SPS success in high nutrient systems

[zaga]

Has anyone had success with SPS in higher nutrient systems? with both color and growth?

I recently transferred to a slightly larger system and all the corals (mainly LPS) and anemones are doing great with minimal algae growth. The live rock came from systems at least three years old and parameters have been steady in the last month. I really do not want to chase numbers especially when everything seems to be doing phenomenal.

Tank parameters:
Nitrate: 20ppm
Phosphate: 0.25ppm
Alk: 7 dKH
Calcium: 420ppm

Thanks!

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

Yes. My nitrates are usually 25-35 ppm. Phosphate lower though at around .06 ppm. For high phosphate system, I think @Thales can answer that.

 

[chipchipbro]

@Perry @coral reeftank

 

[LPS Bum]

Yes. I’ve kept Montis, Pocillopora and Birdsnest in conditions just like yours. They all did great. Not sure Acros would love the higher nutrients though, but someone else can weigh in on those.

 

[Perry]

N03- 50ppm
P04- .30ppm

 

[TheGrimReeferTx]

N03- 50ppm
P04- .30ppm

Impressive, looks good.

 

[InvaderJim]

My phosphate stays between 0.15 and 0.25. I dump in some sodium nitrate every now and then because I know my system depletes it. Not sure on the number.

 

[FrugalReefer]

Look up and check out the systems of Sanjay Joshi and Richard Ross.

 

[bakbay]

My nitrate is 25-30 and phosphate is 0.18-0.25. Acros are fine and no brown algae, my tangs and CUC gobbled them up.

 

[MrGisonni]

Yes you can. Every system is a little different.

 

[zaga]

Yes. I’ve kept Montis, Pocillopora and Birdsnest in conditions just like yours. They all did great. Not sure Acros would love the higher nutrients though, but someone else can weigh in on those.

Ok cool. I have a plating monti doing well and I will probably move to some birdsnest, digita, and millies next.

 

[zaga]

N03- 50ppm
P04- .30ppm

Considering how much low nutrient systems are being pushed, your corals look great.

 

[zaga]

My phosphate stays between 0.15 and 0.25. I dump in some sodium nitrate every now and then because I know my system depletes it. Not sure on the number.

That is a great looking tank. Thank you for sharing!

 

[Perry]

Here's a few Tenuis going bananas
Full spectrum, no fancy blues tricks

 

[zaga]

Here's a few Tenuis going bananas
Full spectrum, no fancy blues tricks

Wow. That is incredible. You are making me want to order some stick right now lol.

What is your take on nutrient levels, especially if someone new to the hobby is asking?

Edit: you just answered my question below.

 

[Perry]

That is a great looking tank. Thank you for sharing!

Frankly, I don't think it matters, if the value is there, it's there. I think the misconception is algae fear mongering in these environments. I believe trace and microbiome are connected and need stability for nutrients to even be accessed. So, if they are available at low or high values, they are in fact available. Probably off the mark, but their cousin plants work this way in soil.

 

[schooncw]

Has anyone had success with SPS in higher nutrient systems? with both color and growth?

I recently transferred to a slightly larger system and all the corals (mainly LPS) and anemones are doing great with minimal algae growth. The live rock came from systems at least three years old and parameters have been steady in the last month. I really do not want to chase numbers especially when everything seems to be doing phenomenal.

Tank parameters:
Nitrate: 20ppm
Phosphate: 0.25ppm
Alk: 7 dKH
Calcium: 420ppm

Thanks!

Following. I’ll post some pics later of my over stocked and overfed 120 softie/lps tank. The rock is 30 + years old, PO is never below 1.0 and NO3 is somewhere around 65.

 

[vahegan]

I believe that as long as the parameters are stable and not climbing, i.e. there is equilibrium between nutrients import and export, and as long as they aren't way too high (i.e. 3ppm phosphate in an acropora tank), there should be no issues. Meaning, do not stock a lot of fish at once, but add them gradually once the corals start to take over.

 

[Tonycass12]

Nitrate is over 35, phosphates are over .6

This tank has been high nutrients since I moved into it nearly a year ago. I could just never get them to come down. But things look good and if it ain't broke don't fix it!

 

[zaga]

Nitrate is over 35, phosphates are over .6

This tank has been high nutrients since I moved into it nearly a year ago. I could just never get them to come down. But things look good and if it ain't broke don't fix it!

Everything looks great. How long has your tank been running?