SPS Nutrient Import and Export

[chipmunkofdoom2]

Hi everyone. I'm trying to compile some data showing how SPS reefers get nutrients in and out of their tanks. The goal is to compile a master list or database of what reefers feed their tanks and how they deal with the waste. This will help hobbyists to see how their feeding compares to other hobbyists with similar tanks, equipment, corals, fishloads, etc. If enough people post in this thread, reefers can look up tanks like theirs and easily see if they feed more, less or about the same as other reefers.

In order to make this as useful to as many reefers as possible, please follow these guidelines when posting here:
- Please only post in this thread if you have SPS corals. While I value reefers who don't keep SPS, nutrients are not usually as much of a concern in non-SPS systems.
- Please do not post theories about nutrient levels here. The goal of this thread is simply to say "this is my tank, this is how I add nutrients, this is how I remove them, this is how everything is doing."
- Please do not post if you cannot estimate your feedings in standard units, such as a cube of food, teaspoon of pellets, sheet of nori, etc. If I feed cubed mysis or brine shrimp, I don't know how a "huge chunk" of your custom seafood medley compares to my frozen cubes. If you know you feed about a cube or two worth of your custom seafood medley, that's fine to post here. Please also don't post "I feed a huge pinch of pellets" or "I feed a small handful of flakes." Since every pinch or handful is different, this will be really difficult for other reefers to use. Please measure your pinch of pellets or handful of flakes using measuring spoons before posting
- Pictures are okay, but please keep them to a minimum. Feel free to link to your tank journal if you have one.
- Please feel free to post comments or more details after you list out your basic tank specs.
- When posting in the thread, please format your posts like the following so other reefers may easily understand your tank:

- System info
1. Total system size (total gallons, including sump)
2. Total fish (listing sizes and types are welcome, but not necessary)
3. SPS Growth Rate (on a scale of 1 to 5, 1 being worst, 5 being best)
4. SPS Coloration (on a scale of 1 to 5, 1 being worst, 5 being best)

- Nutrient Import
1. Total Fed Daily:
2. Feedings Per Day:
3. Other nutrients added: (liquid nitrate/phosphate, amino acids, etc)

- Nutrient Export
1. Water Changes (% change and how often)
2. Skimmer (Yes/No)
3. Macroalgae or Refugium (Yes/No)
4. Algae Scrubber (Yes/No)
5. GFO or other nutrient resins (Yes/No)
6. Organic carbon dosing (such as biopellets, vinegar, vodka, or sugar) (Yes/No)
7. Other nutrient export (Filter Socks, Rollermat, DSB, nitrate reactor, etc)

Thanks to everyone who contributes. Please let me know if you have any thoughts or questions.

 

[chipmunkofdoom2]

Starting off with my tank:

- System Info
1. Total system size: 80 gallons
2. Total fish: 2 (two small clown fish)
3. SPS Growth Rate: 2 out of 5
4. SPS Coloration: 4 out of 5

- Nutrient Import
1. Total Fed Daily: 2 cubes frozen food (one brine shrimp, one mysis shrimp)
2. Feedings Per Day: 2 (once after lights on, once after lights off)
3. Other nutrients added: trisodium phosphate solution, about 0.01 ppm dosed daily

- Nutrient Export
1. Water Changes: 10% every week
2. Skimmer: yes
3. Macroalgae or Refugium: no
4. Algae scrubber: no
5. GFO or other nutrient resins: no
6. Organic carbon dosing: no
7. Other nutrient export: no

Comments:

System has been established for several years. I've had a bunch of SPS in the tank that have been doing poorly for the last few years. I started feeding more and dosing phosphates a few months ago and things have really been turning around. The corals are growing, albeit slowly. The ones that had been dying are now recovering, some really quickly. Several acros are starting to encrust their plugs.

 

[Bryknicks]

System info
1. Total system size (total gallons, including sump)- ~75 gallons
2. Total fish (listing sizes and types are welcome, but not necessary)- 8 fish (Tang, 2x wrasses, 4x cardinals, goby)
3. SPS Growth Rate (on a scale of 1 to 5, 1 being worst, 5 being best)- 4
4. SPS Coloration (on a scale of 1 to 5, 1 being worst, 5 being best)- 3

- Nutrient Import
1. Total Fed Daily: 1 cube mysis, 1 teaspoon pellets daily.
2. Feedings Per Day: 1
3. Other nutrients added: (liquid nitrate/phosphate, amino acids, etc)- Acropower daily, potassium nitrate occasionally as needed, 1/4 teaspoon each of coral frenzy powder and coral frenzy pellets twice a week along with 10 ml Aquavitro Fuel.

