Help with mature tank

[Subsea]

I had no idea, thank you for that.

how does the phosphate/nitrate uptake look like in the aquarium in terms of total amount? Even tough micra algae/phytoplankton uses P to a higher degree, is the uptake of both the drivibg factor in the consumption of P in a reef tank?

How does one deal with a disbalance? Can feeding and algae consumption correct that or is gfo or nitrate dosing required?

Does a skimmer influence the balance? Skimmers remove proteins before they are broken down to P and N correct? So no direct influence on P/N ratio?

For all those questions, I suggest you bring @Randy Holmes-Farley into the conversation. Perhaps post on the chemistry forum.

In my mature reefs, I dose ammonia. I think phosphate comes in with the air. For certain, it comes in with the food.

 

[Subsea]

Do you grow it in your display? Do you harvest it regularly or just let it grow?

Ill try increasing nutrients first with more feedings. I think growing macro might make sense then.

I also have a small light to put some chaeto in a backchamber of my aio as a fuge.

Thank you and all the others that are so supportive on here.

When you increase feeding, you will increase phosphate. Prior to increased feeding, consider using phosphate resin and get that number down.

‘“Skimmers remove proteins before they are broken down to P and N correct? So no direct influence on P/N ratio?“

A very large component of skimmate is bacteria. Reefers carbon dose to grow bacteria that absorb nutrients. I have no idea of the ratio of nutrients in bacteria. I consider skimmers & carbon dosing a MAJOR influence on P/N.

 

[vlangel]

Do you grow it in your display? Do you harvest it regularly or just let it grow?

Ill try increasing nutrients first with more feedings. I think growing macro might make sense then.

I also have a small light to put some chaeto in a backchamber of my aio as a fuge.

Thank you and all the others that are so supportive on here.

Yes, I do grow it in my display. I think some macroalgae is as pretty as coral.

In a display, you need to be either discerning about not growing invasive species or be willing to harvest aggressively. That is why I suggested Codium because it is not hard to control. Some of the calcareous varieties like shaving brush, mermaids fan are easy to control also. I however grow gracilaria hayi which can be aggressive and I ruthlessly prune it. I like it because it is such a pretty red color. Most of the caulerpas are invasive so probably best to steer clear of until you get used to keeping macroalgae.

It should help with uptake of phosphate. Cheato in your back chamber with a grow light should also help.

Using GFO or one of the other phosphate removers is very effective but just watch that you don't strip all the PO4 out of the water.

 

[vlangel]

Actually, the ratios that I named are what was measured in the seaweed biomass.. It is not necessary to have those ratios in the water; it is only necessary to have sufficient concentrations of each inorganic nutrient in the water, including trace minerals.

Seaweed growth is not controlled by the most abundant element but it can be limited by the least abundant.

Oops, sorry Patrick, I did not mean to convey the wrong concept. I apparently did not rightly understand the ratio concept and I have been striving to keep my nitrates and phosphates in the 30:1 ratio. Ha ha, it seems to be working ok for me anyway. I guess even a blind squirrel finds a nut sometimes!