Quick Phos/Nitrate and Carbon questions!

[LesPoissons]

My tank has low phos and nitrates on its own. It was 0s for both for years (hello old advice, lol) and now Im getting it up a bit. Im 0-.05 phos and 2.5 nitrate. I do a 20% water change every 3 weeks to add back trace elements, have a skimmer/fuge, use stupid filter socks just for micro bubbles and removing the gha that I scrub off. (Man I hate those things, lol) I also have GHA no matter what I do.

question 1: Phos? Okay this low or not? Will my chaeto grow with little to no phos? Nitrates okay at 2.5?

question 2: I put a carbon reactor on as I have a rockflower nem who was not looking great and I cant get to it under the rockwork if it doesnt make it. Is it okay to leave it running or will this bring down my nitrates further?

Thanks!

 

[PatW]

It depends. I run an SPS dominant tank. I run phos at .03 and nitrate at 2 ppm. Chaeto needs some phos and nitrate and mine does fine. I dose both nitrates and phosphates to maintain the levels. Even low nutrient loving corals need some nutrients.

 

[LesPoissons]

What do you use to dose phos and nitrate?

 

[PatW]

I use sodium nitrate. You can get food grade sodium nitrate pretty readily. I dissolve half a cup into a gallon of RODI. I dose about 2 tablespoons of that into a 300 gallon tank.

For phosphate, I use trisodium phosphate analytical grade reagent from Amazon. I dissolve 2 tablespoons into a gallon of RODI. I dose 2 tablespoons into a 300 gallon tank.

Neophos by Brightwell is made for dosing phosphates in reef systems. I just find DIY to be far less expensive.

As a caution, my tank has vigorous export. I maintain 2 ppm nitrates and .03 phosphates.