Acropora RTN/STN and Nutrient Control

[jd22]

Hello,

I’m hoping to get some advice on how best to move forward. I’ve been struggling with Acropora for quite some time. Ive always run chemipure blue and purigen to control nutrients, however, after venturing into sps I had several frags that were growing and encrusting start STN ing after bag changes so I’ve stopped with the media.

Ever since then I’ve basically been struggling with rising nitrates and phosphates which now sit around 40 and .36 as of yesterday but the number keeps rising. I know many people say that don’t chase numbers but with phosphates at .36 I’m starting to see browning and they don’t look healthy but media seems to always lead to STN. All other corals sps and lps are unfazed regardless of nutrients or media. I will say I do have several nipping fish in the tank which maybe hinders the health of the corals. I may try and re-home the coral beauty, rabbit fish and blenny but they are hard to catch.

Are there any good tricks or tips to lower phosphates and nitrates slowly to possibly avoid the STN? I just don’t think water changes are gonna be enough. Do people with high nutrients run very high lighting to combat the browning?

180 gallon
1.025 consistently
7.7 - 8.4 alk fairly consistently however some smaller swings as I upped water changes
PH 8.0 - 8.2
Dosing 73 ml of AFR
Lighting XR 30 pro and 3 XR 15 blues (I don’t have a par meter but it’s probably in the lower end of sps PAR but these corals are at the top and were growing until all this chaos)
Calcium 511
Mag 1360
25 w UV
CO2 scrubber and Skimmer recently added

 

[Tahoe61]

Algae Turf Scrubber.
Are you feeding foods that contribute to higher phosphate values?
Have you used Tropic Marine Elimi Phos or similar?

Your tank and fish certainly look healthy.

 

[X-37B]

Tank looks healthy.
I had similar issues with some acros awhie back. I found night time ph to be 7.6. I dose kalk 4mlm in my 150 now with a carx and ph stay at 7.9 at night to 8.3 daily.
All corals reacted with increased growth.
I like to keep no3 around 5 with Vodka currently 5ml a day.
Po4 is .2-.3 now after years of running <.1 on my systems
I use P-minus for po4 control. When it gets to .3 I add 1 cup P- and it brings it to .2.

 

[jd22]

I feed very heavy to keep the tangs and others happy and limit the nipping.

I have not tried any other removers as I’ve been too nervous ha but now that some of the new acros are starting to look a little rough I’m open to other ideas of trying to lower them

 

[X-37B]

I feed very heavy to keep the tangs and others happy and limit the nipping.

I have not tried any other removers as I’ve been too nervous ha but now that some of the new acros are starting to look a little rough I’m open to other ideas of trying to lower them

I feed heavy also. I also run 2 skimmers, a LifeReef 28" and a Tunze 9430dc. Both pull heavy skim. The LifeReef pulls sludge.
Lower no3 first before lowering po4. Get it in range, 5-10, and observe.
Then lower po4 if needed and keep it between .2-.3.

 

[jd22]

the P-minus doesn’t not cause STN when dosed for you?

 

[Chubbycat]

the P-minus doesn’t not cause STN when dosed for you

I had similar issues so my advice is can add cheato, or algea scrubber to bring down PO4, dose P-minus into the throat of skimmer if you have tang fish. Bring down Ca around 400-430 if u can. When do water change, syphon all the detritus in the sump if u can. and feed minimum on the fish, and dont need to use coral food now.