Nutrients coming close to bottoming out. Should I water change still?

[lubeck]

I decided to feed less this week 2-3x per day because I was feeding about 4-6 times per day medium amounts. I ended up testing and my nitrates dropped to 1.4 and phos down to .05. i immediately fed the tank 3x. Trates were 5.4 and phos .08 on Sunday

i added a new chunk of cheato that has gotten pretty big. I ended up shortening my fuge light to 12 hours

i also tested my alk and was glad to see the consumption has picked up again. Holding at 8.5 with dosing 12ml per day. It was 8.8 on Sunday.

Polyp extension is not great with most of the corals but feel that’s due to me screwing with my light settings and moving the corals around The last two weeks. Color is looking good except for one piece getting a little toasty from the light. Ended up moving him down to 250 par to see what happens.


my question, I regularly change about 8-10 gallons per week on my 32 gal and wonder if I still should do a water change this weekend.
thanks

 

[Jekyl]

Switch to 4 gal a week and see what parameters do. I usually do one a month if that.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Water changes won't bottom out phosphate and won't do all that much for nitrate. I'd still do the changes and feed a little more.

 

[lubeck]

Water changes won't bottom out phosphate and won't do all that much for nitrate. I'd still do the changes and feed a little more.

thank you very much.

 

[X-37B]

Your no3 and po4 look good. I would not reduce feeding. I only do 10% WC per month on my systems.
My no3 <3 po4 .05 and I feed heavy on my 120 8+ cubes a day with a remote fuge.
Harvest some of the cheato mine grows so fast I have to remove some every week.

 

[lubeck]

I will harvest a little cheato. Forgot to mention I don’t run a skimmer

 

[lubeck]

My trates measured 1 yesterday and zero today. I fed 6-7 times yesterday. And normally feed 4-6 times per day

im feeding as much as I can but don’t think it’s going to be enough. I removed some cheato, not running a skimmer and don’t have any filter floss going.

@Randy Holmes-Farley what is a pure nitrate dosing supplement? Or do you recommend another approach.

 

[lubeck]

In researching and looking at the ESV nitrate additive. Will this work?

I need some direction on how I should adjust by two part bionic and kalk to maintain my alk at 8.4. Is there something that can help me ?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

ESV calcium nitrate is a fine way to go. So is food grade sodium nitrate from amazon.

Alk is what now and are you dosing the ESV alk and calcium supplement? How much to what size tank?

 

[lubeck]

ESV calcium nitrate is a fine way to go. So is food grade sodium nitrate from amazon.

Alk is what now and are you dosing the ESV alk and calcium supplement? How much to what size tank?

I’m dosing 13 mL each over 24 hour. alk currently hovers 8.2-8.4. I have a 32 gallon bio cube and estimate around 26 gallons of actual water since I have 35 to 40 pounds of rock and 20 pounds of sand

 

[lubeck]

Per the esv directions it says to add 1ml/20gal or 1 drop per gal daily. So would I add around 1.5 ml per day? I’m confused.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I’m dosing 13 mL each over 24 hour. alk currently hovers 8.2-8.4. I

Forget the directions. Those values are perfect. so there's no reason to change dosing.

 

[lubeck]

Forget the directions. Those values are perfect. so there's no reason to change dosing.

But how much for the nitrates? 1.5ml?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

But how much for the nitrates? 1.5ml?

I'd dose 2 ppm per day for a week and see what happens. No need to measure every day.

1ml/20 gals. of aquarium water adds 1 ppm nitrate.

With 26 gallons,, I'd dose about 2 mL per day to start.

 

[lubeck]

I'd dose 2 ppm per day for a week and see what happens. No need to measure every day.

1ml/20 gals. of aquarium water adds 1 ppm nitrate.

With 26 gallons,, I'd dose about 2 mL per day to start.

Randy we appreciate you!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Randy we appreciate you!

Thanks.

Happy Reefing.

 

[lubeck]

I’ve been dosing 2ml per day fir two days and just tested my trates at 3.1. Good sign. I will check again Saturday and adjust

 

[lubeck]

After dosing 2ml per day of bionic nitrates my nitrates are at 10.2. I’m going to go down to 1ml per day and see where it lands next week. Phosphate at .06