Correct phosphate/nitrate parameters for lps/soft?

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

My mixed reef is just over 3 months old and is doing well. I just got some new hanna checkers. My nitrate is 0.7 and phosphate is 0.06. Is this ok? It’s a 20 gallon with a clown, damsel, and gramma. I change 2 gallons per week. Should i up/drop feeding? Dont change a thing?

I’d personally feed more. This is my opinion:
https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/randy’s-thoughts-on-nutrient-target-ranges.1087/
From it:

4. What targets seem reasonable? Of course, that depends on all the other factors at play, such as types of corals, availability of ammonia, particulate foods, etc. However, for a mature mixed reef, this would be how I personally would run it:

• Let nitrate float between 5 ppm and 50 ppm. I’d use gentle export in this range, such as growing macroalgae.
• Above 50 ppm, I’d begin to focus more on reducing it, by organic carbon dosing, turf or macroalgae, etc.
• Below 5 ppm, I’d begin to dose ammonia or feed more. The target level might drop lower if dosing ammonia, just like the heavy in/heavy out scenario where nitrate may not be as needed.
• Let phosphate float between about 0.06 ppm and 0.3 ppm. This range is higher than I’ve recommended in the past. I’d use gentle export in this range, such as growing macroalgae.
• Above about 0.3 ppm, I’d begin to focus more on reducing it, by turf or macroalgae, or a binder such as GFO or lanthanum (has its own risks to tangs). If a binder: GO SLOW. Turf and macroalgae will typically be slow enough.
• Below 0.06 ppm, I’d begin to dose sodium phosphate or feed more to get the level up.

 

[skiergd011013]

I’d personally feed more. This is my opinion:
https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/randy’s-thoughts-on-nutrient-target-ranges.1087/
From it:

4. What targets seem reasonable? Of course, that depends on all the other factors at play, such as types of corals, availability of ammonia, particulate foods, etc. However, for a mature mixed reef, this would be how I personally would run it:

• Let nitrate float between 5 ppm and 50 ppm. I’d use gentle export in this range, such as growing macroalgae.
• Above 50 ppm, I’d begin to focus more on reducing it, by organic carbon dosing, turf or macroalgae, etc.
• Below 5 ppm, I’d begin to dose ammonia or feed more. The target level might drop lower if dosing ammonia, just like the heavy in/heavy out scenario where nitrate may not be as needed.
• Let phosphate float between about 0.06 ppm and 0.3 ppm. This range is higher than I’ve recommended in the past. I’d use gentle export in this range, such as growing macroalgae.
• Above about 0.3 ppm, I’d begin to focus more on reducing it, by turf or macroalgae, or a binder such as GFO or lanthanum (has its own risks to tangs). If a binder: GO SLOW. Turf and macroalgae will typically be slow enough.
• Below 0.06 ppm, I’d begin to dose sodium phosphate or feed more to get the level up.

Thank you randy. What if i either feed more, or maybe switch to every other week water change, rather than weekly

 

[CHSUB]

Maybe in 20 more years there will be a definitive answer for this

Actually a definite answer is decades old. J Sprung writes about nutrients high and low; and how it applies to the hobby the his book The Reef Aquarium in 1994. The main problem is people don’t read books anymore and word of mouth advice, whether it’s from the internet or the LFS changes drastically from person to person. Here is a passage, “elevated nitrate levels as high as 40ppm no3 may encourage more rapid growth of both soft and stony corals.” Claims of the “new way” are false and lean more towards misunderstood.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thank you randy. What if i either feed more, or maybe switch to every other week water change, rather than weekly

Water changes won’t have much impact, but it’s a fine experiment to see how the tank responds. :)

 

[BryanM]

Actually a definite answer is decades old. J Sprung writes about nutrients high and low; and how it applies to the hobby the his book The Reef Aquarium in 1994. The main problem is people don’t read books anymore and word of mouth advice, whether it’s from the internet or the LFS changes drastically from person to person. Here is a passage, “elevated nitrate levels as high as 40ppm no3 may encourage more rapid growth of both soft and stony corals.” Claims of the “new way” are false and lean more towards misunderstood.

Well, it was written about, and it gets written about here a lot.

I personally find it hard to believe there is one correct answer to this question considering the massive success stories with gorgeous tanks on both sides of the spectrum (ultra low nutrients <-> dirty tanks/high nutrients).

 

[CHSUB]

Well, it was written about, and it gets written about here a lot.

I personally find it hard to believe there is one correct answer to this question considering the massive success stories with gorgeous tanks on both sides of the spectrum (ultra low nutrients <-> dirty tanks/high nutrients).

Imo, the one correct answer is the hobbyist ability and not the actual number. Personally I believe lower is better because it is closer to the natural environment. Also nitrates are unhealthy from a human standpoint, so if it doesn’t matter, I will try to keep them lower than higher.

 

[rishma]

Also nitrates are unhealthy from a human standpoint

I recommend not consuming reef tank water, regardless of nutrients :)

 

[Back2Reef]

I asked Ai recently about what the experts recommend for Phosphate and Nitrate (not specific to LPs/soft).

Below is what it said. Not sure how accurate it is.

