Nutrient levels

[AvaS]

I would like to know everyones thoughts on whether I need to have detectable nitrates and phosphates to keep my acros happy? Thanks and let me know!
-Ava

 

[bubbaque]

Unless you are feeding a lot of food it's best to have them detectable.

 

[AvaS]

Do you dose to keep your nitrate and phosphates detectable then or can feeding once a day be enough to sustain them. Does it all depend on how much food, the amount of acros in the tank, and tank size to see.

 

[DivingTheWorld]

I just kept adding fish until I hit the mark I was looking for. You can either feed the tank or feed the fish. I like fish, so I feed the fish, then they feed the corals.

 

[AvaS]

Gotcha. So maybe I can try adding a second fish to the 10 gallon and feeding somewhat generously to see if it raises my levels! As of now I only have one small clown in there soooo

 

[DivingTheWorld]

Gotcha. So maybe I can try adding a second fish to the 10 gallon and feeding somewhat generously to see if it raises my levels! As of now I only have one small clown in there soooo

Yeah, that sounds like a good plan. Just go slow, never add too many fish or feed too much too fast. Slow ramp up.

 

[jda]

These are building blocks and not nutrients. The coral get true nutrient from the zoox in the form of sugar, and also if they can catch some food. They do need some, but not too many building blocks. Throughput (heavy import and export) is more important than a residual number on a test kit. ...since it is hard to judge throughput, then having them just barely detectable is good.

 

[AvaS]

These are building blocks and not nutrients. The coral get true nutrient from the zoox in the form of sugar, and also if they can catch some food. They do need some, but not too many building blocks. Throughput (heavy import and export) is more important than a residual number on a test kit. ...since it is hard to judge throughput, then having them just barely detectable is good.

Ok I understand! I will make sure not to overdo it and will not chase levels and just try to have them detectable