Just wanted to get everyone’s thoughts on Residual Nutrient levels. Healthy or Begging for trouble?
Pic below was the first day I received this CC Voodoo Majick:
Pic below was the first day I received this CC Voodoo Majick:
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I really don't understand what the question and or statement is susposed to be. It's very vague.
I'll play;Ok, let me be more specific.
The question is…what are your thoughts on residual nutrients? Maybe I should define that.
Residual nutrients: The nutrients remaining after the greater part or quantity is gone.
Here’s a basic example. Let me
just list these two sets of nutrient numbers below, and we’ll pretend that both of these were confirmed via ICP-MS.
1. P = 0.15 | N = 15
2. P = 0.1 | N = 1
Now, you have two (5 year) established acro systems. In both systems the corals are alive and doing good. System #1 has deep rich colors. System #2 has very light colors, but with excellent PE. Which nutrient levels would your prefer and why?
Kind of a strange question lol......I guess it depends on what you like. Do you like rich darker colors or more pastel colors in your acros? I would want to have as many nutrients as I could to keep the deep colors in the acros while not feeding algae issues.
But........couldn't you take option 1 and feed LESS to slide into option 2 or hold and stay in option 1 ?I'll play;
Option #2 for me.
If I feed more I can slide into option #1.
If I feed the same, I can hold at option #2.
But........couldn't you take option 1 and feed LESS to slide into option 2 or hold and stay in option 1 ?
I would never run #2 except with the following circumstances:Ok, let me be more specific.
The question is…what are your thoughts on residual nutrients? Maybe I should define that.
Residual nutrients: The nutrients remaining after the greater part or quantity is gone.
Here’s a basic example. Let me
just list these two sets of nutrient numbers below, and we’ll pretend that both of these were confirmed via ICP-MS.
1. P = 0.15 | N = 15
2. P = .01 | N = 1
Now, you have two (5 year) established acro systems. In both systems the corals are alive and doing good. System #1 has deep rich colors. System #2 has very light colors, but with excellent PE. Which nutrient levels would your prefer and why?
I think that most know that I have very low residual sources of nitrogen and phosphorous in the forms of nitrate and phosphate. I do, however, have very abundant sources of nitrogen via ammonia/ammonium and phosphorous in the form of metaphosphate and organically bound phoshorous.
The Voodoo Magik does well in my tank. I have given many frags to others that have very high residual levels of nitrate and phosphate but also lots of fish, so likely also many sources of available nitrogen and phosphorous as well... and the frags do well here too.
I don't think that this coral cares too much. I do get more contrast with wider range and more output of lighting, which seems to make more of a difference than residuals to me.
You just have zero margin for error/starvation and running the risk of a dino outbreak.
I agree with that. Have you done an ICP lately. I’d be curious to see the results.I reject the sentiment that my tank is lower in "nutrient" levels. I have a massive amount of nitrogen and phosphorus, just not much nitrate and phosphate
I’ve always been fascinated with their method. Although I’m not completely familiar with the organic sources used for nitrogen and phosphorus supplementation. I know whatever they’re using is very effective. When I look at the corals they are so pale that I’d be worried about their health had I not heard about the method. I know the Bacteria is feeding the corals, but it goes beyond that. It’s definitely beyond simple orthophosphates. I think the problem is that a lot of these sources aren’t readily available, and what is available is expensive. Correct me if I’m wrong.Zeo tanks are also very high in "nutrients" just not po4 and no3.
What was the polyphosphate source.?I kinda on accident did an experiment where it took about three days for polyphosphate to totally break down into orthophosphate
Yeah I knew it was up there, but I did not realize it was that established. No wonder why the corals look so healthy, but I have not seen any pictures in quite some time. Cough Cough…hint hint…My current tank is over 20 years old and has rock from another tank back in the early/mid 1990s. It has been around for a while. I redid it in the early 2000s of which the sand and rock are still around today and survived a move to Colorado nearly in tact and undisturbed
I never really saw the benefit of ICP. I never thought that it was all that accurate, which was confirmed later on by the folks on here. I can buy 400 gallons of IO for the same cost which would do more to cure any ills than the test, so I just do that. People often send out ICP looking for a smoking gun and get back more questions than answers.
Which do you think is right and why do you think that?ICP-MS has changed a lot of that. From what I’ve seen after looking at hundreds of analysis they are quite accurate. Especially with those elements in the ultra trace concentration range that OES wasn’t able to accurately detect. It just wasn’t sensitive enough to be trustworthy for those elements IMO. I’ve noticed significant changes being able to keep elements like Cobalt, Chromium, Manganese, Iron, Copper, Selenium, and Nickel in target ranges. Color, PE, and just the overall health of the corals is much better. Highly recommend ICP-MS if you ever have some extra cash. I think you’ll be quite pleased. Water Changes are great to remove pollutants. Unless of course you introduce pollutants with the salt which is completely possible. We all know what recently happened with TMP. I think it’s smart and helpful to know what’s in the salt in the first place, and at what ratios if you are relying solely on water changes for trace element replenishment.
You know as well as I do that not all salt brands are created equally, and some lack specific elements. Some elements may be low. Then you have the problem of getting consistency when mixing new batches. The top is different from the bottom, and most people aren’t flipping their 50lb buckets or shuffling their bags. I think @rtparty tested a bunch of different brands recently. I’d like to see the outcome on that.
Anyway here’s the difference between ICP-OES vs ICP-MS. As you can see below…the sensitivity with MS is much better. It has definitely changed my reef for the better, but it’s not for everybody.