ULNS Questions

[Heavymman]

I have a 60 gallon cube up and stable since October. I used dry rock which I cured before the cycle. I also did cycle some live rock from my LFS in the beginning to seed corraline and for bio diversity. I added some SPS a couple of weeks and I noticed my acro is pale (0 nitrates 0 phos). All other levels are stable and level 8.3 alk, 1.026 water, 435 cal, 1350 mag. Bio load is 2 clowns, 1 Blenny, 1 wrasse

I decided to start over feeding the tank and skipping my water change to start raising nutrients but I think I’m going to stop because I’m noticing brown build up on some of the rocks, the overflow and the sand.

Should I just start dosing KN03 and KPh04 to slowly raise levels up slightly? My thoughts are at least this would be controlled. Was anybody able to stop dosing after awhile with a more mature tank?

 

[Act1n1c_L1fe]

I have a 60 gallon cube up and stable since October. I used dry rock which I cured before the cycle. I also did cycle some live rock from my LFS in the beginning to seed corraline and for bio diversity. I added some SPS a couple of weeks and I noticed my acro is pale (0 nitrates 0 phos). All other levels are stable and level 8.3 alk, 1.026 water, 435 cal, 1350 mag. Bio load is 2 clowns, 1 Blenny, 1 wrasse

I decided to start over feeding the tank and skipping my water change to start raising nutrients but I think I’m going to stop because I’m noticing brown build up on some of the rocks, the overflow and the sand.

Should I just start dosing KN03 and KPh04 to slowly raise levels up slightly? My thoughts are at least this would be controlled. Was anybody able to stop dosing after awhile with a more mature tank?

you shouldn't have to dose anything... ULNS means your water is sterile... you want nitrates between 2 and 7. phosphates between .1-.2
if your water is too clean, theres simply nothing for corals to build their skeletons. no nutrients = no life. what are your test kits as there should be nutrients in your tank with regular feedings and fish... what are you feeding?

 

[Act1n1c_L1fe]

pics of algae? brown build up could be dinos because your tank will have little biodiversity being relatively new and having been an ULNS for awhile

 

[Dr. Reef Verified Sponsor]

correction on above statement: phos should be 0.01-0.03

 

[Heavymman]

Red Sea for phos and nitrate

I feed ocean nutrition prime reef flake and just recently reef chili.

Wounding dosing nitrate and phos be the most balanced way to increase them without throwing either out of balance by over feeding

 

[dansreef]

Your tank is still pretty young. Just start feeding more. Dont go and start dosing nitrate and phosphate. Let your fish pig out a bit more. Incrementally increase your feeding...and watch your levels. Let the levels rise slowly.

Let your tank mature.... Go Slow!

 

[Heavymman]

I would just think over feeding would raise phosphates and not nitrates as much. The whole idea of dosing nitrates

 

[SPR1968]

As already said you want to keep phosphate locked down very low at around 0.o3ppm and you will then avoid many algae and other issues, but you want some nitrates in the system or the water will be to sterile and again this can cause other problems

Maybe add a few more fish to your system and that will start to increase your nutrients up.

Then you will be like many of us, constantly battling to keep them down! Lol

 

[michael giordano]

Buy more fish and feed more, don’t dose chemicals to your tank to raise pho’s/nitrates

 

[Act1n1c_L1fe]

correction on above statement: phos should be 0.01-0.03

Nope. I meant .1-.2... watch the brs phosphate video.

 

[Act1n1c_L1fe]

also, let your nutrients rise up, the algae on the rocks is necessary for the tank to mature, bacteria, micro organisms like some algae... however your algae looks like normal film algae or diatoms. perfectly normal.. what are your lights? green/red spectrum could also be encouraging algae growth as there are some algae species that thrive in low nutrients...

 

[Act1n1c_L1fe]

Buy more fish and feed more, don’t dose chemicals to your tank to raise pho’s/nitrates

+1

 

[sfin52]

Nope. I meant .1-.2... watch the brs phosphate video.

Decimals and 0 always get in the way

 

[Act1n1c_L1fe]

Decimals and 0 always get in the way

???

 

[Keepswiming]

I would continue to feed your fish a healthy amount of variety foods and not dose nitrates. What your experiencing is a diatom outbreak in response to the increased organics,which use to be the limiting factor for their growth. This is harmless and will go away on its own, Infact it is usually a step that most see in their new tanks. I understand it is an eyesore but just continue to feed (not overfeed) and be patient. If you cannot stand looking at them you can beef up your cleaner crew, as they do a good job at eating diatoms and in your photos your tank appears to have none or minimal (unless they are in the sand or out of sight). You might also get an algae outbreak with the increase in organics but a good clean up crew can go a long way. Natural is the best way whenever possible IMO! I had an entire panel of glass full of GHA so I added tons of inverts from Pacific East Aquaculture and they cleaned the entire glass in a matter of weeks. There is a specific snail that was doing most of the work and I can look into it if interested.
Good luck!

 

[High ICP]

I would just think over feeding would raise phosphates and not nitrates as much. The whole idea of dosing nitrates

For a beginner tank like this, you need to be removing phosphate and nitrate

Not adding them

Who told you to add them?

Don’t overfeed. Just feed your fish. Dose some commerical bacteria. Add a CUC.

 

[Heavymman]

When I first started in this hobby 13 years ago (short lived), you could buy live Fiji rock... I was constantly battling nitrates and phosphates.

I guess the dry rock is more of a grind, between curing it to rid the phosphates to months and years after to get it somewhat biodiverse.

Anyways, thanks all for the help! Adding fish has been a slow process for me as I only have room for a 10 gallon QT. I hope to add 3 more real soon, any ideas??? (I have 2 clowns, Midas blennie, yellow wrasse)