Why folks don’t like adding nutrients

[DavidinGA]

You didn't feed the tank?

Bro...

You know certainly well that we are discussing dosing additives and not food.

 

[HomebroodExotics]

Bro...

You know certainly well that we are discussing dosing additives and not food.

What's the difference?

 

[brucey]

Back to the topic at hand

Could the reason be why reefers don’t like dosing nitrites mean there’s no trident ‘esque’ equivalent of phos or nitrate control.

who cares about calcium or kh…
They manage themselves

phos and nitrate have a much bigger impact on stability (no science here, just my view)

 

[sixty_reefer]

Back to the topic at hand

Could the reason be why reefers don’t like dosing nitrites mean there’s no trident ‘esque’ equivalent of phos or nitrate control.

who cares about calcium or kh…
They manage themselves

phos and nitrate have a much bigger impact on stability (no science here, just my view)

The day that we can test for organic nutrients will be a magnificent moment in the hobby. I say this as nitrates and phosphates (inorganic) are mere pollutants that don’t have great benefits for coral and algae they of great importance for bacteria mainly. What thrives growth in beneficial and nuisance organisms is the organics that at the moment we only eye ball it.
if such a gadget were to be build I would most likely be the first in line to obtain it.

 

[SlugSnorter]

How do I know if I need PO4/NO3 in my aquarium? Is there a sign to look for?

I was shocked to see 0/0 nitrate/phosphates after a month of heavy feeding and AB+ daily. However, my urchin was not too fluffy, the rocks were getting fluffy and polyp extension diminished so I did two large water changes. Its still 0/0 but looking pretty good. I have gone back to normal feeding and no more AB+ for now. I'll see in a month or so what difference that makes.

don't chase numbers, if animals are healthy then maintain what you are doing

 

[sixty_reefer]

don't chase numbers, if animals are healthy then maintain what you are doing

Does that advice applies to zero nutrients?

 

[SlugSnorter]

Does that advice applies to zero nutrients?

yes

 

[sixty_reefer]

yes

Ok

 

[DavidinGA]

What's the difference?

The difference, which should be obvious, is that this thread is not about dosing food.

Food is a requirement for livestock.
Additives (as defined in this thread ~ dosing specific targeted supplements like po4 for example) are not requirements.

 

[HomebroodExotics]

The difference, which should be obvious, is that this thread is not about dosing food.

Food is a requirement for livestock.
Additives (as defined in this thread ~ dosing specific targeted supplements like po4 for example) are not requirements.

I still don't understand the difference. You can't say you have a closed system and have seen closed self sustaining systems and still feed it. These definitions for food and po4 and dosing is all the same thing at the end of the day is it not?

 

[SPS2020]

don't chase numbers, if animals are healthy then maintain what you are doing

Agreed 100%! If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

[DavidinGA]

I still don't understand the difference. You can't say you have a closed system and have seen closed self sustaining systems and still feed it. These definitions for food and po4 and dosing is all the same thing at the end of the day is it not?

You're digging yourself a hole.

I suggest you go back and read my posts. I never said I have a "closed system" nor have I been referring to a closed system in this thread, nor will I venture to imagine what you're suggesting by a closed system.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Does that advice applies to zero nutrients?

IMO, it doesn't.

It runs the increased risk of dinos.

 

[HomebroodExotics]

You're digging yourself a hole.

I suggest you go back and read my posts. I never said I have a "closed system" nor have I been referring to a closed system in this thread, nor will I venture to imagine what you're suggesting by a closed system.

Ok. So what's the difference between dosing food to your tank (food) and dosing food to your tank (po4 and no3)? I still don't understand. Please explain.

 

[Dburr1014]

IMO, it doesn't.

It runs the increased risk of dinos.

Exactly. You can not chase numbers to a point, but, sometimes you need to intervene.

 

[92Miata]

You can literally read online forums from 10+ years ago where reefers kept systems and did not dose additives and had great success.

I've been keeping reefs since about 1998, and I'm not aware of a single reef tank that has operated with no additives. Reef tanks are not self sustaining ecosystems.

Carbon dosing was pretty common in the hobby around the turn of the century.

 

[92Miata]

Bro...

You know certainly well that we are discussing dosing additives and not food.

Fish food is a phosphate, ammonia, and carbon additive.

You can not keep a reef tank alive without adding those 3 things. There is no meaningful difference between adding them via food, or directly - except that dosing them directly gives you way more control.

 

[DavidinGA]

Fish food is a phosphate, ammonia, and carbon additive.

You can not keep a reef tank alive without adding those 3 things. There is no meaningful difference between adding them via food, or directly - except that dosing them directly gives you way more control.

My original premise was that dosing additives individually was not necessary as they are already added through feeding. I also said that adding those individually can add to the overall complexity of the system and finally that dosing them individually is not necessary as they are added through food.

Food is a requirement, not an additive.

Additives are supplemental and not a requirement.

Great, yes, we are all on the same page....sigh

 

[Dburr1014]

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[sixty_reefer]

IMO, it doesn't.

It runs the increased risk of dinos.

I agree with you Randy, sometimes I just loose hope and let folks learn for themselves.
I believe the major part of aquarists know the risks of zero nutrients and hopefully they can use some of the subjects we discussed in this thread and others to evaluate the best form of nutrients to implement into they’re system.