Expert sps guys need help with phosphate and nitrate to low

[apm3441]

Hi I currently have bare bottom reef tank 40 breeder with 25 gallon sump ..set up is about a year old ..I have mostly LPS corals and have kept them for a several years in a previous a tank with no problem

I’m starting to get into SPS and I am obsessed with them ..i want to excel and thrive with SPS .. I also understand nothing good happens fast in a reef tank .. I currently have a couple of frags that looked great but starting to decline ,this why I bought frags ..

calcium 419
Alk 9.3
Phos 0 (problem)
Nitrate 2 (problem)
Mag 1316
Salinity 1.026

I know my problem is phos and nitrate to low .. I want to know ur experience with dosing / supplement phos or nitrate ..Or do u find the sweet spot in feeding and adjust export as needed .. I currently turned off the skimmer and added 5 green chromis and will start feeding more often .. Any input or questions appreciated ..I dose kalk and use reef fusion 1 and 2 .. I was doing water changes with Red Sea salt weekly but will put that on pause

 

[Rmckoy]

What test kits are you using for phosphates and nitrates ?

depending what the salt mixes at .
I prefer my alk lower around 7-7.5
And cal around 420

what lights are you using ?

 

[apm3441]

I have a Hannah low range phosphate checker reads 0.01 .. I used redsea phos and nitrate at my friend’s LFS ..and paid for a api spin test at another store down the block was 6$ .. all readings where close to each other and I expected them to be low .. I have always kept my alk around 9 and keep up with the numbers pretty good weekly.. but I’m open ears to know why You keep ur alk lower

 

[apm3441]

Rlly interested in phosphate and nitrate and want to know the effects and results on sps ph was 8.0

 

[apm3441]

I use 4 t5 bulbs and 1 Orphek blue plus led strip about 10 inches above water level

 

[Rmckoy]

I have a Hannah low range phosphate checker reads 0.01 .. I used redsea phos and nitrate at my friend’s LFS ..and paid for a api spin test at another store down the block was 6$ .. all readings where close to each other and I expected them to be low .. I have always kept my alk around 9 and keep up with the numbers pretty good weekly.. but I’m open ears to know why You keep ur alk lower

7-7.5 seams to be stable ,
I’ve never tried chasing numbers .
that’s where it’s stable ,

 

[X-37B]

Pics?
I run close to NSW levels for the big 3.
Alk 7-7.5
Ca 420-450
Mag 1350.
The average ocean alk is 6.5-7.
I see no need to run higher.
My growth is just as good at this level with less issues.

Feed the chromis more.
Hikari pellets will bring your no3 & po4 up.

 

[kenchilada]

Sounds like you need to put more food in the tank. I’d get my numbers where I want them, stable, and try a couple more cheap frags. I wouldn’t dose anything.

 

[apm3441]

Sounds like you need to put more food in the tank. I’d get my numbers where I want them, stable, and try a couple more cheap frags. I wouldn’t dose anything.

That was my thoughts I also bought some chromis today and will feed more regular..

 

[apm3441]

 

[apm3441]

Lps thrive

 

[apm3441]

Pics?
I run close to NSW levels for the big 3.
Alk 7-7.5
Ca 420-450
Mag 1350.
The average ocean alk is 6.5-7.
I see no need to run higher.
My growth is just as good at this level with less issues.

Feed the chromis more.
Hikari pellets will bring your no3 & po4 up.

 

[apm3441]

Pics?
I run close to NSW levels for the big 3.
Alk 7-7.5
Ca 420-450
Mag 1350.
The average ocean alk is 6.5-7.
I see no need to run higher.
My growth is just as good at this level with less issues.

Feed the chromis more.
Hikari pellets will bring your no3 & po4 up.

Second person to say this about alk maybe I will try it .. I just have problems with sps

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

Second person to say this about alk maybe I will try it .. I just have problems with sps

9.3 alk is too high for sps for your low nutrients. 7.5 is good number to shoot for.

 

[apm3441]

9.3 alk is too high for sps for your low nutrients. 7.5 is good number to shoot for.

What do u like to keep ur calcium at

 

[Rmckoy]

What do u like to keep ur calcium at

 

[apm3441]

Seems like I need to switch it up guess I’ll see where alk is stable with out dosing and work from there

 

[apm3441]

I’ve always just thought higher alk levels where best but I’ll try and run my tank off natural sea water levels and see what happens

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

What do u like to keep ur calcium at

400-500

 

[zoasaholic]

Pics?
I run close to NSW levels for the big 3.
Alk 7-7.5
Ca 420-450
Mag 1350.
The average ocean alk is 6.5-7.
I see no need to run higher.
My growth is just as good at this level with less issues.

Feed the chromis more.
Hikari pellets will bring your no3 & po4 up.

What salt are you using to run ALK at NSW?