How to Balance Nutrients

Steelheader09 · May 5, 2023

I am having an algae issue. My Nitrates are .1 and my Phosphates are .4. What is the best way to get them in balance? Should I dose for nitrates?

tmccaff · May 5, 2023

For one if you're seeing algae those numbers actually higher. The algae will consume nitrates and phosphates. Depends on what corals you want to keep or have. Nitrates low end for SPS; Mixed reef around 2-5ppm; Soft corals 5-10ppm

Steelheader09 · May 5, 2023

tmccaff said:
For one if you're seeing algae those numbers actually higher. The algae will consume nitrates and phosphates. Depends on what corals you want to keep or have. Nitrates low end for SPS; Mixed reef around 2-5ppm; Soft corals 5-10ppm

I have thought of that, I have been doing a lot of manual removal and just added 250 more snails of various species to help beat it back. I will also be doing some water changes.

Pistondog · May 5, 2023

Run some gfo to reduce phosphate.
Bring nitrates up a bit, either feed more or dose some sodium nitrate.

Randy Holmes-Farley · May 5, 2023

Dealing with algae by reducing nutrients is not generally the best plan. It can starve corals before killing off all the algae. Your nitrate is also already lower than desirable.

I'd look to other means to reduce algae, such as by herbivores.

Steelheader09 · May 6, 2023

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Dealing with algae by reducing nutrients is not generally the best plan. It can starve corals before killing off all the algae. Your nitrate is also already lower than desirable.

I'd look to other means to reduce algae, such as by herbivores.

Thank you. Just got an order of snails in from reef cleaners. 25 Astreas, 90 dwarf ceriths, 38 Florida ceriths, 23 Nassarius, 25 nerites, 50 zebra periwinkles, and 6 mexican turbos. Hopefully they will help my 3 tangs take care of it.

tapeworm123 · May 6, 2023

Please make sure the snails don’t have pests like hydroids or vermited snails.

Steelheader09 · May 6, 2023

tapeworm123 said:
Please make sure the snails don’t have pests like hydroids or vermited snails.

They looked clean. I got them from reefcleaners.org which is very reputible i believe. I had a small vermitid issue before but my bumble bee snails took them out.