Recommended nitrates and phosphates

[happysalt]

Where would you recommend keeping nitrates and phosphates in a tank with spas, mushrooms, LPs, and a few easy to keep sps?

Reason why I’m asking is I’ve been dropping my phosphates from 0.4 to 0.17 now and all of my mushrooms seem unhappy and smaller than before. Just concerned about losing them. Everything else seems unaffected.

 

[Dr. Reef Verified Sponsor]

nitrates 5-10 ppm
phos 0.01-0.03

 

[sghera64]

Per Yoda, “A number seek not. Stability is key”.

 

[Larry L]

I’ve been dropping my phosphates from 0.4 to 0.17 now and all of my mushrooms seem unhappy and smaller than before.

Why did you decide to drop the phosphates? Were you seeing any problems that you think were due to them being too high?

 

[biophilia]

Probably doesn't matter all that much as long as there is "some" and "not too much". Mushrooms will sulk a bit, but bounce back from just about anything. I have mushrooms in my tank that I regularly inject vinegar into and smash with a wooden dowl to keep at bay. They shrivel for a few days to a week and then bounce back. Stability will keep everything happiest, but IMO mushrooms can deal with instability just fine too.

NO3 is probably fine anywhere between 0.1 ppm and 40ppm, maybe higher
PO4 is probably fine anywhere between 0.01ppm and 1.0ppm, maybe higher

 

[Thales]

How are you dropping and how quickly? Both of those may have impact on corals. As for ranges, you will find lots of ideas about that.

 

[Martin Kuhn]

PO4 is probably fine anywhere between 0.01ppm and 1.0ppm, maybe higher

Out of my experience this is BY FAR to much to keep SPS.
Values high like that indicate a PO4 issue and typically are also not stable