- Nutrient Export
1. Water Changes (% change and how often)- 10% monthly
2. Skimmer (Yes/No)- Yes
3. Macroalgae or Refugium (Yes/No)- Chaeto
4. Algae Scrubber (Yes/No)- No
5. GFO or other nutrient resins (Yes/No)- No
6. Organic carbon dosing (such as biopellets, vinegar, vodka, or sugar) (Yes/No)- No
7. Other nutrient export (DSB, nitrate reactor, etc) - I have pods and dose phytoplankton daily. I consider this nutrient export in a way as the pods supposedly also eat some detritus.

 

[X-37B]

System
1 120 gal.
2 11 fish, 2 large brittle stars, 2 urchins, 3 shrimp, 10+ turbo snails 12 bumblebee snails
3 growth 4
4 color 4

Nurtient
1 feed 3-4 times a day
2 2 cubes per type varies
Oyster feast 2 times a week, sorry 2 squirts.
1/8 teaspoon reef roids 2 times a week.

Export
1 no water changes
Carx and trace dosed
2 skimmer
3 filter sock
4 3 liters of eheim substrate pro in a nylon bag.
50/50 live and dry rock

System is 11 months old and runs
Alk 7.0-7.5
Ca 470
Mag 1400
Temp 79
Sg 1.026

Po4 .02-.04
No3 1-3

 

[chipmunkofdoom2]

System
1 120 gal.
2 11 fish, 2 large brittle stars, 2 urchins, 3 shrimp, 10+ turbo snails 12 bumblebee snails
3 growth 4
4 color 4

Nurtient
1 feed 3-4 times a day
2 2 cubes per type varies
Oyster feast 2 times a week, sorry 2 squirts.
1/8 teaspoon reef roids 2 times a week.

Export
1 no water changes
Carx and trace dosed
2 skimmer
3 filter sock
4 3 liters of eheim substrate pro in a nylon bag.
50/50 live amd dry rock

System is 11 months old and runs
Alk 7.0-7.5
Ca 470
Mag 1400
Temp 79
Sg 1.026

Po4 .02-.04
No3 1-3

Thanks a lot for this info. Could you tell me more about your feedings? You feed 2 cubes per type and you feed 3 - 4 times a day? So is that 6 - 8 cubes per day total?

 

[rlman41299]

System info
1. Total system size : 120
2. Total fish : a lot to mention
3. SPS Growth Rate : 3
4. SPS Coloration : 2

- Nutrient Import
1. Total Fed Daily: A lot
2. Feedings Per Day: 1
3. Other nutrients added: AF line

- Nutrient Export
1. Water Changes : None
2. Skimmer (Yes/No) : Yes
3. Macroalgae or Refugium (Yes/No) : Yes/ Chaeto
4. Algae Scrubber (Yes/No) : No
5. GFO or other nutrient resins (Yes/No) ; No
6. Organic carbon dosing (such as biopellets, vinegar, vodka, or sugar) (Yes/No) : No
7. Other nutrient export (Filter Socks, Rollermat, DSB, nitrate reactor, etc) : Miracle Mud

Alk :7.7
Ca :don't test
Mag :don't test
Temp : 79
Sg 1.026

Po4 : 0.3
No3 : 1


Just started the Aqua forest line of dosing so corals are still adjusting. Also using a CalRx

 

[X-37B]

Thanks a lot for this info. Could you tell me more about your feedings? You feed 2 cubes per type and you feed 3 - 4 times a day? So is that 6 - 8 cubes per day total?

Yes. 2 cubes 3 but sometimes 4 times a day.
I mix it up so, brine, mysis, emerald entree for tangs, an amount equal to a frozen cube of lrs reef frenzy.
Currently each feeding is 1 cube amount of reef frenzy and one other.
At least once a day, emerald for the tangs.

Forgot. Once a week about one cube amount of freeze dried plankton soaked in selcon.

Sometimes some hikari pellets say once a week but dont know the amount.

5-6 Shrimp pellets once a week when lights out.

