Read and read, looking for specific advice dosing Phosphate & Nitrate (long)

[nursedude]

Hello All,
I have been researching nutrient levels in the reef tank secondary to bleaching of an Acro, and a Monti Digita thats has retracted polyps. Both of these had explosive growth that has now stalled and conversely appears stressed. Other corals appear to have declined from their former glory, too. I am sorry this is a long post. I want to be thorough. Thanks in advance for any help.



I read, in their entirety:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/rhf/index.php
help-my-sps-are-paling-and-i-dont-know-what-to-do.210035
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/potassium-nitrate-spectracide-stump-remover-dosing-steps.215730/

...among others

Like many others, I have tested for Nitrate and Phosphate (using Salifert kits) with a consistent readings of 0. I now believe I have a nutrient deficient tank, and need to balance/increase Nitrate and Phosphate (ironic, because I was fighting GHA and threw everything at it to reduce phosphate which I could never get to register during testing. )

Over the last couple weeks I have undertaken a couple interventions to increase Phosphate:

1. Increased feedings to twice a day (Rods complete reef food, Brine shrimp, Emerald entree, with selcon 3 drops x1 a day, Reef chili 3 times a week)
2. Removed GFO ( it was due to be changed anyway, it was a brick), still dosing activated carbon

...Still measuring 0 Phosphate, and corals appear unchanged. I have happy fat fish

My tentative plan:

Increase Nitrate through supplemental dosing, and possible dose phosphate.

• Soon to arrive Seachem Flourish Nitrogen
• Soon to arrive Red Sea Pro Phosphate test kit-I will double check Phosphate level
• Soon to arrive Brightwell Aqautics NeoPhos Supplement- just incase need increase through dosing

My Questions:

1. Is there a danger of increasing Nitrate with Phosphate at a supposed 0 level?
2. How long should I wait to see if the additional feedings and GFO removal will increase phosphate before dosing NeoPhos
3. If I do require Phosphate and Nitrate dosing which comes first?
4. Should I stop using Revive, every two weeks, could the bacteria be exacerbating my low levels ?
5. I don't quite grasp the carbon function in the Phosphate, Nitrate, Carbon triangle, any easy explanation?
6. Am I doomed to fail with certain corals because I have a mixed tank?

Tank:
66 gallon mixed reef, softies, Lps, Sps (23 total corals), 3 fish two clowns and Orchid dotty back. Clean up crew. Running little over a year, Weak looking Chaeto ball in sump with rubble rock, reverse lighting 12 hours. AP700 LED on for 9 hours at 70% max for 4 hours. Protein skimmer Octo Classic 110, no filter media. Some algae
Water Parameters as of Sat 1/20/18, stable for past few months
Alk: 8.0-7.9
Cal: 490
Amon: 0
Phos: 0
Nitrate: 0
Mag: 1480
Salinity: 1.026
Temp 78-79 F.

Thanks for reading this far and for any help!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

IMO, the only risks to increasing N and P from undetectable levels are increased algae.

Changes in husbandry (like removing GFO) should show an effect within a few days.

If both are undetectable, it may make more sense to dose both at once rather than one first and the second later because adding one may drive the other even lower.

Which Revive product? This one?

http://www.fishvet.com/revive.htm

It's not bacteria. Why are you adding Revive regularly?

Dosing organic carbon is simply providing a food source for bacteria and other organisms. To grow, they consume N and P (and other elements). It is niot used by most algae. It is not "needed" by corals, but may be taken up by them.

Not doomed to fail with a mixed tank.

 

[nursedude]

Thank you! I will dose both when they arrive. I have calculated the dosing per the calculators from other posts on R2R.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Sounds good.

Happy reefing.