Ideal LPS Nitrate Level?

[Chipper1978]

I have a 5 month old Waterbox 130.4 (4 foot tank) with mostly LPS corals. I have 3 Kessil 360x with sufficient PAR readings for LPS. Parameters have been steady (see pic for today’s readings) and I am seeing some coralline algae beginning to take hold. My LPS corals are surviving, but not really thriving. Euphyllia (torch, hammer) are not retracted, but don’t really fully extend either. Acans are the only ones that look good. My only LPS is a Monti cap that is encrusting on the rock and looks great. I’m wondering if my nitrates are simply too low for LPS to thrive, or is my tank too young and just needs time? BTW, it only took me 25 minutes to get the nitrate reading with the new Hannah checker :)

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Everyone has their own opinion on this but I like higher nitrates for softies and lps. Maybe 20. Or even higher

 

[rusgum]

There is no ideal. There are many factors in which the LPS will feel good. I have 1-3 nitrate, but I feed the reef a couple of times a week.

 

[Chipper1978]

Everyone has their own opinion on this but I like higher nitrates for softies and lps. Maybe 20. Or even higher

That makes sense. I guess I am struggling to come up with a target number if I also want to eventually add some SPS. Not that I want to obsess over chasing numbers, but I’d at least like to have a ballpark figure to stay around.

 

[Chipper1978]

There is no ideal. There are many factors in which the LPS will feel good. I have 1-3 nitrate, but I feed the reef a couple of times a week.

Sounds like our nitrate levels are similar and I also feed a couple times each week. Just not seeing the extension I would like at this point. Perhaps I just need to give my tank some more time to mature.

 

[SPR1968]

You won’t go to far wrong at around 5-10 as a good general guide, but slightly higher or lower can be fine as well depending what your keeping.

 

[Marc2952]

I keep nitrates at 10ppm for both lps and sps everything grows well.