 

[Shawn_epicurious]

Following : )

 

[chipmunkofdoom2]

System info
1. Total system size : 120
2. Total fish : a lot to mention
3. SPS Growth Rate : 3
4. SPS Coloration : 2

- Nutrient Import
1. Total Fed Daily: A lot
2. Feedings Per Day: 1
3. Other nutrients added: AF line

- Nutrient Export
1. Water Changes : None
2. Skimmer (Yes/No) : Yes
3. Macroalgae or Refugium (Yes/No) : Yes/ Chaeto
4. Algae Scrubber (Yes/No) : No
5. GFO or other nutrient resins (Yes/No) ; No
6. Organic carbon dosing (such as biopellets, vinegar, vodka, or sugar) (Yes/No) : No
7. Other nutrient export (Filter Socks, Rollermat, DSB, nitrate reactor, etc) : Miracle Mud

Alk :7.7
Ca :don't test
Mag :don't test
Temp : 79
Sg 1.026

Po4 : 0.3
No3 : 1


Just started the Aqua forest line of dosing so corals are still adjusting. Also using a CalRx

Thanks for the info. Could estimate how many fish you have? 5, 10, 15, 20? Could you also clarify how much food you feed? "A lot" means different things to different people. Thanks!

 

[rlman41299]

Thanks for the info. Could estimate how many fish you have? 5, 10, 15, 20? Could you also clarify how much food you feed? "A lot" means different things to different people. Thanks!

On top of my head I have 2 gem tang, lamarck angel, 2 pyramid butterfly, copper band butterfly, 2 clown fish and 2 wrasse

 

[MikeYasin]

System:

118 G
11 fish, 2 shrimp, 25 turbo snails 10 bumblebee snails, Pile of hermits
growth (as of recently) 3.5
color 4

Nurtients:

Feed 1-2 times a day - about a 1.5 tablespoons each feeding
Reef Frenzy, cubed Mysis ( I mix them with together with VitaChem Marine- make enough for 5-7 days and refrigerate)
Red Sea ABCD program at 50% recommendations
30 mL RS Reef Energy A & B 4-5 times a week 1 hour before lights on
1/2 teaspoon Benepets reef food 2 times a week - 1 hour before lights on

Export:

Maybe every 3 months I'll do a 10-15% water change.
Skimmer
2 X Filter socks
live rock in dark fuge
7 mL NoPox daily after lights on

System is 9 months old
Alk 9 - 9.5 (Trident controlled for 3 days now)
Ca 440-485 (Trident controlled for 3 days now)
Mag 1450
Temp 79-81

Po4 .01-.06
No3 .25 - 1.50

 

[chipmunkofdoom2]

System:

118 G
11 fish, 2 shrimp, 25 turbo snails 10 bumblebee snails, Pile of hermits
growth (as of recently) 3.5
color 4

Nurtients:

Feed 1-2 times a day
Reef Frenzy, cubed Mysis
Red Sea ABCD program at 50% recommendations
30 mL RS Reef AB+ 4-5 times a week 1 hour before lights on
1/2 teaspoon Benepets reef food 2 times a week - 1 hour before lights on

Export:

Maybe every 3 months I'll do a 10-15% water change.
Skimmer
2 X Filter socks
live rock in dark fuge
7 mL NoPox daily after lights on

System is 9 months old
Alk 9 - 9.5 (Trident controlled for 3 days now)
Ca 440-485 (Trident controlled for 3 days now)
Mag 1450
Temp 79-81

Po4 .01-.06
No3 .25 - 1.50

Thank you! How much reef frenzy and cubed mysis do you think you feed per day?

 

[MikeYasin]

Thank you! How much reef frenzy and cubed mysis do you think you feed per day?

I just updated my post-- about 1.5 Tbsp each time

 

[Dlealrious]

System info
1. Total system size (total gallons, including sump) 250g
2. Total fish (listing sizes and types are welcome, but not necessary) 20
3. SPS Growth Rate (on a scale of 1 to 5, 1 being worst, 5 being best) 4
4. SPS Coloration (on a scale of 1 to 5, 1 being worst, 5 being best) 4

- Nutrient Import
1. Total Fed Daily: 3 cubes large, 8 spins of pellets about half a palm each spin
2. Feedings Per Day: 6
3. Other nutrients added: (liquid nitrate/phosphate, amino acids, etc)
Phosphate, amino
- Nutrient Export
1. Water Changes (% change and how often) none
2. Skimmer (Yes/No) no
3. Macroalgae or Refugium (Yes/No) yes
4. Algae Scrubber (Yes/No) no
5. GFO or other nutrient resins (Yes/No) no
6. Organic carbon dosing (such as biopellets, vinegar, vodka, or sugar) (Yes/No) no
7. Other nutrient export (Filter Socks, Rollermat, DSB, nitrate reactor, etc) no

 

[chipmunkofdoom2]

Thanks for the replies so far everyone, I appreciate your input.

