Should I Increase Nutrients?

[ams_reef]

Tank Info:
43g System
I use RO/DI water
Tropic Marin Bio-Actif Salt
2 months with fish
6 softie frags, 2 weeks old now
Strong skimmer, algae turf scrubber
Light/moderate fish load, efficient feeding
Use filter socks (normally change every few days, haven’t changed in a week now)

Stats right now:
Temp- 79.7
Salinity - 34ppt/1.026 SG (Milwaukee Digital)
pH - 8.2/8.4 (API, checked twice)
Alk- 6.8 dKh (Hanna, checked twice)
p04- 0.02 (Hanna, ULR)
n03- 0 (API, checked twice)

My nutrients are low, hence I have no visible algae in the display and very little in the ATS. I do have some dinoflagellates. I haven’t done a whole lot to combat them as they are not too bad, I’m hoping they’ll go away with a lightened photoperiod and more nutrients as the tank matures.

I know alkalinity is low. I did incorrectly mix 10 gallons of salt (adding water TO salt) which might have precipitated some alk out of the water.

Should I increase my nutrients? If so, should I just increase feedings/bioload or dose p04 and n03? (I already have potassium nitrate and monopotassium phosphate on hand from freshwater planted tanks). I’m assuming my nitrates are more important if I want to keep within the red field ratio.

 

[Spare time]

Yes you need to raise nitrates either by dosing or feeding. Phosphates could go higher too. Those dinos will proliferate if you do nothing. Consider dosing some competition once the nitrates are back up (something like eco balance or pns prodibio). You could also shorten the time your algae scrubber is on (that would be the easiest).

 

[Michael Gray]

I would raise both Po4 and no3 and also alk

 

[ams_reef]

Thanks.

Can anyone point me to some literature regarding dosing/nutrients levels for softies? I see a lot about ULN SPS systems, not any about soft corals.

 

[Spare time]

Thanks.

Can anyone point me to some literature regarding dosing/nutrients levels for softies? I see a lot about ULN SPS systems, not any about soft corals.

I think the general consensus is that phosphate between 0.01 and 0.1 is ideal, and that nitrates between 5-20 is ideal (for softies). I have seen them in incredibly dirty water but these levels seem to e enough for growth while not promoting lots of algae.

 

[ams_reef]

Ok thanks.

By that logic my phosphates are still in range, although on the verge, and my nitrates are much too low.

How much time is needed to bring my nitrates up to 5ppm? IE could I bring my nitrates up to 5ppm in a single dose or should I bring them up to that level over a course of time?

 

[Spare time]

Ok thanks.

By that logic my phosphates are still in range, although on the verge, and my nitrates are much too low.

How much time is needed to bring my nitrates up to 5ppm? IE could I bring my nitrates up to 5ppm in a single dose or should I bring them up to that level over a course of time?

I think brightwells nitrate bottle said no more than 5 ppm at a time but I would double check with whatever you use to raise it up. You could also just feed a bunch for a little bit

 

[Crustaceon]

I think 5ppm is a good number to shoot for. Just make sure to recheck your nitrate levels every day for a few days to a week after dosing nitrates to make sure they’re stable and adjust as needed.