School me on NO3 and PO4

[IPT]

I'm not really new to reefing but used to keep LPS and softies with monties. Got crazy growth from everything and rarely tested anything. Never did that great with Acros the few times I put some in (surprise surprise). Fast forward to today and getting more serious about my tank after it crashed and limped along the last year or two. I'd like todo SPS and bought the Hana meters for NO3 and PO4 - the NO3 is 0 PPM and the PO4 had some reading (I don't recall). I do have some visible active algae growth. I started adding some Brightwell product to bring up the NO3 and it mentioned something about of it doesn't come up Carbon sources are low.....and at that point I realized I don't understand of know enough about these nutrients or the relationships to be dosing anything .

So I am looking for some recommending reading and links to get me up to speed. Back in the day it was all about dosing Vodka to bring these numbers down (but that's old school and I probably really didn't pay attention to it, or understand all that well back then either). Fast forward to today where testing and knowledge is better. Looking for some sources to get me up to speed - thanks in advance.

 

[chipchipbro]

maybe read through @jda 's thoughts.

N & P

This is a working document and mostly just copy and paste from some of my posts and not really a written essay. Sorry. I am jda on RC or r2r if anybody wants to discuss or PM me. Feel free to comment if you would like. General thoughts about most internet posts about N and P: Most posts tell...

docs.google.com

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

My recommendation is 2-10 ppm nitrate and 0.02 to 0.1 ppm phosphate, with readings higher than that range better than readings below it.

These have more:

Optimal Parameters for a Coral Reef Aquarium: By Randy Holmes-Farley

[note: edited on 5/29/2022 to update the nitrate and phosphate sections with higher recommended levels.] One of the main roles of an aquarist with a coral reef aquarium is to ensure that the conditions are right for their tank inhabitants. There are many different attributes of the aquarium...

www.reef2reef.com

Phosphate in the Reef Aquarium

The phosphorus atom is one of living matter's basic building blocks. It is present in every living creature and in every reef aquarium's water. Unfortunately, it is often present in excess in reef aquaria, and that excess has the potential to cause at least two substantial problems for...

www.reefedition.com

Nitrate in the Reef Aquarium - REEFEDITION

Nitrate is an ion that has long dogged aquarists. It is typically formed in aquaria through the digestion of foods, and in many aquaria it builds up and can be difficult to keep at natural levels. In the past, many aquarists performed water changes with nitrate reduction as one of the primary...

www.reefedition.com

 

[IPT]

Thanks Randy, and Chip.

 

[Christopher Poore]

@Randy Holmes-Farley How consistently do you recommend testing No3 and Po4. And how much can the measurements vary between tests to be considered in an acceptable range? How do we considered "CONSISTENCY"

Meaning if I should test weekly, one week im at .03 po4 & 3 no3, and the next week I'm at .05 po4 and 4.5 no3, should my alarm bells go off to make changes?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

@Randy Holmes-Farley How consistently do you recommend testing No3 and Po4. And how much can the measurements vary between tests to be considered in an acceptable range? How do we considered "CONSISTENCY"

Meaning if I should test weekly, one week im at .03 po4 & 3 no3, and the next week I'm at .05 po4 and 4.5 no3, should my alarm bells go off to make changes?

No. IMO, if you are in a good range with once a week testing, that’s fine and no more testing is needed that week. Exact values are not needed.

 

[IPT]

Great reading! Very informative.

Ok, so via my Hanna testers I am at 0.0. I guess increased feeding is called for on my end. I might even start with some of the Brightwell products. Seems that the trick will be finding the balance after having the surplus to bring levels up. What might also be interesting is if the No3 an PO4 start moving at different speeds.

I recently started some pellet foods (1-2x a day), and once a day I'll feed some brine shrimp, Brine shrimp with spirulina, or mysis. I have also been using Benefeds and AB+ each twice a week. It's a 120ga with a 40 gal sump (about half full). It was a well established tank, BUT, I recently made a lot of changes removing the sandbed and bleaching some rock (get rid of Velonia).

Open to thoughts, ideas, or suggestions.

 

[MrGisonni]

Tank Parameters Of Some Masters

Tank Parameters Of Some Masters To this day one of the most frequently asked questions I get, and actually that many “old time hobbyists” get is “How do I get rid of the algae in my tank. My first question then is “what are the parameters of...

www.reef2reef.com

Interesting read..... And listen to @Randy Holmes-Farley