Nitrate Phosphate Balance

[shadynate]

Howdy,

My nitrate is at 1.1ppm and phosphate .21ppm. My soft coral and zoas don’t seem to be growing. Haven’t seen a new polyp in 3-5 months. My alkalinity is 12, calcium 450, and magnesium 1300. Salinity 1.025. I have an ecotech xr15. I’m curious what may be causing slow growth?

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

You have very high phosphates, and very low nitrates. That would be my guess as to why they're not growing.

 

[Lavey29]

Your alk is way to high for those low nutrients levels.

 

[shadynate]

How does one lower alkalinity? Change salt mix?

 

[Spare time]

You can use a pinch of gfo to lower phosphates and amino acids to supplement nitrate (nitrogen)


PS soft corals don't care about alk.

 

[dr_vinnie_boombatz]

Howdy,

My nitrate is at 1.1ppm and phosphate .21ppm. My soft coral and zoas don’t seem to be growing. Haven’t seen a new polyp in 3-5 months. My alkalinity is 12, calcium 450, and magnesium 1300. Salinity 1.025. I have an ecotech xr15. I’m curious what may be causing slow growth?

12 ALK

 

[Lavey29]

How does one lower alkalinity? Change salt mix?

What is your tank size and water change schedule? Have you verified salinity with a calibrated instrument?

 

[dr_vinnie_boombatz]

How does one lower alkalinity? Change salt mix?

That is the easiest, esp. if you're doing regular water changes. What mix are you using?

 

[Lavey29]

You can use a pinch of gfo to lower phosphates and amino acids to supplement nitrate (nitrogen)


PS soft corals don't care about alk.

I'm curious how you know this? What is the alk level in the ocean?

Internet:

Corals need alkalinity and calcium to grow and build their skeletons, but fluctuations in alkalinity can hinder this process and weaken their structures. Soft corals can tolerate small fluctuations that happen often, or larger fluctuations over shorter periods of time, but they can melt if the fluctuations are too severe or rapid. When stressed by alkalinity, soft corals may close up or shrink before melting away if the problem isn't addressed.

 

[shadynate]

That is the easiest, esp. if you're doing regular water changes. What mix are you using?

Aqua forest pro mix.

 

[shadynate]

What is your tank size and water change schedule? Have you verified salinity with a calibrated instrument?

26g. Changing 4g every week

 

[Lavey29]

26g. Changing 4g every week

I would go 2g every other week for awhile. Feed more to get your nitrates up. Don't worry about your phosphate level currently. You are right your corals aren't growing so they aren't using any alk or calcium which is why you see rising alk number with weekly water changes. Get you nitrates to 15 and your alk number will slowly start coming down.

 

[shadynate]

Awesome thank you for the advice. I’ve been dosing aquaforest bacteria to lower nitrates and phosphates. Should I pause on dosing this too?

 

[dr_vinnie_boombatz]

Aqua forest pro mix.

You're probably better off using their standard Reef Salt, with the 7.7-8.3 dKH. I personally use Red Sea Blue with its 8 dKH.

 

[dr_vinnie_boombatz]

What dKH does the salt bag or can show? Their website is confusing lol

 

[Lavey29]

x

I use coral pro and my alk is 8.5

 

[Lavey29]

Awesome thank you for the advice. I’ve been dosing aquaforest bacteria to lower nitrates and phosphates. Should I pause on dosing this too?

Softs and LPS appreciate dirty water.
1 to .2 phosphate and 15 to 20 nitrates.

 

[dr_vinnie_boombatz]

Their Hybrid Pro salt mix shows a dKH of 8. If that is the salt mix OP is using how could ALK reach 12 w/o dosing?

I'm assuming OP is using their Reef Salt+ mix, which has ALK at 11.8

 

[Lavey29]

Their Hybrid Pro salt mix shows a dKH of 8. If that is the salt mix OP is using how could ALK reach 12 w/o dosing?

I'm assuming OP is using their Reef Salt+ mix, which has ALK at 11.8

Could be but the underlying problem is his tank is stalled with no coral growth hence no alk consumption so it rises with his weekly water changes.

 

[dr_vinnie_boombatz]

Could be but the underlying problem is his tank is stalled with no coral growth hence no alk consumption so it rises with his weekly water changes.

Totally agree; OP I would recommend changing your salt mix to lower your ALK, adjusting your weekly WC based on your nutrient readings. I target 15% every week but will adjust if nitrates or phosphates are low or will skip a week. I test before the WC.

Could feed more or try NeoPhos and/or NeoNitro. I've tried both and they're great when needed.