NUTRIENTS in sps tank

[DEWreefing]

So I have been having issues where I have to dose my nitrates and phosphates. Everyday they drop .02 on phosphates and 2 to 3 nitrates. I have about 20 fish and a super time chaeto reactor hooked up 2 weeks ago. Tank has been set up for about 9 months. Nitrates this morning 6.6 and phosphates .04 I run high lighting. Feed pellets and mysis 6/2 times a day. Feed nori twice a day 2 full sheets.

Where do you keep your nutrients in your sps dominated tank?
Tank is 225g, 46g frag tank sump holds about 58g.

 

[wsoldier]

Mine are below. If you're running a chaeto reactor, it's easy to just turn down the time for it. I pulled out my filter socks and that seemed to help keep my nitrates up for longer, but I still have to dose a little bit each month. What's ironic is lots of people have gone crazy over the roller mats, yet I hear more and more people having to dose. I wouldn't bother with one personally.

NO3: 1.5-2.5ppm
PO4: 0.6-.14

 

[joseserrano]

I also run low. If you are feeding heavily and numbers still stay low, means your corals are up taking excess. I wouldn’t add more.

 

[jessesoto33]

Mine are below. If you're running a chaeto reactor, it's easy to just turn down the time for it. I pulled out my filter socks and that seemed to help keep my nitrates up for longer, but I still have to dose a little bit each month. What's ironic is lots of people have gone crazy over the roller mats, yet I hear more and more people having to dose. I wouldn't bother with one personally.

NO3: 1.5-2.5ppm
PO4: 0.6-.14

Agree, I would run Cheato at night only 8-12 hours, and see how that works then adjust accordingly


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[dpoltsdsu]

Agree with others. I'd cut production of the Cheato (run the light on less hours) and not dose much more. That much food and fish should be plenty for SPS.

I run

NO3: 5-10 ppm
PO4: 0.5-.15

 

[Smite]

My recent test is similar to most above.
No3: 2.5-5ppm
Po4: .08

I started adding nitrate/vinegar to my Calcium solution after watching CoralEuphorias video on it. I've seen more improvement the from the added carbon than I did from raising nitrate manually. I found Abe's ratio was pretty spot on for my system and haven't needed tweak it at all.

 

[DEWreefing]

My chaeto reactor exploded with growth hoping the balance hits an equilibrium. I do agree that the corals are eating a lot of it up. The nyos 300 always pulls some nice gunk. Socks I have to run blowing off dinos every few hours in frag tank only main display does not really get dinos.

 

[DEWreefing]

Agree, I would run Cheato at night only 8-12 hours, and see how that works then adjust accordingly


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My reactor is pretty tiny maybe 1 and1/2 gallons.

 

[DEWreefing]

Pulled after 2to3 weeks.

 

[SeeFu]

i dont know how you guys keep your nitrats so low. i'm at

po4, .03-.06
no3, 17-20

 

[DEWreefing]

i dont know how you guys keep your nitrats so low. i'm at

po4, .03-.06
no3, 17-20

Corals eat it up I guess

 

[DEWreefing]

Corals eat it up I guess

You can dose sugar to bring them down.

 

[jessesoto33]

i dont know how you guys keep your nitrats so low. i'm at

po4, .03-.06
no3, 17-20

17-20 is perfect, even for SPS!


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[jessesoto33]

Pulled after 2to3 weeks.

That’s definitely the reason, it’s packed


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[bakbay]

I originally had challenges with the new tank - rocks & sand sucking up all the nutrients. Dosing N&P didn’t help much until I discovered ammonium chloride.
https://a.co/d/7eFr3wB

 

[bakbay]

17-20 is perfect, even for SPS!


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My nutrients are high on a full SPS-packed tank. In fact, N was over 75 and P was 0.62 — things are still happy! I’ve since knocked ‘em down though…

 

[jessesoto33]

My nutrients are high on a full SPS-packed tank. In fact, N was over 75 and P was 0.62 — things are still happy! I’ve since knocked ‘em down though…

The important reading is your P04 nitrate not so much. As long as your NO3 isn’t over 80


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[bakbay]

The important reading is your P04 nitrate not so much. As long as your NO3 isn’t over 80


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0.62 PO4 is the highest I’ve run actually. It’s down to 0.20 now with LC. Anyway, just sharing — I’ve found that it’s far easier to deal with high nutrients vs low/zero nutrients.

 

[SeeFu]

i dont worry much about nutrients anymore. The tank just keeps chirping along.

 

[bakbay]

On my carpet/mixed tank — I’m hovering at 10/0.15 N/P, respectively. This is without any water changes. I’m tempted to turn off the skimmer to make the water “dirtier” but having gas exchange and slightly higher pH might help.