High alk and low nutrients

Perthegallon

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So I have high alk and 3 ppm nitrate and 0.05-0.08 phosphate. Would this be considered low nutrients or is this good?
 

ReefGeezer

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I think it is more of a preference unless nutrients are very low. I keep alk on the lower end of the scale with similar nutrient levels, but unless you see burnt tips on SPS corals, you should be fine with the higher levels.
 
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Perthegallon

Perthegallon

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I think it is more of a preference unless nutrients are very low. I keep alk on the lower end of the scale with similar nutrient levels, but unless you see burnt tips on SPS corals, you should be fine with the higher levels.
So I guess is 11.5 - 12.5 high?
 

Randy Holmes-Farley

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So I have high alk and 3 ppm nitrate and 0.05-0.08 phosphate. Would this be considered low nutrients or is this good?

If you have certain types of SPS, you may be rising burnt tips, possibly from skeletal growth faster than tissue can keep up.

I’d boost the nitrate to 7-10 ppm if alk is above about 9 dKH.
 
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Perthegallon

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If you have certain types of SPS, you may be rising burnt tips, possibly from skeletal growth faster than tissue can keep up.

I’d boost the nitrate to 7-10 ppm if alk is above about 9 dKH.there is only a fe
If you have certain types of SPS, you may be rising burnt tips, possibly from skeletal growth faster than tissue can keep up.

I’d boost the nitrate to 7-10 ppm if alk is above about 9 dKH.
I’m assuming this is if I had a good amount of corals right now I only have a few frags
 

Randy Holmes-Farley

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I’m assuming this is if I had a good amount of corals right now I only have a few frags

If you have even one frag of a susceptible coral, then burnt tips is a risk. I think it is most often reported with montipora.
 

Alex's Nano Reef

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If you have certain types of SPS, you may be rising burnt tips, possibly from skeletal growth faster than tissue can keep up.

I’d boost the nitrate to 7-10 ppm if alk is above about 9 dKH.
im keeping sps successfully in my tank im running about 10.5-11 DKH and Po4 is at .08-.1 and No3 is at 16+
 

jasony816

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I just had the same issue I noticed that my PC rainbow frag with burnt tips. At first I thought it was growth as I could still see the polyp at the tip but today after a water change the tip slimed up and the polyp no longer there. The rest of the frag is doing well it has encrusted and was growing as well as other frags but only the PC rainbow has the burnt tip. What should I do with it it, I heard some say to cut the tip and superglue it or just leave it alone is best as cutting it would stress it even more, let me know what you guys think. Also my parameters are below, thanks.


Temp: 77-79
Salinity: 1.025-1.026
ALK: 7.5
P04: 0.01
N03: 2
MAG: 1250-1300
 

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