PO4 and NO3 by keeping them in check and also polishing tank water

I don't have a problem with po3 and po4. No need to run carbon

 

[vetteguy53081]

I don't have a problem with po3 and po4. No need to run carbon

Yeah- just re-read and was under assumption it was an issue. Just feeding Reef roids alsone to coral will increase them.

Do you guys possibly think all the bubble algae is throwing the nitrate readings off and consuming the nutrients?

Likely not, however something is feeding the algae causing their appearance. Bubble algae generally appears from being a hitchhiker. Although I dont trust them, emerald crabs are very good cleaners of bubble algae.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Do you guys possibly think all the bubble algae is throwing the nitrate readings off and consuming the nutrients?

No (for the reasons spare time stated), but trying to get rid of valonia (I assume this is what you mean by bubble algae) by driving nutrients down is unlikely to work.

I'd dose nitrate or feed more for the corals benefit, and address valonia in other ways (such as manual removal, or a specific herbivore).

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I don't have a problem with po3 and po4. No need to run carbon

Since it doesn't seem to be a typo, I'll note that there is no such thing as PO3 in a reef.

If you mean nitrate, that is NO3-

 

[SaltyCrabs]

Since it doesn't seem to be a typo, I'll note that there is no such thing as PO3 in a reef.

If you mean nitrate, that is NO3-

Yes I meant No3 as in nitrate. Mistake on my end that's for sure.