Nutrient export

[gms1234]

Hi All,
After some advice.

Currently have 200gal tank, SPS dominant mixed reef.
Having some nutrient export issues.

Heavy stocked.
Have redsea 900 (with co2 scrubber), running dry, have turn to run wet, 1/4 turn from full height.
large algae reactor with handful of cheto (16hrs light, reverse cycle),
gfo reactor,
nopox dose 20ml / day.
reef mat 500 going through roll a week, stated doing this since nopox dosing few months ago
tank turnover via sump just over 3 times.

parameters
alk 8.5
ca 450
mg 1380
ph 8-8.3
no3 - 19
po4 - 0.06

dosing
30ml ab+
cheto grow (no no3 or po4)
ATI essentials pro
phytoplankton
feed 2x day brine shrimp (could easily double)
1 algae sheet per day.

Id like to reduce my roller mat usage which seems to be linked to the nopox dosing and ideally stop nopox dosing all togeather.
Id also like to reduce my nitrate down to below 5.

 

[bobnicaragua]

Turning up the light or adding another light to your algae reactor will increase efficacy.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Have you trued just stopping the roller mat and see what happens?

Nitrate below 5 ppm is certainly attainable, but may not accomplish anything significant in terms of tank appearance/health.

 

[gms1234]

Have you trued just stopping the roller mat and see what happens?

Nitrate below 5 ppm is certainly attainable, but may not accomplish anything significant in terms of tank appearance/health.

I'll give it ago.

 

[I never finish anythi]

Upgrade the reef mat to the 1200 . The 500 is undersized for a 200g tank . It's recommended up to 500 litres

 

[VintageReefer]

What are the issues you have? I don’t see you mentioning any

 

[gms1234]

What are the issues you have? I don’t see you mentioning any

Biggest one seems to be the filter paper usage which seems to be related to nopox dosing with a bit of slime it creates. Trying to get nitrates down from 20.

 

[I never finish anythi]

Biggest one seems to be the filter paper usage which seems to be related to nopox dosing with a bit of slime it creates. Trying to get nitrates down from 20.

How much water are you pushing through the reef mat . A 500 is not the best for a 200g tank tbh.

 

[gms1234]

How much water are you pushing through the reef mat . A 500 is not the best for a 200g tank tbh.

2400 LPH rated flow is 6000lph.

 

[bobnicaragua]

I run a refugium on my SPS tank and it does a great job at keeping my nitrates low. If I turn up the lights too much, nitrates will 0 out.

I still say increase your algae scrubber lighting and your nitrates will fall.

 

[Spare time]

I'd stop the nopox to fix the slime issue. You can lower the amount of reef energy if nitrates are a concern, but the numbers you have are fine. Nitrate less than 5ppm can be unstable and unhealthy.