 

[Min]

- System info
1. Total system size 270 gallons
2. Total fish 30
3. SPS Growth Rate 4
4. SPS Coloration 3

- Nutrient Import
1. Total Fed Daily: 6 cubes 3 half sheets nori
2. Feedings Per Day: 3
3. Other nutrients added: 15ml each red sea energy a&b, 1/4tsp bakers yeast, 1/2 tsp reef roids all daily, spot fed/broadcast 2 hours after lights out, 15ml daily acropower on a doser

- Nutrient Export
1. Water Changes 10-15% weekly with sand vac
2. Skimmer Yes
3. Macroalgae or Refugium Yes, macroalgae reactor
4. Algae Scrubber No
5. GFO or other nutrient resins Yes, activated carbon and lanathium Chloride
6. Organic carbon dosing No
7. Other nutrient export Yes, filter socks and sulfur denitrator

 

[xiaoxiy]

System info - 6 months old
1. Total system size (total gallons, including sump): 80ish gallons
2. Total fish (listing sizes and types are welcome, but not necessary): 6 Fish

• 2 Clownfish
• 2 Chromis
• 1 Yellow Damsel
• 1 PJ Cardinal

3. SPS Growth Rate (on a scale of 1 to 5, 1 being worst, 5 being best): 4-5
4. SPS Coloration (on a scale of 1 to 5, 1 being worst, 5 being best): 3

Nutrient Import
1. Total Fed Daily:

• NYOS Goji and Aloe Pellets 3x daily (approximately 1/8 tsp each)
• EasyBooster Phyto 5ml daily, dosed every 3 hours
• EasySPS Evo Gel 5ml daily, dosed every 3 hours overnight

2. Feedings Per Day: See above
3. Other nutrients added: (liquid nitrate/phosphate, amino acids, etc): None

Nutrient Export
1. Water Changes (% change and how often): Daily 3 gallon water change
2. Skimmer (Yes/No): Yes - Icecap K2-50
3. Macroalgae or Refugium (Yes/No): No
4. Algae Scrubber (Yes/No): No
5. GFO or other nutrient resins (Yes/No): Activated Carbon
6. Organic carbon dosing (such as biopellets, vinegar, vodka, or sugar) (Yes/No): No
7. Other nutrient export (Filter Socks, Rollermat, DSB, nitrate reactor, etc): No

 

[chipmunkofdoom2]

Thanks @xiaoxiy!

 

[xiaoxiy]

Thanks @xiaoxiy!

Hopefully this thread will help reefers move away from chasing nutrient levels and focus more on food import/export, which I believe is much more important.

 

[Sallstrom]

- System info - Experiment tank for sexual reproduction at MMA
1. Total system size: 291 gallons (sump 100 gallons, tank 191 gallons)
2. Total fish: 5 adults (2 tangs, 1 rabbitfish, 1 filefish, 1 CBB)
3. SPS Growth Rate: 2-4 (spring starts now, with higher temp and light intesity)
4. SPS Coloration: 2 ("natural light" - lower kelvin than usual reef tanks, following yearly variations)

- Nutrient Import
1. Total Fed Daily: This week: 1/2 spoon mysis, 1/2 spoon artemia, EasyBooster 16ml, EasySPS 16ml, 1 cube lobster eggs, 1 cube inver. food, 2 cubes copepods (feedings depending on nutrient levels).
2. Feedings Per Day: 1 for the fish, coral food spread over the day
3. Other nutrients added: 5-10 ml aminoacids/day, 7ml KNO3(80g/1000ml RO), Triton: Fe 3ml, Mn 6ml, Iodine 2ml

- Nutrient Export
1. Water Changes: No
2. Skimmer: Yes (Deltec)
3. Macroalgae or Refugium: Refugium (60 x 80 cm lit area, Caulerpa sp and Chaetomorpha sp, 3 Mitras LB Freshwater)
4. Algae Scrubber: No
5. GFO or other nutrient resins: No
6. Organic carbon dosing: 1 ml etanol 40%/day (This week, usually not needed)
7. Other nutrient export: No