Expert	Nitrate (NO₃) Range	Phosphate (PO₄) Range	Notes / Philosophy
Randy Holmes-Farley	5 – 50 ppm	0.06 – 0.3 ppm	Broad safe ranges; favors stability and balance over strict values.
Hans-Werner Balling	5 – 15 ppm	0.03 – 0.08 ppm	Supports moderate nutrients, strong on microbial & trace balance.
Julian Sprung	5 – 10 ppm	0.05 – 0.10 ppm	Slightly elevated nutrients for vibrant coral coloration.
Lou Ekus (Tropic Marin USA)	5 – 10 ppm	0.09 – 0.15 ppm	Higher PO₄ tolerance to fuel microbial health and coral energy.
Tony Vargas	5 – 10 ppm	0.05 – 0.10 ppm	Balanced approach; mixed reefs, softies, and LPS.
Sanjay Joshi	1 – 5 ppm	0.02 – 0.05 ppm	Leaner system for SPS-dominant setups with strong lighting.
Calfo & Fenner	5 – 10 ppm	0.05 – 0.10 ppm	Classic moderate ranges for coral health and color.
Tropic Marin (Official)	5 – 15 ppm	0.03 – 0.08 ppm	Reflects Hans-Werner’s recommendations.
Red Sea (Manufacturer)	5 – 10 ppm	0.03 – 0.10 ppm	Designed for their Reef Care Program (RCP) dosing systems.

 

[BryanM]

I asked Ai recently about what the experts recommend for Phosphate and Nitrate (not specific to LPs/soft).

Below is what it said. Not sure how accurate it is.

Expert	Nitrate (NO₃) Range	Phosphate (PO₄) Range	Notes / Philosophy
Randy Holmes-Farley	5 – 50 ppm	0.06 – 0.3 ppm	Broad safe ranges; favors stability and balance over strict values.
Hans-Werner Balling	5 – 15 ppm	0.03 – 0.08 ppm	Supports moderate nutrients, strong on microbial & trace balance.
Julian Sprung	5 – 10 ppm	0.05 – 0.10 ppm	Slightly elevated nutrients for vibrant coral coloration.
Lou Ekus (Tropic Marin USA)	5 – 10 ppm	0.09 – 0.15 ppm	Higher PO₄ tolerance to fuel microbial health and coral energy.
Tony Vargas	5 – 10 ppm	0.05 – 0.10 ppm	Balanced approach; mixed reefs, softies, and LPS.
Sanjay Joshi	1 – 5 ppm	0.02 – 0.05 ppm	Leaner system for SPS-dominant setups with strong lighting.
Calfo & Fenner	5 – 10 ppm	0.05 – 0.10 ppm	Classic moderate ranges for coral health and color.
Tropic Marin (Official)	5 – 15 ppm	0.03 – 0.08 ppm	Reflects Hans-Werner’s recommendations.
Red Sea (Manufacturer)	5 – 10 ppm	0.03 – 0.10 ppm	Designed for their Reef Care Program (RCP) dosing systems.

These are all things I've seen quoted before.

My not expert opinion, I've run the ranges in Randy's w/o issue.

Noteworthy, I'm not an SPS guy. If I were I'd probably be trying to stick around 5-10N, and .03-.1 phos. I believe sps have more issues with dirtier water, and they also require substantially more flow, so also noteworthy I have not really dove in to this subset of reefing as I'm not that likely to acquire any SPS.

 

[CHSUB]

I asked Ai recently about what the experts recommend for Phosphate and Nitrate (not specific to LPs/soft).

Below is what it said. Not sure how accurate it is.

Expert	Nitrate (NO₃) Range	Phosphate (PO₄) Range	Notes / Philosophy
Randy Holmes-Farley	5 – 50 ppm	0.06 – 0.3 ppm	Broad safe ranges; favors stability and balance over strict values.
Hans-Werner Balling	5 – 15 ppm	0.03 – 0.08 ppm	Supports moderate nutrients, strong on microbial & trace balance.
Julian Sprung	5 – 10 ppm	0.05 – 0.10 ppm	Slightly elevated nutrients for vibrant coral coloration.
Lou Ekus (Tropic Marin USA)	5 – 10 ppm	0.09 – 0.15 ppm	Higher PO₄ tolerance to fuel microbial health and coral energy.
Tony Vargas	5 – 10 ppm	0.05 – 0.10 ppm	Balanced approach; mixed reefs, softies, and LPS.
Sanjay Joshi	1 – 5 ppm	0.02 – 0.05 ppm	Leaner system for SPS-dominant setups with strong lighting.
Calfo & Fenner	5 – 10 ppm	0.05 – 0.10 ppm	Classic moderate ranges for coral health and color.
Tropic Marin (Official)	5 – 15 ppm	0.03 – 0.08 ppm	Reflects Hans-Werner’s recommendations.
Red Sea (Manufacturer)	5 – 10 ppm	0.03 – 0.10 ppm	Designed for their Reef Care Program (RCP) dosing systems.

Thanks for posting! I find it interesting that the listed po4 levels favor lower levels. Regardless of algae control, it is well known that elevated po4 levels hinder calcification.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks for posting! I find it interesting that the listed po4 levels favor lower levels. Regardless of algae control, it is well known that elevated po4 levels hinder calcification.

Lower than mine? I would challenge whether there is convincing data about how much inhibition there is, and in what settings.

 

[CHSUB]

Lower than mine? I would challenge whether there is convincing data about how much inhibition there is, and in what settings.

You have the lower range correct…haha. From personal experience before accurate hobby measurements on po4, I had a reef aquarium with ~.5 po4 Salifert tested which was thriving. I do recall thinking how slow Acros grow. Years later my only explanation is .5 po4 inhibited growth. Picture from 2003, stony corals grew very, very slow compared to growth I get today @~.03 po4. Otherwise my current tank and 2003 tank are similar.

 

[BZOFIQ]

Maybe in 20 more years there will be a definitive answer for this.

Today, the range is wide, and opinions hot.

For me, Nitrates 5-50, Phos .1-.3...

I seem to aim for similar range here are my last set tests... notice above range in red.