How should I raise my nutrients without dosing?

jonny4ever

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Nov 5, 2021
Messages
163
Reaction score
39
Location
miami
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
So I have a 60 breeder (48 x 18 x 16) with a 10g sump that’s 8inches filled. I have a really small skimmer (tunze 9001) that fills the cup twice a week. I have 5 fish, A yellow eye kole tang, African flameback angel, peculiar clown pair and a 6 line wrasse. I never really test nitrate/phosphate but since I recently transferred the tank and used new sand a little over a month ago and have a tiny bit of diatoms I decided to test. Salifert couldn’t detect nitrate and my Hannah checker gave me 0.01ph.

I feed a nice amount, usually flakes. I feed some reef roids about once a week. I do weekly water changes of about 7 gallons, should I stop water changes for a week to see how much the level rise? Only thing I’m considering is either adding more fish which my tanks looks pretty darn fish deprived, or do less water changes. I really wanna upgrade to a bigger skimmer but since I tested the water I’m holding back on that since it’s already low on nutrients
 

sfin52

So many pedestrians so little time
View Badges
Joined
Jun 19, 2016
Messages
23,590
Reaction score
100,235
Location
Usa
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
So I have a 60 breeder (48 x 18 x 16) with a 10g sump that’s 8inches filled. I have a really small skimmer (tunze 9001) that fills the cup twice a week. I have 5 fish, A yellow eye kole tang, African flameback angel, peculiar clown pair and a 6 line wrasse. I never really test nitrate/phosphate but since I recently transferred the tank and used new sand a little over a month ago and have a tiny bit of diatoms I decided to test. Salifert couldn’t detect nitrate and my Hannah checker gave me 0.01ph.

I feed a nice amount, usually flakes. I feed some reef roids about once a week. I do weekly water changes of about 7 gallons, should I stop water changes for a week to see how much the level rise? Only thing I’m considering is either adding more fish which my tanks looks pretty darn fish deprived, or do less water changes. I really wanna upgrade to a bigger skimmer but since I tested the water I’m holding back on that since it’s already low on nutrients
Wheres your nutrients at? Why do you want to raise?
 

livinlifeinBKK

5000 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
May 31, 2020
Messages
5,779
Reaction score
5,245
Location
Bangkok
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I'd probably just turn off the skimmer, continue with generous feedings, and reduce water change frequency.
 

Randy Holmes-Farley

Reef Chemist
View Badges
Joined
Sep 5, 2014
Messages
67,430
Reaction score
63,793
Location
Arlington, Massachusetts, United States
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Dosing is cheap and easy, but feeding more is another option. If you have a refugium, light it fewer hours. I'm not a fan of turning off a skimmer due to loss of aeration.
 

Reefing threads: Do you wear gear from reef brands?

  • I wear reef gear everywhere.

    Votes: 42 16.0%
  • I wear reef gear primarily at fish events and my LFS.

    Votes: 16 6.1%
  • I wear reef gear primarily for water changes and tank maintenance.

    Votes: 1 0.4%
  • I wear reef gear primarily to relax where I live.

    Votes: 31 11.8%
  • I don’t wear gear from reef brands.

    Votes: 154 58.6%
  • Other.

    Votes: 19 7.2%
Back
Top