Optimal Params for LPS (Euphyllia)

[Angel_V_the_reefer]

Does NO3/PO4 or inversely PO4/NO3 matter in a reef ? If so through your own experience, what levels are optimal ?

I am looking to maintain Euphyllia in soon to be build. I have experience with many Hammers and can say IME, they are not happy with high PO4, but can tolerate high NO3

 

[Miami Reef]

Define “high” po4/no3.

 

[Angel_V_the_reefer]

Define “high” po4/no3.

High PO4 in my experience, has to be anything over .1 in my system, as my hammers begin to look stressed.

For NO3, 25 ppm is usually the threshold where anything after that, I begin to see some algae bloom.

 

[Poseidon9697]

It's hard to say what's "optimal" but the hammers in my tank grew like crazy and my nitrates and phosphates were very stable at about 8ppm and 0.03ppm respectively.

 

[damsels are not mean]

Well everybody seems to have a different level that their particular colony "looks bad" at. I suspect it doesn't matter much if at all what those levels are at except that really high phopshate like 2 ppm can inhibit calcification and a tank that is too "clean" cannot support the nutrient uptake needs of the corals. I have never seen a tank and thought "looks like the nitrate is too high".

 

[Angel_V_the_reefer]

It's hard to say what's "optimal" but the hammers in my tank grew like crazy and my nitrates and phosphates were very stable at about 8ppm and 0.03ppm respectively.

This is near where my current reef is at, Thats the same params that my former reef had before bryopsis took over. This is where my reef enjoys its levels. I have found that Euphyllia are very sensitive to the smallest of change

 

[Angel_V_the_reefer]

Well everybody seems to have a different level that their particular colony "looks bad" at. I suspect it doesn't matter much if at all what those levels are at except that really high phopshate like 2 ppm can inhibit calcification and a tank that is too "clean" cannot support the nutrient uptake needs of the corals. I have never seen a tank and thought "looks like the nitrate is too high".

IME, GHA is usually a sign of high nitrates in my tank, but usually when corals look a certain way, its definitely phosphates at blame.

 

[damsels are not mean]

IME, GHA is usually a sign of high nitrates in my tank, but usually when corals look a certain way, its definitely phosphates at blame.

What is that way and how do you know phosphate is causing it? Correlation =/= causation...

I have high both and I can't grow GHA if I tried.

 

[Miami Reef]

What is that way and how do you know phosphate is causing it? Correlation =/= causation...

I have high both and I can't grow GHA if I tried.

Exactly this.

 

[Angel_V_the_reefer]

What is that way and how do you know phosphate is causing it? Correlation =/= causation...

I have high both and I can't grow GHA if I tried.

I can’t say for certain, but I can say that every time I’d have GHA, it’s because I allowed my nitrates to rise. Once brought down, after a few weeks, GHA would disappear.

currently, I still have hammers, and when my PO4 gets too high (past .4 ppm), some look smaller than others. Once brought back down, they begin to look better.